What Research Tells Us About Aging with Professor Rebecca Levy – Emotional Pro

January 4th, 2007

1/4/2007 Thursday 9am to 10am Pacific Time
Whether you’re now young, middle age, Baby Boomer or “Senior,” you’ll be interested to know what Yale researcher Dr. Becca Levy has discovered about what “works” and what “doesn’t work” in helping us to pass through the life stage of “aging” in the best ways possible. We’re looking at cross-cultural aging, stereotypes, memory, stress and physical performance as we kick off our month of looking at the topic of “Aging.”
Segment 1: What Impact Does TV Have on Aging?
Our images of old age may be in our brains as young as 4 years old. One way they enter is through television images and stereotypes. Dr. Levy discusses her research on ageism on television and its effects on subjects, along with ideas on how we might change the negative stereotypes we hold. Don’t miss her discussion of Baby Boomers, who (as a group) don’t want to BE “old.”
Segment 2: Is Memory Loss Inevitable in Aging?
Drs. Langer and Levy conducted some cross-cultural research with surprising results! Hear what they discovered when comparing cultures and groups that revere older people, versus the American, which does not. Most surprising is what was demonstrated with memory loss. Dr. Levy lists some of the negative stereotypes of aging, along with some positive stereotypes you might wish to use instead!
Segment 3: The Importance Remaining Beneficial to Life
A fascinating study of people interviewed in the 1970’s, studied 23 years later, that revealed that people with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived an average 7.5 years longer than others! Listen as we discuss “will to live,” what Dr. Levy is investigating now, and how her investigations have impacted her own life and thinking.

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