When older adults were told they were going to take a memory test, they performed more poorly than younger adults on a task.However, when they were told the task emphasized learning new information, they performed similarly to younger adults.This provides an example of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates stereotype threat, where older adults underperform when they believe they are being tested on memory, a skill stereotypically associated with decline in older age. When the task is framed differently, the stereotype threat is reduced, and their performance improves.

When Older Adults Were Told They Were Going to Take