Positive subliminal messages about ageing improve physical functioning in older people
Older people who are subliminally exposed to positive stereotypes about ageing showed improved physical functioning that lasted for several weeks, says research due to be published in Psychological Science.
A total of 100 people aged an average of 81 years were split into groups in an eight-week study. Each week, one group was shown positive age stereotypes on a computer screen that flashed words such as “spry” and “creative” at speeds that were too fast to allow for conscious awareness. Others were asked to imagine mentally and physically healthy older people. A control group was exposed subliminally and explicitly to neutral words and thoughts.
All volunteers were assessed three times, the last time being eight weeks after the interventions began. They were asked about their images of older people in general and about their images of themselves “as an old person”. And they were assessed physically too using measures of gait, strength and balance.
People exposed to the positive messaging experienced psychological and physical improvements that were not found in the control group. Physical function (such as physical balance) was improved and this continued for three weeks after the intervention ended. Positive age stereotypes and positive self-perceptions of ageing were strengthened, and negative age stereotypes and negative self-perceptions of ageing were weakened.
Interestingly, the study found that the intervention influenced physical function in stages. It first strengthened the volunteers’ positive age stereotypes, which then strengthened their positive self-perceptions, which then improved their physical function.
“The challenge we had in this study was to enable the participants to overcome the negative age stereotypes which they acquire from society, as in everyday conversations and television comedies,” explains lead researcher Becca Levy. “The study’s successful outcome suggests the potential of directing subliminal processes toward the enhancement of physical function.”
Click here to read the original research.
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