Age and information preference: Neutral information sources in decision contexts. 2022

Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Do adults of different ages differ in their focus on positive, negative, or neutral information when making decisions? Some research suggests an increasing preference for attending to and remembering positive over negative information with advancing age (i.e., an age-related positivity effect). However, these prior studies have largely neglected the potential role of neutral information. The current set of three studies used a multimethod approach, including self-reports (Study 1), eye tracking and choice among faces reflecting negative, neutral, or positive health-related (Study 2) and leisure-related information (Study 3). Gaze results from Studies 2 and 3 as well as self-reports from Study 1 showed a stronger preference for sources of neutral than for positive or negative information regardless of age. Findings also suggest a general preference for decision-relevant information from neutral compared to positive or negative sources. Focusing exclusively on the difference between positive (happy) and negative (angry) faces, results are in line with the age-related positivity effect (i.e., the difference in gaze duration between happy and angry faces was significantly larger for older than for younger adults). These findings underscore the importance of neutral information across age groups. Thus, most research on the positivity effect may be biased in that it does not consider the strong preference for neutral over positive information.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003657 Decision Making The process of making a selective intellectual judgment when presented with several complex alternatives consisting of several variables, and usually defining a course of action or an idea. Credit Assignment,Assignment, Credit,Assignments, Credit,Credit Assignments
D004644 Emotions Those affective states which can be experienced and have arousing and motivational properties. Feelings,Regret,Emotion,Feeling,Regrets
D005149 Facial Expression Observable changes of expression in the face in response to emotional stimuli. Face Expression,Expression, Face,Expression, Facial,Face Expressions,Facial Expressions
D006240 Happiness Highly pleasant emotion characterized by outward manifestations of gratification. Gladness,Joy,Happinesses
D000786 Anger A strong emotional feeling of displeasure aroused by being interfered with, injured or threatened. Angers

Related Publications

Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
December 2015, Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
May 2022, International journal of environmental research and public health,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
October 1985, Methods of information in medicine,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
June 2018, Cureus,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
April 2016, Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
January 1998, Health marketing quarterly,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
March 2015, American journal of preventive medicine,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
February 1996, International journal of nursing studies,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
February 2008, Journal of personality and social psychology,
Joshua L Rutt, and Derek M Isaacowitz, and Alexandra M Freund
August 1999, Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!