EMOTIONAL CONTROL IN ADULTHOOD

Although it is widely believed that emotions vary with age, there is a dearth of information on emotional experiences in later adulthood. Se veral researchers think that older adults experience less emotional in tensity than younger people while others have suggested that aging is accompanied by a decrease in positive affect and an increase in negati ve emotions. Sex similarities and differences in emotionality have als o been documented. This study focuses on age and sex similarities and differences in emotional control. Three hundred and twenty seven men a nd women aged 19 to 92 years were administered two emotion measures. T he results support previous research which suggests that the control o f emotions increases with age. In evaluating sex differences in emotio nal control, women scored as more emotionally expressive than men, a f inding which is consistent with previous research. Results are discuss ed in relation to socioemotional selectivity theory.