Effortful memory processes under stereotype threat and self-concept in aging

Abstract

The present study aimed at exploring the effect of stereotype threat on the controlled part of memory in older adults using a deep level of processing, namely, self-reference encoding. To meet this objective, 25 younger adults and 25 older adults performed a Remember/Know recognition task following self-reference versus other-reference encoding of adjective traits, under stereotype threat or not. The results indicated that under stereotype threat, older adults’ production of Remember responses was specifically impaired following self-reference encoding. Moreover, whereas executive functioning and group identification did not moderate stereotype threat effect, measure of self-worth did. These findings suggest that stereotype threat in older adults may be a self-concept threat and that moderators of stereotype threat found in other groups (i.e., group identification and executive functioning) may not be generalised to this group. Rather, as stereotype threat in aging may represent a threat to the self, self-worth might have a central role, whereby individuals with high self-worth remain self-confident even under stereotype threat and are thus able to down-regulate their negative affects to face such a threat.

Overcoming Age-Based Stereotypes to Optimize Cognitive Performance in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Methodology and Existing Evidence

“…Fifteen studies only compared TR conditions with ABST conditions. Participants in TR conditions outperformed those in ABST conditions on tasks of verbal memory Mazerolle et al, 2012;Plaks & Chasteen, 2013), working memory (Mazerolle et al, 2012;Plaks & Chasteen, 2013), eyewitness memory (Thomas, Smith, & Mazerolle, 2020), subjective metamemory judgements (Kalenzaga, Clarys, & Piolino, 2019;Mazerolle, Régner, Rigalleau, & Huguet, 2015), delay discounting (Alquist et al, 2018), and executive function (Fresson et al, 2017), and recalled more positive valence pictures on an affective picture recall test (Barber et al, 2019). Better performance in a TR condition was associated with lower pre-task worry (Plaks & Chasteen, 2013).…”

“…Methodological quality ratings for articles reporting on blatant TR strategies ranged from 4-8/8 (M = 5.72). Studies were limited by their failure to screen for participants" cognitive status or report education level (e.g., Alquist et al, 2018), justify sample size (e.g., Kalenzaga et al, 2019) and group allocation (e.g., , report participant eligibility criteria (e.g., Hess et al, 2003), and include measures to address possible sources of experimental bias (e.g., Hess, Hinson, et al, 2009;Thomas et al, 2020). Two studies (Mazerolle et al, 2012(Mazerolle et al, , 2015 used blatant TR strategies to address subtle ABST.…”