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Age and the balance of emotions

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  • Ross, Catherine E.
  • Mirowsky, John

Abstract

With age, the quality of emotions may shift from negative in tone to positive, but also from active to passive. The shift from negative to positive is consistent with the age as maturity perspective. The shift from active to passive supports the age as decline perspective. If these generalities are correct, then they should apply to positive emotions as well as negative emotions. We should see a shift in positive emotions from active (excitement) to passive (serenity), as well as in the negative emotions (from the agitation of anxiety and anger to the lethargy of depression). In order to accurately portray the shifts in emotional tone, age may best be considered as simultaneously indicating maturity and decline. This paper examines results from the emotions module of the 1996 U.S. General Social Survey and finds support for the idea that age is associated with a shift from negative to positive and from active to passive emotions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ross, Catherine E. & Mirowsky, John, 2008. "Age and the balance of emotions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(12), pages 2391-2400, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:66:y:2008:i:12:p:2391-2400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Pinquart, 2001. "Age Differences in Perceived Positive Affect, Negative Affect, and Affect Balance in Middle and Old Age," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 375-405, December.
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    5. Dimitra Vasileiou & Despina Moraitou & Vasileios Papaliagkas & Christos Pezirkianidis & Anastasios Stalikas & Georgia Papantoniou & Maria Sofologi, 2021. "The Relationships between Character Strengths and Subjective Wellbeing: Evidence from Greece under Lockdown during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-28, October.
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    7. Octave Jokung & Serge Macé, 2013. "Long-term health investment when people underestimate their adaptation to old age-related health problems," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 14(6), pages 1003-1013, December.
    8. Thomas Schofield & Melissa Merrick & Chia-Feng Chen, 2016. "Reciprocal Associations between Neighborhood Context and Parent Investments: Selection Effects in Two Longitudinal Samples," Working Papers wp16-08-ff, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing..

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