ATTRIBUTIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEMORY PROBLEMS IN OLDER AND YOUNGER ADULTS

This study investigated older and younger persons' responsibility attr ibutions for the cause of and solution to a memory problem and, for co mparison, a weight problem. Traditional college-age students (n = 116) and persons over 65 years of age (n = 98) read a vignette describing either a 25-year-old or 65-year-old who had a memory or weight problem . Results indicated that both the age of the help-seeker and problem t ype affected attributions. Specifically, the 65-year-old was perceived to be less responsible than the 25-year-old for the cause of and solu tion to a memory problem. In addition, help-seekers with a memory prob lem were held less responsible for causing and solving their problem t han were help-seekers with a weight problem.