Aging, Executive Function, and Social Control
Aging is associated with atrophy of the frontal lobes of the brain, which are the seat of executive functions. Because successful social functioning often requires executive control, aging can lead to unintended social changes via deficits in executive control. In this talk I will review evidence that aging leads to increased prejudice and social inappropriateness, and under certain circumstances increased depression and problem gambling, due to losses in executive control. I will then discuss theory and research suggesting possible interventions that might ameliorate unwanted social changes brought about by executive decline.
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