Mindsets over matter: priming theory of mind improves older adults' mental state attributions about naturalistic social interactions.

IF 2.8 3区医学 Q3 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY

Aging & Mental Health Pub Date : 2024-09-08 DOI:10.1080/13607863.2024.2399091

Anne C Krendl, Colleen S Hughes

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: Aging is associated with declines in theory of mind - the ability to infer the mental states of others. We examined whether priming theory of mind mindsets actively (Study 1) and passively (Study 2) improved older adults' performance.

Method: Across two studies, participants completed a novel question-and-answer theory of mind task using the television show Nathan for You^® in a mindset or no mindset condition. In Study 1, participants (N = 324, 18-84 years) completed a similar task related to a different show prior to the Nathan for You task (active mindset). In Study 2, young (N = 235; M_Age = 20.47) and older (N = 193, M_Age = 74.48) adults made continuous ratings of awkwardness of different episodes of Nathan for You before completing the question-and-answer task (passive mindset). We also measured executive function and episodic memory. In both studies, the same tasks were performed in reverse order for the control conditions (no mindset).

Results: Mindsets were associated with small-to-medium increases in theory of mind performance. Cognitive ability did not explain these improvements.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that theory of mind performance can be improved through motivation (e.g. mindsets); cognitive function (e.g. ability) does not moderate this relationship.

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心态重于一切：心智理论引物可改善老年人对自然社会互动的心理状态归因。

目标心智理论是推断他人心理状态的能力，衰老与心智理论的衰退有关。我们研究了主动（研究 1）和被动（研究 2）引导心智理论是否能提高老年人的表现：在两项研究中，参与者利用电视节目《Nathan for You®》完成了一项新颖的心智理论问答任务。在研究 1 中，参与者（N = 324，18-84 岁）在完成 "Nathan for You "任务（主动思维模式）之前完成了与不同节目相关的类似任务。在研究 2 中，年轻人（人数 = 235；平均年龄 = 20.47）和老年人（人数 = 193；平均年龄 = 74.48）在完成问答任务（被动心态）之前，对《Nathan for You》不同情节的尴尬程度进行连续评分。我们还测量了执行功能和情节记忆。在这两项研究中，对照组（无心态）以相反的顺序完成相同的任务：结果：思维定势与心智理论成绩的小幅至中幅增长有关。结论：这些研究结果表明，思维定势与心智理论成绩的小幅至中幅提高有关，而认知能力并不能解释这些成绩的提高：这些研究结果表明，思维理论成绩可以通过动机（如心态）得到提高；认知功能（如能力）并不能调节这种关系。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Aging & Mental Health 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

7.00

自引率

2.90%

发文量

176

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Aging & Mental Health provides a leading international forum for the rapidly expanding field which investigates the relationship between the aging process and mental health. The journal addresses the mental changes associated with normal and abnormal or pathological aging, as well as the psychological and psychiatric problems of the aging population. The journal also has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary and innovative approaches that explore new topics and methods. Aging & Mental Health covers the biological, psychological and social aspects of aging as they relate to mental health. In particular it encourages an integrated approach for examining various biopsychosocial processes and etiological factors associated with psychological changes in the elderly. It also emphasizes the various strategies, therapies and services which may be directed at improving the mental health of the elderly and their families. In this way the journal promotes a strong alliance among the theoretical, experimental and applied sciences across a range of issues affecting mental health and aging. The emphasis of the journal is on rigorous quantitative, and qualitative, research and, high quality innovative studies on emerging topics.