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Senior citizens, don't believe the hype. Because a new study finds that older folks who accept that seniors' memories get worse do worse on memory tests. The finding was published in the journal Experimental Aging Research.
老年人們，不要相信那些年紀越老記憶力越差的說法，因為最近一項新的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，那些接受這種說法的老年人真的“自暴自棄”，在記憶力測試中一塌糊涂。這個發(fā)現(xiàn)發(fā)表在《老齡化實驗研究》這份期刊上。
Scientists interested in the effects of stereotype on memory enlisted 103 seniors between 60-and 82-years-old to take a memory test. Before the test, some subjects were told that the test checked the effects of age on memory. Researchers call this a threat—it reminds participants of the stereotype. That group was also asked to write down their age after reading the instructions, again homing in on the stereotype. The other group was told that the test controlled for biases. This could make them feel more secure. Researchers also gave participants a stigma consciousness questionnaire to test how strongly they bought into negative stereotypes.
一些關(guān)注老齡化對記憶力影響的科學家們邀請了103位年紀在60歲和82歲之間的老年人參與了一次記憶力測試。在測試前，一組老年人被告知這次實驗的目的就是測試年齡對記憶力的影響。科學家們把這個稱為“消極暗示”，讓參與者們把年齡和記憶力聯(lián)系到了一起。這組老年人也被要求在閱讀完測試說明之后寫下自己的年紀，再次強調(diào)了先前的暗示。另一組老年人則被告知，這次實驗的目的是糾正年紀越大記憶力越差的說法，這屬于“積極暗示”。科學家們也向參與者們提供了一份自我意識的測試問卷，以調(diào)查他們對老齡化消極作用的看法。
The results: participants who got reminded of their age and the old age, poor memory stereotype did significantly worse. Those who say they feel stigmatized also performed more poorly. So your memory may function better just by believing that it will. In which case, you really will eventually figure out where you left your car keys.
實驗的結(jié)果是：那些被暗示“上了年紀記憶力就會變差”的人在記憶測試中明顯表現(xiàn)的更糟糕；那些覺得老齡化消極作用大的人也表現(xiàn)得比沒有這種看法的人更差。所以，你相信自己的記憶力能有多好，它就有多好。那么，下次你就不用為找不見車鑰匙而著急了，只要相信自己能想起來，你最終會找到的。
