What theory proposes that the relationships of younger adults are knowledge-based, whereas those of late adulthood are more emotions-based? Explain.

 

This is a lifespan theory of motivation that was developed by Laura L. Carstensen, who was a Stanford Psychologist. It states that as people become increasingly selective as time horizon shrinks, and invest more in goals which are emotionally meaningful. As a person grows older, they prefer positive information over negative information, which leads to maximization of emotional experiences and minimization of emotional risks (Carstensen et al., 2003).

Younger adults aim to achieve goals which are knowledge related, such as acquiring knowledge, planning for careers, and developing new social relations.

Those in late adulthood aim to achieve emotion-related goals, which focus on the regulation of emotions, pursuing emotionally gratifying interactions, and other things that are likely to be achieved presently.

The socioemotional selectivity theory basically focuses on the shift in goal preferences that occurs as an individual grows older, which is caused by a shift in time perspective, associated with age.