Listen to this PodcastMore 60-Second Science
You know how grandma's always criticizing your new haircut or choice of clothing? Well, it might not hurt to listen. Because old folks who can't hold their tongues may give the best advice. That’s according to a study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. [Evan Apfelbaum, Anne Krendl and Nalini Ambady, http://bit.ly/9Y8OKp]
Researchers recruited 19 undergrads and 32 adults in their 60s and 70s. They split the older adults into two groups, based on the adults' abilities to control their behaviors and impulses—called executive function, which naturally declines with age. Then the researchers showed all three groups a photo of a visibly obese teen, along with a list of her complaints, like trouble sleeping and lack of energy—symptoms associated with childhood obesity.
What advice could they offer this girl? Well, only half of the higher functioning adults and a third of the college kids brought up the girl's weight as the possible source for her problems. But 80 percent of the adults with cognitive declines mentioned weight. They also gave twice as many helpful tips, like more exercise, a better diet, and delivered them with more empathy. So next time you need advice, try grandma or grandpa. But be prepared for brutal honesty.
—Christopher Intagliata
[The above text is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
See what we're tweeting about
12 Comments
Add CommentCould it not be that older folks no longer care for the social "niceties?" They know there are no significant social downsides to honest responses at their stage of life.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGrandma is independently wealthy and she won't hold her tongue. Were she broke she'd worry that someday you'd put her in that home she saw on 60 minutes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOr maybe it's because the old folk have more insight, (been there, done it, got the T shirt, got the scars) and more importantly, have the wisdom and experience to give better advice?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI should know, I'm really,really old...
AT LAST!! Finally someone will listen to me!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am not a girl; I am an adult male! I no more have grandma or grandpa!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBut I get the point: here not is 60-Second-Psych; in here we have 60-Second-Science that is overwhelmed with this psych stuff!
Too bad the astrophysical community won't listen to Grandpa's advice about dark matter, dark energy, etc.! What nonsense!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHonest advice does not equal useful, excellent, or the best advice. I appreciate the authors enthusiasm for the topic but the wording should be more accurate. plus what 'jtdwyer' said.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisEverybody thinks differently, it's the same with advice.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI always listen, because I don't always think of all the possibilities to a problem.
So it might sting a bit...get over it and move forward, if it's the right advice. If not...that's ok...ask another person.
Life is what it is and it's not always nice.
So learning disabled kids with executive functioning deficits who act out based on schools inability to accommodate them adequately should be listened to as well?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy mother was an excellent example of this. She got people to change with her frankness and kindness, and even got a major company to change an important policy. Of course I was impervious to her advice.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBut my favorite example of loss of executive function was the testimony, s a near neighbor, of the old Jewish lady from the Bronx at the Smith (Kennedy House) rape trial in Florida: "At my age I don't care who diddles who, no one wants to diddle me."
This is very true, every elderly person i know seems to not have a care in the world for social norms. But i just think its because they dont care anymore what others think of them.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is very true, every elderly person i know seems to not have a care in the world for social norms. But i just think its because they dont care anymore what others think of them.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this