Người già hạnh phúc hơn-Laura Carstensen

Older people are happier - Laura Carstensen
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Older people are happier - Laura Carstensen

 


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people<00:00:16.199> are<00:00:16.359> living<00:00:16.680> longer<00:00:17.480> and<00:00:17.840> societies
people are living longer and societies people are living longer and societies are<00:00:19.039> getting<00:00:19.400> grayer<00:00:20.400> you<00:00:20.600> hear<00:00:20.800> about<00:00:20.960> it<00:00:21.119> all are getting grayer you hear about it all are getting grayer you hear about it all the<00:00:21.439> time<00:00:22.240> you<00:00:22.400> read<00:00:22.640> about<00:00:22.840> it<00:00:22.960> in<00:00:23.080> your the time you read about it in your the time you read about it in your newspapers<00:00:24.000> you<00:00:24.119> hear<00:00:24.320> about<00:00:24.439> it<00:00:24.560> on<00:00:24.680> your newspapers you hear about it on your newspapers you hear about it on your television<00:00:25.720> sets<00:00:26.720> sometimes<00:00:26.960> I'm<00:00:27.119> concerned television sets sometimes I'm concerned television sets sometimes I'm concerned that<00:00:27.840> we<00:00:28.080> hear<00:00:28.359> about<00:00:28.560> it<00:00:28.720> so<00:00:28.960> much<00:00:29.320> that<00:00:30.000> we've that we hear about it so much that we've that we hear about it so much that we've come<00:00:30.480> to<00:00:30.880> accept<00:00:31.400> longer<00:00:31.920> lives<00:00:32.439> with<00:00:32.599> a<00:00:32.840> kind come to accept longer lives with a kind come to accept longer lives with a kind of<00:00:33.239> a<00:00:33.960> complacency<00:00:34.960> even of a complacency even of a complacency even ease<00:00:37.239> but<00:00:37.399> make<00:00:37.680> no<00:00:38.399> mistake<00:00:39.399> longer<00:00:39.879> lives ease but make no mistake longer lives ease but make no mistake longer lives can<00:00:41.600> and<00:00:41.800> I<00:00:41.960> believe<00:00:42.600> will<00:00:43.600> improve<00:00:44.320> quality can and I believe will improve quality can and I believe will improve quality of<00:00:45.000> life<00:00:46.000> at<00:00:46.239> all of life at all of life at all ages<00:00:49.000> now<00:00:49.120> to<00:00:49.320> put<00:00:49.480> this<00:00:49.600> in<00:00:49.760> perspective<00:00:50.239> let ages now to put this in perspective let ages now to put this in perspective let me<00:00:50.480> just<00:00:50.640> zoom<00:00:50.920> out<00:00:51.120> for<00:00:51.239> a me just zoom out for a me just zoom out for a minute<00:00:53.079> more<00:00:53.760> years<00:00:54.760> were<00:00:55.079> added<00:00:55.680> to<00:00:56.000> average minute more years were added to average minute more years were added to average life<00:00:56.879> expectancy<00:00:57.600> in<00:00:57.760> the<00:00:57.920> 20th<00:00:58.440> century life expectancy in the 20th century life expectancy in the 20th century than<00:01:00.559> all<00:01:01.399> years<00:01:02.600> added<00:01:03.600> across<00:01:04.519> all<00:01:05.360> prior than all years added across all prior than all years added across all prior Millennia<00:01:07.159> of<00:01:07.360> human<00:01:07.799> evolution Millennia of human evolution Millennia of human evolution combined<00:01:10.600> in<00:01:10.720> a<00:01:10.840> blink<00:01:11.119> of<00:01:11.240> an<00:01:11.439> eye<00:01:12.159> we<00:01:12.320> nearly combined in a blink of an eye we nearly combined in a blink of an eye we nearly double<00:01:13.439> the<00:01:13.600> length<00:01:13.799> of<00:01:14.040> time<00:01:14.680> that<00:01:14.799> we're double the length of time that we're double the length of time that we're living<00:01:16.799> so<00:01:17.040> if<00:01:17.159> you<00:01:17.320> ever<00:01:17.479> feel<00:01:17.720> like<00:01:17.840> you living so if you ever feel like you living so if you ever feel like you don't<00:01:18.119> have<00:01:18.240> this<00:01:18.400> aging<00:01:18.720> thing<00:01:18.920> quite<00:01:19.119> pegged don't have this aging thing quite pegged don't have this aging thing quite pegged don't<00:01:20.320> kick<00:01:20.720> yourself<00:01:21.720> it's<00:01:21.920> brand don't kick yourself it's brand don't kick yourself it's brand new<00:01:24.040> and<00:01:24.240> because<00:01:24.600> fertility<00:01:25.159> rates<00:01:25.920> fell new and because fertility rates fell new and because fertility rates fell across<00:01:27.000> that<00:01:27.280> very<00:01:27.560> same<00:01:27.880> period<00:01:28.240> that<00:01:28.520> life across that very same period that life across that very same period that life expectancy<00:01:29.520> was<00:01:29.720> going<00:01:29.960> going expectancy was going going expectancy was going going up<00:01:32.000> that<00:01:32.360> pyramid<00:01:33.119> that<00:01:33.280> has<00:01:33.479> always up that pyramid that has always up that pyramid that has always represented<00:01:34.439> the<00:01:34.600> distribution<00:01:35.200> of<00:01:35.479> age<00:01:36.159> in represented the distribution of age in represented the distribution of age in the<00:01:36.600> population<00:01:37.560> with<00:01:37.960> many<00:01:38.240> young<00:01:38.520> ones<00:01:38.880> at the population with many young ones at the population with many young ones at