Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: The Role of Perceived Endings in Human Motivation

Laura L Carstensen

doi:10.1093/geront/gnab116

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: The Role of Perceived Endings in Human Motivation

Gerontologist. 2021 Nov 15;61(8):1188-1196. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnab116.

Author

Laura L Carstensen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
² Center on Longevity, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.

Abstract

Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) is a theory of life-span development grounded in the uniquely human ability to monitor time. SST maintains that the approach of endings-whether due to aging or other endings such as geographic relocations and severe illness-elicits motivational changes in which emotionally meaningful goals are prioritized over exploration. Research guided by SST has informed preferences, social networks, and emotional experience and led to the discovery of the positivity effect in cognitive processing. This article, based on my 2015 Robert W. Kleemeier Award Lecture, describes the development of SST and its related program of empirical research.

Keywords: Emotion/affect; Positivity effect; Social networks; Socioemotional selectivity theory.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Aging*
Emotions
Humans
Longevity
Motivation*
Time

Grants and funding

R37 AG008816/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States