scholarly journals The ageing of the social mind: replicating the preservation of socio-affective and the decline of socio-cognitive processes in old age

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 210641
Author(s):  
Julia Stietz ◽  
Lena Pollerhoff ◽  
Marcel Kurtz ◽  
Shu-Chen Li ◽  
Andrea M. F. Reiter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Affect And Cognition ◽  
Social Affect ◽  
Social Mind

Anticipating population ageing to reach a historically unprecedented level in this century and considering the public goal of promoting well-being until old age, research in many fields has started to focus on processes and factors that contribute to healthy ageing. Since human interactions have a tremendous impact on our mental and physical well-being, scientists are increasingly investigating the basic processes that enable successful social interactions such as social affect (empathy, compassion) and social cognition (Theory of Mind). However, regarding the replication crisis in psychological science it is crucial to probe the reproducibility of findings revealed by each specific method. To this end, we aimed to replicate the effect of age on empathy, compassion and Theory of Mind observed in Reiter and colleagues' study (Reiter et al. 2017 Sci. Rep. 7 , 11046 ( doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10669-4 )) by using the same ecologically valid paradigm in an independent sample with similar age ranges. We were able to replicate the previously observed results of a preservation or even enhancement in socio-affective processes, but a decline in socio-cognitive processes for older adults. Our findings add to the understanding of how social affect and cognition change across the adult lifespan and may suggest targets for intervention studies aiming to foster successful social interactions and well-being until advanced old age.

scholarly journals Neuroanatomical Correlates of Social Intelligence Measured by the Guilford Test

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Myznikov ◽  
M. Zheltyakova ◽  
A. Korotkov ◽  
M. Kireev ◽  
R. Masharipov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Social Intelligence ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Neurophysiological Studies ◽  
Intelligence Scores

AbstractSocial interactions are a crucial aspect of human behaviour. Numerous neurophysiological studies have focused on socio-cognitive processes associated with the so-called theory of mind—the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others. Theory of mind is closely related to social intelligence defined as a set of abilities that facilitate effective social interactions. Social intelligence encompasses multiple theory of mind components and can be measured by the Four Factor Test of Social Intelligence (the Guilford-Sullivan test). However, it is unclear whether the differences in social intelligence are reflected in structural brain differences. During the experiment, 48 healthy right-handed individuals completed the Guilford-Sullivan test. T1-weighted structural MRI images were obtained for all participants. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to reveal grey matter volume differences between the two groups (24 subjects in each)—with high social intelligence scores and with low social intelligence scores, respectively. Participants with high social intelligence scores had larger grey matter volumes of the bilateral caudate. The obtained results suggest the caudate nucleus involvement in the neural system of socio-cognitive processes, reflected by its structural characteristics.

scholarly journals NIA Coordinated Analysis of Dynamic Socioemotional Experiences and Well-Being during the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 983-983
Author(s):  
Shevaun Neupert ◽  
Sumbleen Ali ◽  
Isabella Bouklas ◽  
Rita Hu ◽  
Reilly Kincaid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Socioemotional Experiences

Abstract We conducted a coordinated analysis of eight longitudinal studies with data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our overarching aim was to examine within-person fluctuations in health and well-being during the pandemic that may differ across the adult lifespan. The studies are from different regions of the U.S. with data collected during different periods of the pandemic. These studies sampled heterogenous age groups, used diverse methods, and were harmonized on constructs. Four longitudinal studies (Notre Dame Study of Health & Well-being, Within-Family Differences Study, Social Relations Study, and the Einstein Aging Study [EAS] Covid Telephone Interviews) and four intensive, microlongitudinal studies (Daily Experience and Well-being Study, Daily COVID-19 Spring, Daily COVID-19 Fall, EAS), with data collected between March 2020 and August 2021 were analyzed. In three studies, older adults were consistently less variable (i.e., lower within-person standard deviation) in negative emotional well-being such as negative affect and depressive symptoms compared to younger adults. In four studies older adults were also less variable in stress. Evidence of better outcomes associated with social interactions was found in three studies, where within-person variability in social interactions was positively correlated with variability in positive affect across age. These findings point toward the complexities of dynamic socioemotional experiences that unfold across historical periods and across the lifespan. These within-person fluctuations could be used as a benchmark to examine long-term trajectories of well-being.

scholarly journals Neuroanatomical correlates of social intelligence measured by the Guilford test

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Myznikov ◽  
M Zheltyakova ◽  
A Korotkov ◽  
M Kireev ◽  
R Masharipov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Social Intelligence ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Caudate Nuclei ◽  
Neurophysiological Studies ◽  
Intelligence Scores