the<00:01:39.200> bottom<00:01:39.840> wiow<00:01:40.280> to<00:01:40.439> a<00:01:40.600> tiny<00:01:41.040> peak<00:01:41.680> of<00:01:41.880> older the bottom wiow to a tiny peak of older the bottom wiow to a tiny peak of older people<00:01:42.720> who<00:01:42.880> make<00:01:43.119> it<00:01:43.320> and<00:01:43.520> survive<00:01:44.079> to<00:01:44.240> old people who make it and survive to old people who make it and survive to old age<00:01:44.840> as<00:01:45.079> being age as being age as being reshaped<00:01:47.040> into<00:01:47.719> a reshaped into a reshaped into a rectangle<00:01:50.840> and<00:01:51.000> now<00:01:51.200> if<00:01:51.320> you're<00:01:51.479> the<00:01:51.600> kind<00:01:51.719> of rectangle and now if you're the kind of rectangle and now if you're the kind of person<00:01:52.159> who<00:01:52.280> can<00:01:52.439> get<00:01:52.600> chills<00:01:53.040> from person who can get chills from person who can get chills from population population population statistics<00:01:56.200> these<00:01:56.360> are<00:01:56.560> the<00:01:56.680> ones<00:01:56.960> that statistics these are the ones that statistics these are the ones that should<00:01:57.360> do<00:01:57.560> it<00:01:57.880> because<00:01:58.280> what<00:01:58.479> that<00:01:58.680> means<00:01:59.360> is should do it because what that means is should do it because what that means is that<00:01:59.920> for<00:02:00.039> the<00:02:00.280> first<00:02:00.719> time<00:02:01.079> in<00:02:01.200> the<00:02:01.360> history that for the first time in the history that for the first time in the history of<00:02:01.759> the<00:02:02.240> species<00:02:03.240> the<00:02:03.439> majority<00:02:04.119> of<00:02:04.320> babies of the species the majority of babies of the species the majority of babies born<00:02:05.159> in<00:02:05.280> the<00:02:05.479> developed<00:02:06.000> world<00:02:06.960> are<00:02:07.399> having born in the developed world are having born in the developed world are having the<00:02:08.479> opportunity<00:02:09.479> to<00:02:09.759> grow the opportunity to grow the opportunity to grow old<00:02:12.760> how<00:02:12.879> did<00:02:13.080> this<00:02:13.760> happen<00:02:14.760> well<00:02:14.879> we're<00:02:15.000> no old how did this happen well we're no old how did this happen well we're no genetically<00:02:15.680> harder<00:02:16.160> than<00:02:16.319> our<00:02:16.480> ancestors genetically harder than our ancestors genetically harder than our ancestors were<00:02:17.239> 10,000<00:02:18.120> years<00:02:18.360> ago<00:02:19.360> this<00:02:19.560> increase<00:02:19.959> in were 10,000 years ago this increase in were 10,000 years ago this increase in life<00:02:20.519> expectancy<00:02:21.160> is<00:02:21.319> the<00:02:21.519> remarkable life expectancy is the remarkable life expectancy is the remarkable product<00:02:22.599> of<00:02:23.200> culture<00:02:24.200> The<00:02:24.360> Crucible<00:02:25.160> that product of culture The Crucible that product of culture The Crucible that holds<00:02:25.760> science<00:02:26.480> and<00:02:26.920> technology<00:02:27.920> and holds science and technology and holds science and technology and widescale<00:02:29.519> chain<00:02:29.920> changes<00:02:30.400> in<00:02:30.640> behavior<00:02:31.239> that widescale chain changes in behavior that widescale chain changes in behavior that improve<00:02:31.959> health<00:02:32.560> and improve health and improve health and well-being<00:02:34.519> through<00:02:34.920> cultural<00:02:35.959> changes<00:02:36.959> our well-being through cultural changes our well-being through cultural changes our ancestors<00:02:38.080> largely<00:02:38.800> eliminated<00:02:39.800> early<00:02:40.280> death ancestors largely eliminated early death ancestors largely eliminated early death so<00:02:41.040> that<00:02:41.239> people<00:02:41.519> can<00:02:41.680> now<00:02:41.879> live<00:02:42.080> out<00:02:42.280> their so that people can now live out their so that people can now live out their full full full lives<00:02:44.879> now<00:02:45.080> there<00:02:45.200> are<00:02:45.560> problems<00:02:46.159> associated lives now there are problems associated lives now there are problems associated with<00:02:46.879> aging<00:02:47.840> diseases<00:02:48.599> poverty<00:02:49.040> loss<00:02:49.280> of with aging diseases poverty loss of with aging diseases poverty loss of social<00:02:49.840> status<00:02:50.200> it's<00:02:50.400> hardly<00:02:50.720> time<00:02:50.879> to<00:02:51.040> rest social status it's hardly time to rest social status it's hardly time to rest on<00:02:51.360> our on our on our Laurels<00:02:53.120> but<00:02:53.280> the<00:02:53.400> more<00:02:53.599> we<00:02:53.879> learn<00:02:54.120> about Laurels but the more we learn about Laurels but the more we learn about aging<00:02:55.280> the<00:02:55.400> clearer<00:02:55.840> it<00:02:56.080> becomes<00:02:56.879> that<00:02:57.040> a aging the clearer it becomes that a aging the clearer it becomes that a sweeping<00:02:57.879> downward<00:02:58.560> course<00:02:59.239> is<00:02:59.440> grow<00:02:59.840> clly sweeping downward course is grow clly sweeping downward course is grow clly and and and accurate<00:03:02.319> aging<00:03:02.720> brings<00:03:03.040> some<00:03:03.280> rather accurate aging brings some rather accurate aging brings some rather