Stereotype threat can both enhance and impair older adults' memory

Abstract

Negative stereotypes about aging can impair older adults' memory via stereotype threat; however, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unclear. In two experiments, we tested competing predictions derived from two theoretical accounts of stereotype threat: executive-control interference and regulatory fit. Older adults completed a working memory test either under stereotype threat about age-related memory declines or not under such threat. Monetary incentives were manipulated such that recall led to gains or forgetting led to losses. The executive-control-interference account predicts that stereotype threat decreases the availability of executive-control resources and hence should impair working memory performance. The regulatory-fit account predicts that threat induces a prevention focus, which should impair performance when gains are emphasized but improve performance when losses are emphasized. Results were consistent only with the regulatory-fit account. Although stereotype threat significantly impaired older adults' working memory performance when remembering led to gains, it significantly improved performance when forgetting led to losses.

Keywords: aging; executive control; memory; regulatory fit; social cognition; stereotype threat; stereotyped attitudes.

Figure 1

Sentence span scores (adjusted for baseline performance) as a function of stereotype threat condition and task reward structure in both Experiment 1A and Experiment 1B. In both experiments, stereotype threat significantly impaired performance when remembering led to gains, but significantly improved performance when forgetting led to losses. Error bars represent the standard errors of the adjusted means. An * indicates p < .05 for the specific contrast between two conditions.