AbstractSocial interactions are a crucial aspect of human behaviour. Numerous neurophysiological studies have focused on socio-cognitive processes associated with the so-called theory of mind – the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others. Theory of mind is closely related to social intelligence defined as a set of abilities that facilitate effective social interactions. Social intelligence encompasses multiple theory of mind components and can be measured by the Four Factor Test of Social Intelligence (the Guilford-Sullivan test). However, it is unclear whether the differences in social intelligence are reflected in structural brain differences. During the experiment, 48 healthy right-handed individuals completed the Guilford-Sullivan test. T1-weighted structural MRI images were obtained for all participants. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to reveal grey matter volume differences between the two groups (24 subjects in each) – with high social intelligence scores and with low social intelligence scores, respectively. Participants with high social intelligence scores had larger grey matter volumes of the bilateral caudate, left insula, left inferior parietal lobule, inferior temporal gyrus, and middle occipital gyrus. Only the cluster in the caudate nuclei survived a cluster-level FWE correction for multiple comparisons. The obtained results suggest caudate nucleus involvement in the neural system of socio-cognitive processes, reflected by its structural characteristics.

Conflict Avoidance in Old Age

GeroPsych ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Oberhauser ◽  
Andreas B. Neubauer ◽  
Eva-Marie Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Conflict Avoidance ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Set Up

Abstract. Conflict avoidance increases across the adult lifespan. This cross-sectional study looks at conflict avoidance as part of a mechanism to regulate belongingness needs ( Sheldon, 2011 ). We assumed that older adults perceive more threats to their belongingness when they contemplate their future, and that they preventively react with avoidance coping. We set up a model predicting conflict avoidance that included perceptions of future nonbelonging, termed anticipated loneliness, and other predictors including sociodemographics, indicators of subjective well-being and perceived social support (N = 331, aged 40–87). Anticipated loneliness predicted conflict avoidance above all other predictors and partially mediated the age-association of conflict avoidance. Results suggest that belongingness regulation accounts may deepen our understanding of conflict avoidance in the second half of life.

Exploring How Gratitude Impacts Cognitive Processes That Enhance Well-Being

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip C. Watkins ◽  
Andrew Pereira ◽  
Andrew Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Well Being

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD THROUGH SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG RURAL YOUTH: ROLE OF MICRO-FINANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-173
Author(s):  
Vikram Singh
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Youth ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Societal Structure ◽  
Policy Shifts

This  article  attempts to  analyse  the  process  of  sustainable  livelihood  through skill development and its conceptual and theoretical understanding in India with reference to rural youth. In India skill development is demanded for economic growth and inclusive development; hence the rural population cannot be overlooked. Employable skills alone have not been able to generate sufficient employment among rural youth or address/promote well-being and sustainable livelihood. Various frameworks associated with skill development leave scope for reforms to strengthen the implementation of various policy shifts in respect of rural development and government/non-government organisations. The process of skill development for rural youth through the establishment of institutions, launch of policy/programmes and their linkages with micro-finance are considered, as the distinctive nature and features of micro-finance in relation to the forces of societal structure, social relationships, and social interactions leading towards collective interests and norms that shape the lives of rural youth. Lastly, analysis is done and conclusions drawn on the basis of discussion.

Individual and Societal Well-Being

2018 ◽  
pp. 698-722
Author(s):  
Shigehiro Oishi ◽  
Samantha J. Heintzleman
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Outcomes ◽  
Cultural Meanings ◽  
Research Topics ◽  
Psychological Science ◽  
The Social ◽  
Genetic Origins

This chapter highlights the contributions that have been made by personality and social psychology, respectively and together, to the science of well-being. Since its humble beginning in the 1930s, the science of well-being has grown to become one of the most vibrant research topics in psychological science today. The personality tradition of well-being research has shown that it is possible to measure well-being reliably, that self-reported well-being predicts important life outcomes, and that well-being has nontrivial genetic origins. The social psychology tradition has illuminated that there are various cultural meanings of well-being, that responses to well-being questions involve multiple cognitive processes, that happiness is experienced often in relationship contexts, and that it is possible to improve one’s well-being. Finally, there are recent methodological integrations of the personality and social psychology perspectives that delineate person–situation interactions.

scholarly journals LINKS BETWEEN EVERYDAY INTERGENERATIONAL PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN OLD AGE

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 966-966
Author(s):  
K Chi ◽  
J Lay ◽  
P Graf ◽  
A Mahmood ◽  
C Hoppmann
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Prosocial Behaviour
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