remarkable<00:03:04.680> improvements<00:03:05.680> increased remarkable improvements increased remarkable improvements increased knowledge knowledge knowledge expertise<00:03:09.440> and<00:03:09.720> emotional<00:03:10.760> aspects<00:03:11.760> of<00:03:12.040> Life expertise and emotional aspects of Life expertise and emotional aspects of Life improve<00:03:15.879> that's<00:03:16.159> right<00:03:16.920> older<00:03:17.280> people<00:03:18.080> are improve that's right older people are improve that's right older people are happy<00:03:19.840> they're<00:03:20.239> happier<00:03:20.599> than<00:03:20.720> middle-aged happy they're happier than middle-aged happy they're happier than middle-aged people<00:03:21.879> and<00:03:22.040> younger<00:03:22.440> people people and younger people people and younger people certainly<00:03:24.599> study<00:03:24.959> after<00:03:25.200> study<00:03:25.799> is<00:03:26.040> coming<00:03:26.280> to certainly study after study is coming to certainly study after study is coming to the<00:03:26.599> same<00:03:27.120> conclusion<00:03:27.920> and<00:03:28.159> the<00:03:28.319> the<00:03:28.400> CDC the same conclusion and the the CDC the same conclusion and the the CDC recently<00:03:29.400> conducted<00:03:29.799> did<00:03:29.879> a<00:03:30.000> survey<00:03:30.720> where recently conducted did a survey where recently conducted did a survey where they<00:03:31.120> asked<00:03:31.439> respondents<00:03:32.120> simply<00:03:32.720> to<00:03:32.920> tell they asked respondents simply to tell they asked respondents simply to tell them<00:03:33.599> whether<00:03:33.840> they<00:03:34.040> experienced them whether they experienced them whether they experienced significant<00:03:35.080> psychological<00:03:35.840> distress<00:03:36.680> in significant psychological distress in significant psychological distress in the<00:03:37.000> previous<00:03:37.360> week<00:03:37.599> and<00:03:37.879> fewer<00:03:38.519> older<00:03:38.959> people the previous week and fewer older people the previous week and fewer older people answered<00:03:39.920> affirmatively<00:03:40.560> to<00:03:40.760> that<00:03:41.000> question answered affirmatively to that question answered affirmatively to that question than<00:03:41.680> middle-aged<00:03:42.319> people<00:03:42.879> and<00:03:43.000> younger than middle-aged people and younger than middle-aged people and younger people<00:03:43.599> as<00:03:44.159> well<00:03:45.159> and<00:03:45.280> a<00:03:45.400> recent<00:03:45.920> gallopo people as well and a recent gallopo people as well and a recent gallopo asked<00:03:47.319> participants<00:03:48.239> how<00:03:48.400> much<00:03:48.760> stress<00:03:49.280> and asked participants how much stress and asked participants how much stress and worry<00:03:49.959> and<00:03:50.200> anger<00:03:50.799> they<00:03:50.959> had<00:03:51.120> experienced<00:03:51.640> the worry and anger they had experienced the worry and anger they had experienced the previous<00:03:52.200> day<00:03:53.000> and previous day and previous day and stress stress stress worry<00:03:56.599> anger<00:03:57.519> all<00:03:57.799> decrease<00:03:58.640> with<00:03:58.799> age worry anger all decrease with age worry anger all decrease with age now<00:04:01.200> social<00:04:01.560> scientists<00:04:02.000> call<00:04:02.159> this<00:04:02.319> the now social scientists call this the now social scientists call this the Paradox<00:04:03.120> of<00:04:03.280> Aging<00:04:04.040> I<00:04:04.079> mean<00:04:04.720> after<00:04:04.959> all<00:04:05.120> aging Paradox of Aging I mean after all aging Paradox of Aging I mean after all aging is<00:04:05.640> not<00:04:05.799> a<00:04:05.959> piece<00:04:06.120> of<00:04:06.400> cake<00:04:07.400> so<00:04:07.599> we've<00:04:07.840> asked is not a piece of cake so we've asked is not a piece of cake so we've asked all<00:04:08.239> sorts<00:04:08.480> of<00:04:08.640> questions<00:04:09.120> to<00:04:09.280> see<00:04:09.560> if<00:04:09.799> we all sorts of questions to see if we all sorts of questions to see if we could<00:04:10.480> undo<00:04:11.040> this<00:04:11.360> finding<00:04:12.360> um<00:04:12.799> we've<00:04:13.480> asked could undo this finding um we've asked could undo this finding um we've asked whether<00:04:14.239> it<00:04:14.400> may<00:04:14.720> be<00:04:15.200> that<00:04:15.760> the<00:04:15.920> current whether it may be that the current whether it may be that the current generations<00:04:16.959> of<00:04:17.199> older<00:04:17.639> people<00:04:18.639> are<00:04:19.040> and generations of older people are and generations of older people are and always<00:04:19.519> have<00:04:19.720> been<00:04:19.919> the<00:04:20.040> greatest always have been the greatest always have been the greatest Generations<00:04:22.000> that<00:04:22.160> is<00:04:22.400> that<00:04:22.560> younger<00:04:22.880> people Generations that is that younger people Generations that is that younger people today<00:04:23.520> may<00:04:23.840> not<00:04:24.320> typically<00:04:25.000> experience<00:04:25.639> these today may not typically experience these today may not typically experience these improvements<00:04:26.639> as<00:04:26.840> they<00:04:27.000> grow<00:04:27.680> older<00:04:28.680> um<00:04:28.880> we've improvements as they grow older um we've improvements as