Social behavior and off-target verbosity in elderly people

This study investigated social behavior in older adults with varying levels of off-target verbosity (OTV). After screening 455 adults in Phase 1, 198 individuals were selected to participate in both a get-acquainted conversat ion and an experimental cues situation and to complete social and cognitive measures. Higher OTV participants had lower cognitive inhibitory scores, t alked more, were less interested in their partners, and focused more on the mselves. Their conversational partners were less satisfied. Age and cogniti ve functioning were not related to OTV scores or conversational style for l ow-and mid-range participants. Although high-OTV individuals talked less wh en exposed to social cues signalling boredom, they spoke more relative to o ther participants. Self-reported social behavior had little relation with O TV and conversational style, but higher OTV individuals were less accurate in judging videotaped social interactions. Gender differences in conversati onal behavior are also discussed.