Six-year change in affect optimization and affect complexity across the adult life span: A further examination.

Abstract

This study examines the life course of 2 independent components of adult affective development, 1 aimed at differentiation and complexity, the other aimed at optimization and positive emotional balance. These 2 components are predicted to have different developmental trajectories over the adult life span and to become related in a compensatory fashion under conditions of resource restrictions, such as those related to late life. Using individual growth curve estimation, we modeled 6-year longitudinal changes in the 2 components in a total sample of 388 individuals ranging in age from 15 to 88 years. As predicted, initial level of affect optimization was positively associated with age up to late middle age with a subsequent leveling off; individual rates of change were found to decelerate with age up to age 60 years and accelerate again around age 80 years. For affect complexity, initial level of affect complexity was positively associated with age up to age 45 years and negatively associated with age from then on, whereas individual rates of change were negatively associated with age, and this association tended to get stronger with age.

Time to be wise: temporal perspective and wisdom

“…We found that middle-aged adults scored higher than both the younger and older adults on the emotional regulation subscale. These findings are consistent with dynamic integration theory (DIT; Labouvie-Vief, 2009; Labouvie-Vief, Diehl, Jain, & Zhang, 2007) which differentiates between affect optimization and affect complexity. The former "…reflects an emphasis on maintaining hedonic tone by maximizing positive affect and minimizing negative affect in regulating emotions" (Labouvie-Vief et al, p. 738).…”

Brand relations and life course: Why old consumers love their brands

“…This ability increases during the first 50 years of life, but starts to decrease after 60 years, yielding an inverse U-shaped relation with age. This has been found in cross-sectional research, (Labouvie-Vief et al, 1989;Labouvie-Vief et al, 1995), but also in a longitudinal setting (Labouvie-Vief et al, 2007). As a result of this diminished ability, older adults may rely on more simplified, schematized thinking and black-and-white thinking about self and others (for example, Blanchard-Fields, 1999).…”

Affective and cardiovascular responding to unpleasant events from adolescence to old age: Complexity of events matters.

“…One position, maintained by dynamic integration theory (Labouvie-Vief, 2003, 2008Labouvie-Vief, Jain, Diehl, & Fang, 2007), suggests that older adults are less effective than younger individuals in regulating affective experiences because situational demands exceed their available cognitive capacities. This position relates to the idea that regulating affective responses is largely cognitively controlled and therefore consumes cognitive capacity (Ochsner & Gross, 2004;Richards & Gross, 1999).…”