they grow older um we've asked<00:04:29.960> well<00:04:30.520> maybe<00:04:30.840> older<00:04:31.199> people<00:04:31.600> are<00:04:32.039> just asked well maybe older people are just asked well maybe older people are just trying<00:04:32.520> to<00:04:32.639> put<00:04:32.800> a<00:04:33.080> positive<00:04:33.520> spin<00:04:33.960> on<00:04:34.120> an trying to put a positive spin on an trying to put a positive spin on an otherwise<00:04:34.960> depressing otherwise depressing otherwise depressing existence<00:04:38.120> but<00:04:38.280> the<00:04:38.440> more<00:04:38.720> we've<00:04:38.960> tried<00:04:39.199> to existence but the more we've tried to existence but the more we've tried to disavow<00:04:40.240> this<00:04:40.440> finding<00:04:41.000> the<00:04:41.120> more<00:04:41.560> evidence disavow this finding the more evidence disavow this finding the more evidence we<00:04:42.240> find<00:04:42.560> to<00:04:42.800> support we find to support we find to support it<00:04:44.919> years<00:04:45.120> ago<00:04:45.479> my<00:04:45.720> colleagues<00:04:46.039> and<00:04:46.160> I it years ago my colleagues and I it years ago my colleagues and I embarked<00:04:46.680> on<00:04:46.800> a<00:04:46.919> study<00:04:47.199> where<00:04:47.320> we<00:04:47.479> followed embarked on a study where we followed embarked on a study where we followed the<00:04:48.000> same<00:04:48.240> group<00:04:48.520> of<00:04:48.720> people<00:04:49.039> over<00:04:49.240> a<00:04:49.400> 10year the same group of people over a 10year the same group of people over a 10year period<00:04:50.400> originally<00:04:50.880> the<00:04:51.039> sample<00:04:51.400> was<00:04:51.560> aged<00:04:51.880> 18 period originally the sample was aged 18 period originally the sample was aged 18 to<00:04:52.840> 94<00:04:53.840> and<00:04:53.960> we<00:04:54.080> studied<00:04:54.560> whether<00:04:54.840> and<00:04:55.039> how to 94 and we studied whether and how to 94 and we studied whether and how their<00:04:55.479> emotional<00:04:55.960> experiences<00:04:56.720> changed<00:04:57.280> as their emotional experiences changed as their emotional experiences changed as they<00:04:57.680> grew<00:04:58.039> older<00:04:59.039> our<00:04:59.240> particip<00:04:59.680> ipants they grew older our particip ipants they grew older our particip ipants would<00:05:00.320> carry<00:05:00.840> electronic<00:05:01.520> pagers<00:05:02.360> for<00:05:02.560> a<00:05:02.680> week would carry electronic pagers for a week would carry electronic pagers for a week at<00:05:03.039> a<00:05:03.280> time<00:05:04.000> and<00:05:04.120> we'd<00:05:04.400> page<00:05:04.680> them<00:05:04.880> throughout at a time and we'd page them throughout at a time and we'd page them throughout the<00:05:05.400> day<00:05:05.680> and<00:05:05.919> evenings<00:05:06.360> at<00:05:06.600> random<00:05:07.000> times<00:05:07.280> and the day and evenings at random times and the day and evenings at random times and every<00:05:07.720> time<00:05:07.919> we<00:05:08.120> paged<00:05:08.560> them<00:05:09.120> we'd<00:05:09.360> ask<00:05:09.560> them every time we paged them we'd ask them every time we paged them we'd ask them to<00:05:09.880> answer<00:05:10.199> several<00:05:10.680> questions<00:05:11.160> on<00:05:11.320> a<00:05:11.440> 1<00:05:11.680> to<00:05:11.840> S to answer several questions on a 1 to S to answer several questions on a 1 to S scale<00:05:12.560> how<00:05:12.800> happy<00:05:13.039> are<00:05:13.240> you<00:05:13.560> right<00:05:13.759> now<00:05:14.320> how scale how happy are you right now how scale how happy are you right now how sad<00:05:14.800> are<00:05:14.960> you<00:05:15.240> right<00:05:15.360> now<00:05:15.680> how<00:05:15.840> frustrated<00:05:16.440> are sad are you right now how frustrated are sad are you right now how frustrated are you<00:05:16.919> right<00:05:17.120> now<00:05:17.960> so<00:05:18.160> that<00:05:18.280> we<00:05:18.400> could<00:05:18.560> get<00:05:18.680> a you right now so that we could get a you right now so that we could get a sense<00:05:19.360> of<00:05:19.520> the<00:05:19.759> kinds<00:05:20.000> of<00:05:20.240> emotions<00:05:20.680> and sense of the kinds of emotions and sense of the kinds of emotions and feelings<00:05:21.319> they<00:05:21.440> were<00:05:21.680> having<00:05:22.199> in<00:05:22.400> their feelings they were having in their feelings they were having in their day-to-day<00:05:23.440> lives<00:05:24.440> and<00:05:24.600> using<00:05:24.960> this<00:05:25.160> intense day-to-day lives and using this intense day-to-day lives and using this intense study<00:05:26.039> of<00:05:26.759> individuals<00:05:27.759> we<00:05:28.000> find<00:05:28.600> that<00:05:28.759> it's study of individuals we find that it's study of individuals we find that it's not<00:05:29.360> one<00:05:29.720> one<00:05:30.000> particular<00:05:30.639> generation<00:05:31.639> that's not one one particular generation that's not one one particular generation that's doing<00:05:32.360> better<00:05:32.759> than<00:05:32.960> the<00:05:33.160> others<00:05:33.919> but<00:05:34.080> the doing better than the others but the doing better than the others but the same<00:05:34.639> individuals<00:05:35.520> over<00:05:35.960> time<00:05:36.800> come<00:05:37.080> to same individuals over time come to same