New research indicates that older people are “more likely to choose to read negative articles about those younger than themselves. They also tended to show less interest in articles about older people, whether negative or positive.” The researchers think older people may get a self-esteem boost from the negative coverage. “Living in a youth centered culture, they may appreciate a boost in self-esteem,” said Dr. Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, one of the study’s authors. “That’s why they prefer the negative stories about younger people, who are seen as having a higher status in our society.” Younger people, in contrast, preferred to read positive stories about other young’uns. (HT: Marginal Revolution) [%comments]
Grumpy Old Men?
TAGS: elderly, psychology
and 
. You can also watch it on 
The older I get (no ,67), the more I dislike the new crop of youth.
First of all, many are to be despised due to their materialsim, values, lack of interest in what I consider to be ‘high culture,’ little knowledge of history…
But, that is due to the collective ambiance — i.e, society and the older generation who instilled in them little of what is important and concentrated on the superficial.
But, how I envy youth — but, when you are part of that portion of life, you’re too immature to appreciate it. (GBS)
And so it goes…
As they say, youth is wasted on all the wrong people.
Thank you, Science!
Well, character does not improve with age, in my experience. If you’re an irritable 30-year-old, you’ll only be worse when you’re 60. But still, as a middle-aged codger, I can say for myself that I don’t enjoy reading depressing stories about ANY demographic group.
Read the research, people. This was done in Germany, with a participant group that cannot be large enough or diverse enough to explicate to the universal. The real topic here should be “people will believe anything they read, if it comes from a scientist.”