FORGETFUL BUT FORGIVEN - HOW AGE AND LIFE-STYLE AFFECT PERCEPTIONS OFMEMORY FAILURE

Young and older perceivers read a narrative in which a forgetful young or old target was described as having either a young or old life styl e. Perceivers attributed memory failures more to mental difficulty for old targets hat to lack of effort for young targets, regardless of li fe style. Life style did make a difference in perceivers' memory opini on and sympathy for the old but not for the young targets. Perceivers had a less negative memory opinion when the old target had all old rat her than a young life style. Also, the old target with the old life st yle elicited a greater degree of sympathy irt young perceivers, but a lesser degree of sympathy in older perceivers.