individuals over time come to report<00:05:37.919> relatively<00:05:38.639> greater<00:05:39.720> positive report relatively greater positive report relatively greater positive experience<00:05:41.680> now<00:05:41.800> you<00:05:41.919> see<00:05:42.160> this<00:05:42.400> slight experience now you see this slight experience now you see this slight downturn<00:05:44.039> at<00:05:44.360> very<00:05:44.680> Advanced<00:05:45.319> ages<00:05:46.160> and<00:05:46.280> there downturn at very Advanced ages and there downturn at very Advanced ages and there is<00:05:46.720> a<00:05:46.919> slight<00:05:47.280> downturn<00:05:47.800> but<00:05:47.919> at<00:05:48.080> no<00:05:48.400> point is a slight downturn but at no point is a slight downturn but at no point does<00:05:49.280> it<00:05:49.600> return<00:05:49.880> to<00:05:50.039> the<00:05:50.240> levels<00:05:50.960> we<00:05:51.120> see<00:05:51.520> in does it return to the levels we see in does it return to the levels we see in early early early adulthood<00:05:54.080> now<00:05:54.880> it's<00:05:55.199> really<00:05:55.720> too adulthood now it's really too adulthood now it's really too simplistic<00:05:57.720> to<00:05:58.479> say<00:05:58.840> that<00:05:59.240> older<00:05:59.800> people<00:06:00.039> are simplistic to say that older people are simplistic to say that older people are happy<00:06:02.160> um<00:06:02.319> in<00:06:02.479> our<00:06:02.720> study<00:06:03.240> they<00:06:03.360> are<00:06:03.560> more happy um in our study they are more happy um in our study they are more positive<00:06:05.280> but<00:06:05.680> they're<00:06:05.960> also<00:06:06.199> more<00:06:06.440> likely positive but they're also more likely positive but they're also more likely than<00:06:06.919> younger<00:06:07.240> people<00:06:07.440> to<00:06:07.720> experience<00:06:08.160> mixed than younger people to experience mixed than younger people to experience mixed emotions<00:06:09.919> uh<00:06:10.080> sadness<00:06:10.599> at<00:06:10.720> the<00:06:10.840> same<00:06:11.080> time<00:06:11.280> you emotions uh sadness at the same time you emotions uh sadness at the same time you experience<00:06:11.919> happiness<00:06:12.319> you<00:06:12.400> know<00:06:12.599> that<00:06:12.720> tear experience happiness you know that tear experience happiness you know that tear in<00:06:13.160> the<00:06:13.360> eye<00:06:14.039> when<00:06:14.199> you're<00:06:14.400> smiling<00:06:14.880> at<00:06:15.000> a in the eye when you're smiling at a in the eye when you're smiling at a friend<00:06:17.000> and<00:06:17.160> other<00:06:17.440> research<00:06:18.280> has<00:06:18.440> shown<00:06:18.840> that friend and other research has shown that friend and other research has shown that older<00:06:19.360> people<00:06:19.639> seem<00:06:19.960> to<00:06:20.360> engage<00:06:20.960> with<00:06:21.199> sadness older people seem to engage with sadness older people seem to engage with sadness more<00:06:22.000> comfortably<00:06:23.000> they're<00:06:23.160> more<00:06:23.440> accepting more comfortably they're more accepting more comfortably they're more accepting of<00:06:24.400> sadness<00:06:24.840> than<00:06:25.000> younger<00:06:25.319> people<00:06:25.520> are<00:06:25.680> and of sadness than younger people are and of sadness than younger people are and we<00:06:26.400> suspect<00:06:26.880> that<00:06:27.039> this<00:06:27.199> may<00:06:27.440> help<00:06:27.639> to<00:06:27.840> explain we suspect that this may help to explain we suspect that this may help to explain why<00:06:28.919> older<00:06:29.280> people<00:06:29.720> are<00:06:29.960> better<00:06:30.319> than<00:06:30.759> than why older people are better than than why older people are better than than younger<00:06:31.280> people<00:06:31.520> at<00:06:31.720> solving<00:06:32.440> hotly<00:06:32.880> charged younger people at solving hotly charged younger people at solving hotly charged emotional<00:06:34.160> conflicts<00:06:34.639> and emotional conflicts and emotional conflicts and debates<00:06:37.240> older<00:06:37.759> people<00:06:38.120> can<00:06:38.319> view<00:06:39.160> Injustice debates older people can view Injustice debates older people can view Injustice with<00:06:41.280> compassion<00:06:42.280> but<00:06:42.440> not with compassion but not with compassion but not Despair<00:06:44.639> and<00:06:44.800> all<00:06:45.000> things<00:06:45.199> being<00:06:45.560> equal<00:06:46.440> older Despair and all things being equal older Despair and all things being equal older people<00:06:47.400> direct<00:06:47.800> their<00:06:48.080> cognitive<00:06:48.599> resources people direct their cognitive resources people direct their cognitive resources like<00:06:49.400> attention<00:06:49.800> and<00:06:50.000> memory<00:06:50.599> to<00:06:51.400> positive like attention and memory to positive like attention and memory to positive information<00:06:52.360> more<00:06:52.560> than<00:06:53.000> negative<00:06:54.000> if<00:06:54.160> we information more than negative if we information more than negative if we show<00:06:55.000> older<00:06:55.520> middle-aged<00:06:56.160> younger<00:06:56.520> people show older middle-aged younger people show older middle-aged younger people images<00:06:57.400> like<00:06:57.560> the<00:06:57.680> ones<00:06:57.879> you<00:06:58.000> see<00:06:58.199> on<00:06:58.360> the