Older adults Quote by Meg Jay
“Knowing what to overlook is one way older adults are typically wiser than young adults. With age comes what is known as positivity effect. We become more interested in positive information, and our brains react less strongly to what negative information we do encounter”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Power of Positivity in Aging, Psychology Today, 2020
Older adults tend to focus on positive information, a bias called the positivity effect, making them appear wiser than younger people who attend more to negatives.
In simple terms: Older people ignore negatives, focusing on positives, which seems wiser.
Recognize and balance positivity bias.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- decision making
- interpersonal relationships
- mental health
- career planning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does focusing on positivity affect problem solving?
- When should you seek negative information?
Positivity bias can cause neglect of real problems.