images like the ones you see on the images like the ones you see on the screen screen screen and<00:07:00.160> we<00:07:00.360> later<00:07:00.759> ask<00:07:01.120> them<00:07:01.280> to<00:07:01.680> recall<00:07:02.680> all<00:07:02.879> the and we later ask them to recall all the and we later ask them to recall all the images<00:07:03.840> that<00:07:04.039> they<00:07:04.240> can<00:07:05.199> older<00:07:05.639> people<00:07:06.599> but images that they can older people but images that they can older people but not<00:07:06.919> younger<00:07:07.280> people<00:07:07.680> remember<00:07:08.360> more not younger people remember more not younger people remember more positive<00:07:09.319> images<00:07:10.039> than<00:07:10.240> negative<00:07:11.000> images positive images than negative images positive images than negative images we've<00:07:12.240> asked<00:07:12.639> older<00:07:13.000> and<00:07:13.160> younger<00:07:13.560> people<00:07:13.840> to we've asked older and younger people to we've asked older and younger people to view<00:07:14.319> faces<00:07:14.759> in<00:07:15.000> laboratory<00:07:15.680> studies<00:07:16.160> some view faces in laboratory studies some view faces in laboratory studies some frowning<00:07:16.960> some<00:07:17.240> smiling<00:07:18.039> older<00:07:18.360> people<00:07:18.639> look frowning some smiling older people look frowning some smiling older people look toward<00:07:19.319> the<00:07:19.479> smiling<00:07:20.039> faces<00:07:20.400> and<00:07:20.599> away<00:07:20.879> from toward the smiling faces and away from toward the smiling faces and away from the<00:07:21.319> frowning<00:07:21.840> angry the frowning angry the frowning angry faces<00:07:24.560> in<00:07:24.759> day-to-day<00:07:25.400> life<00:07:25.720> this<00:07:25.919> translates faces in day-to-day life this translates faces in day-to-day life this translates into<00:07:26.919> greater<00:07:27.400> enjoyment<00:07:28.400> and<00:07:28.680> satisfaction



but<00:07:32.000> as<00:07:32.160> social<00:07:32.479> scientists<00:07:32.919> we've<00:07:33.120> continued
but as social scientists we've continued but as social scientists we've continued to<00:07:33.720> ask<00:07:34.560> about<00:07:35.000> possible<00:07:35.479> Alternatives<00:07:36.280> we've to ask about possible Alternatives we've to ask about possible Alternatives we've said<00:07:36.680> well<00:07:36.879> maybe<00:07:37.120> older<00:07:37.479> people<00:07:37.759> report<00:07:38.120> more said well maybe older people report more said well maybe older people report more positive<00:07:39.360> emotions<00:07:40.000> because<00:07:40.400> they're positive emotions because they're positive emotions because they're cognitively



impaired<00:07:46.199> we've<00:07:46.400> said<00:07:46.720> could<00:07:46.840> it<00:07:47.039> be<00:07:47.280> that
impaired we've said could it be that impaired we've said could it be that positive<00:07:47.919> emotions<00:07:48.280> are<00:07:48.440> simply<00:07:48.759> easier<00:07:49.120> to positive emotions are simply easier to positive emotions are simply easier to process<00:07:49.840> than<00:07:50.080> negative<00:07:50.520> emotions<00:07:51.120> and<00:07:51.280> so process than negative emotions and so process than negative emotions and so you<00:07:51.759> switch<00:07:52.159> to<00:07:52.440> the<00:07:52.800> positive<00:07:53.319> emotions you switch to the positive emotions you switch to the positive emotions maybe<00:07:54.560> our<00:07:54.720> neural<00:07:55.159> centers<00:07:55.560> in<00:07:55.720> our<00:07:55.919> brain maybe our neural centers in our brain maybe our neural centers in our brain are<00:07:56.440> degraded<00:07:57.120> such<00:07:57.319> that<00:07:57.440> we're<00:07:57.639> unable<00:07:58.159> to are degraded such that we're unable to are degraded such that we're unable to process<00:07:58.840> negative<00:07:59.159> emotion process negative emotion process negative emotion anymore<00:08:01.000> but<00:08:01.159> that's<00:08:01.440> not<00:08:01.720> the<00:08:02.000> case<00:08:03.000> the<00:08:03.159> most anymore but that's not the case the most anymore but that's not the case the most mentally<00:08:04.479> sharp<00:08:05.479> older<00:08:05.919> adults<00:08:06.319> are<00:08:06.520> the<00:08:06.639> ones mentally sharp older adults are the ones mentally sharp older adults are the ones who<00:08:07.000> show<00:08:07.280> this<00:08:07.599> positivity<00:08:08.120> effect<00:08:08.680> the<00:08:09.280> most who show this positivity effect the most who show this positivity effect the most and<00:08:10.440> under<00:08:10.879> conditions<00:08:11.199> where<00:08:11.319> it<00:08:11.479> really and under conditions where it really and under conditions where it really matters<00:08:12.440> older<00:08:12.759> people<00:08:13.039> do<00:08:13.400> process<00:08:13.840> the matters older people do process the matters older people do process the negative<00:08:14.400> information<00:08:15.120> just<00:08:15.319> as<00:08:15.560> well<00:08:15.800> as<00:08:15.960> the negative information just as well as the negative information just as well as the positive<00:08:16.759> information<00:08:17.759> so<00:08:18.720> how<00:08:18.879> can<00:08:19.159> this positive information so how can this positive information so how can this be<00:08:21.280> well<00:08:21.840> in<00:08:22.000> our<00:08:22.319> research<00:08:23.319> we<00:08:23.599> found<00:08:24.000> that be well in our research we found that be well in our research we found that these<00:08:24.479> changes<00:08:24.919> are<00:08:25.159> grounded<00:08:26.280> fundamentally these changes are grounded fundamentally these changes are grounded fundamentally in<00:08:27.479> the<00:08:27.680> uniquely<00:08:28.199> human<00:08:28.520> ability<00:08:28.879> to<00:08:29.039> monitor in the uniquely human ability to monitor in the uniquely human ability to monitor time<00:08:30.560> not<00:08:30.759> just<00:08:31.000> clock<00:08:31.360> time<00:08:31.560> and<00:08:31.759> calendar time not just clock time and calendar time not just clock time and calendar time<00:08:32.440> but time but time but Lifetime<00:08:34.519> and<00:08:34.640> if<00:08:34.760> there's<00:08:34.919> a<00:08:35.200> paradox<00:08:35.680> of Lifetime and if there's a paradox of Lifetime and if there's a paradox of Aging<00:08:37.000> it's<00:08:37.200> that<00:08:37.479> recognizing<00:08:38.159> that<00:08:38.320> we Aging it's that recognizing that we Aging it's that recognizing that we won't<00:08:38.800> live<00:08:39.039> forever<00:08:40.039> changes<00:08:40.560> our won't live forever changes our won't live forever changes our perspective<00:08:41.320> on<00:08:41.599> life<00:08:42.240> in<00:08:42.719> positive perspective on life in positive perspective on life in positive ways<00:08:45.600> when<00:08:45.959> time<00:08:46.240> Horizons<00:08:46.800> are<00:08:47.000> long<00:08:47.360> and ways when time Horizons are long and ways when time Horizons are long and nebulous<00:08:48.200> as<00:08:48.399> they<00:08:48.600> typically<00:08:49.080> are<00:08:49.480> in<00:08:49.720> youth nebulous as they typically are in youth nebulous as they typically are in youth people<00:08:50.640> are<00:08:51.000> constantly<00:08:51.760> preparing<00:08:52.360> trying people are constantly preparing trying people are constantly preparing trying to<00:08:52.839> soak<00:08:53.240> up<00:08:53.560> all<00:08:53.760> the<00:08:53.959> information<00:08:54.920> they to soak up all the information they to soak up all the information they possibly<00:08:55.839> can<00:08:56.160> taking<00:08:56.600> risks<00:08:57.360> exploring<00:08:58.360> we possibly can taking risks exploring we possibly can taking risks exploring we might<00:08:58.760> spend<00:08:59.040> time<00:08:59.200> with<00:08:59.519> people<00:08:59.760> we<00:08:59.880> don't might spend time with people we don't might spend time with people we don't even<00:09:00.399> like<00:09:01.399> because<00:09:01.680> it's<00:09:02.000> somehow even like because it's somehow even like because it's somehow interesting<00:09:03.440> you<00:09:03.560> know<00:09:03.680> we<00:09:03.839> might<00:09:04.000> learn interesting you know we might learn interesting you know we might learn something



unexpected<00:09:07.959> we<00:09:08.120> go<00:09:08.320> on<00:09:08.560> blind




dates<00:09:12.680> you<00:09:12.800> know<00:09:13.040> after<00:09:13.320> all<00:09:13.600> if<00:09:13.720> it<00:09:13.839> doesn't
dates you know after all if it doesn't dates you know after all if it doesn't work<00:09:14.320> out<00:09:14.519> there's<00:09:14.760> always work out there's always work out there's always tomorrow<00:09:17.320> uh<00:09:17.440> people<00:09:17.720> over<00:09:18.000> 50<00:09:18.920> don't<00:09:19.120> go<00:09:19.279> on tomorrow uh people over 50 don't go on tomorrow uh people over 50 don't go on blind blind blind [Laughter]



dates<00:09:27.519> as<00:09:27.760> we<00:09:28.079> age<00:09:28.760> our<00:09:29.040> time<00:09:29.519> Horizons<00:09:30.079> grow
dates as we age our time Horizons grow dates as we age our time Horizons grow shorter<00:09:31.279> and<00:09:31.480> our<00:09:31.880> goals<00:09:32.640> change<00:09:33.640> when<00:09:33.839> we shorter and our goals change when we shorter and our goals change when we recognize<00:09:34.760> that<00:09:34.920> we<00:09:35.040> don't<00:09:35.200> have<00:09:35.399> all<00:09:35.600> the recognize that we don't have all the recognize that we don't have all the time<00:09:36.000> in<00:09:36.120> the<00:09:36.279> world<00:09:36.680> we<00:09:36.800> see<00:09:37.079> our<00:09:37.399> priorities time in the world we see our priorities time in the world we see our priorities most<00:09:38.600> clearly<00:09:39.519> we<00:09:39.720> take<00:09:40.040> less<00:09:40.360> notice<00:09:40.720> of most clearly we take less notice of most clearly we take less notice of trivial<00:09:41.360> matters<00:09:42.279> we<00:09:42.440> save<00:09:42.839> our<00:09:43.399> life<00:09:44.399> we're trivial matters we save our life we're trivial matters we save our life we're more<00:09:45.079> appreciative<00:09:46.079> more<00:09:46.399> open<00:09:46.680> to more appreciative more open to more appreciative more open to reconciliation<00:09:48.760> we<00:09:49.000> invest<00:09:49.440> in<00:09:49.600> more reconciliation we invest in more reconciliation we invest in more emotionally<00:09:50.360> important<00:09:50.800> parts<00:09:51.079> of<00:09:51.320> life<00:09:51.680> and emotionally important parts of life and emotionally important parts of life and life<00:09:52.680> gets<00:09:53.640> better<00:09:54.640> so<00:09:54.880> we're<00:09:55.200> happier<00:09:56.200> day<00:09:56.399> to life gets better so we're happier day to life gets better so we're happier day to day<00:09:57.640> but<00:09:57.880> that<00:09:58.120> same<00:09:58.440> shift<00:09:58.800> in<00:09:59.000> perspective day but that same shift in perspective day but that same shift in perspective Ive<00:09:59.680> leads<00:09:59.959> us<00:10:00.160> to<00:10:00.360> have<00:10:00.680> less<00:10:01.040> tolerance<00:10:01.720> than Ive leads us to have less tolerance than Ive leads us to have less tolerance than ever<00:10:02.720> for ever for ever for Injustice<00:10:05.399> by Injustice by Injustice by 2015<00:10:07.480> there<00:10:07.640> will<00:10:07.800> be<00:10:08.000> more<00:10:08.320> people<00:10:08.720> in<00:10:08.920> the 2015 there will be more people in the 2015 there will be more people in the United<00:10:09.560> States<00:10:10.160> over<00:10:10.480> the<00:10:10.680> age<00:10:10.920> of<00:10:11.200> 60<00:10:12.000> than United States over the age of 60 than United States over the age of 60 than under under under 15<00:10:15.399> what<00:10:15.519> will<00:10:15.760> happen<00:10:16.040> to<00:10:16.440> societies<00:10:16.959> that 15 what will happen to societies that 15 what will happen to societies that are<00:10:17.519> topheavy<00:10:18.519> with<00:10:18.720> older are topheavy with older are topheavy with older people<00:10:20.720> the<00:10:21.079> numbers<00:10:22.079> won't<00:10:22.440> determine<00:10:23.079> the people the numbers won't determine the people the numbers won't determine the outcome<00:10:24.600> culture outcome culture outcome culture will<00:10:27.600> if<00:10:27.800> we<00:10:28.040> invest<00:10:28.600> in<00:10:28.839> science<00:10:29.480> and will if we invest in science and will if we invest in science and technology<00:10:30.680> and<00:10:30.880> find<00:10:31.279> solutions<00:10:31.800> for<00:10:32.000> the technology and find solutions for the technology and find solutions for the real<00:10:32.680> problems<00:10:33.240> that<00:10:33.360> older<00:10:33.760> people<00:10:34.680> face<00:10:35.680> and real problems that older people face and real problems that older people face and we<00:10:37.200> capitalize<00:10:38.200> on<00:10:38.399> the<00:10:38.639> very<00:10:38.920> real<00:10:39.639> strengths we capitalize on the very real strengths we capitalize on the very real strengths of<00:10:40.839> older<00:10:41.279> people<00:10:42.160> then<00:10:42.399> added<00:10:42.760> years<00:10:43.000> of<00:10:43.200> life of older people then added years of life of older people then added years of life can<00:10:43.680> dramatically<00:10:44.600> improve<00:10:45.279> quality<00:10:45.680> of<00:10:45.959> life can dramatically improve quality of life can dramatically improve quality of life at<00:10:47.040> all at all at all ages<00:10:49.399> societies<00:10:50.120> with<00:10:50.360> millions<00:10:51.360> of<00:10:51.680> talented ages societies with millions of talented ages societies with millions of talented emotionally<00:10:52.880> stable<00:10:53.399> citizens<00:10:53.839> who<00:10:53.959> were emotionally stable citizens who were emotionally stable citizens who were healthier<00:10:55.360> and<00:10:55.600> better<00:10:56.000> educated<00:10:56.639> than<00:10:56.920> any healthier and better educated than any healthier and better educated than any Generations<00:10:58.040> before<00:10:58.399> them<00:10:58.680> armed<00:10:59.079> with<00:10:59.320> with Generations before them armed with with Generations before them armed with with knowledge<00:10:59.959> about<00:11:00.279> the<00:11:00.519> Practical<00:11:01.120> matters<00:11:01.680> of knowledge about the Practical matters of knowledge about the Practical matters of life<00:11:02.600> and<00:11:03.079> motivated<00:11:04.079> to<00:11:04.399> solve<00:11:05.360> the<00:11:05.639> big life and motivated to solve the big life and motivated to solve the big issues<00:11:07.639> can<00:11:07.839> be<00:11:08.120> better<00:11:08.959> societies<00:11:09.959> than<00:11:10.240> we issues can be better societies than we issues can be better societies than we have<00:11:11.040> ever have ever have ever known<00:11:14.680> my<00:11:15.279> father<00:11:16.279> who<00:11:16.440> is<00:11:16.600> 92<00:11:17.240> likes<00:11:17.519> to<00:11:18.160> say known my father who is 92 likes to say known my father who is 92 likes to say let's<00:11:19.399> stop<00:11:19.720> talking<00:11:20.279> only<00:11:20.560> about<00:11:20.800> how<00:11:20.920> to let's stop talking only about how to let's stop talking only about how to save<00:11:21.360> the<00:11:21.519> old<00:11:21.880> folks<00:11:22.880> and<00:11:23.440> start<00:11:23.800> talking save the old folks and start talking save the old folks and start talking about<00:11:24.560> how<00:11:24.680> to<00:11:24.959> get<00:11:25.279> them<00:11:26.040> to<00:11:26.279> save<00:11:26.639> us<00:11:26.880> all about how to get them to save us all about how to get them to save us all thank<00:11:29.600> you thank you thank you [Music]

Laura Carstensen, old, age, agining, older, happiness, psychology, TED, TEDx, TEDxWomen, TED, Ed, TEDEducation, TED-Ed

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