Studies in the West have demonstrated that more everyday memory problems ar
e expected for typical older adults than for typical young adults. In order
to examine memory beliefs about aging in Asia, we conducted a study in Kor
ea which parallels that of Ryan and Kwong See (1993). We used the three sel
f-efficacy scales of the Metamemory in Adulthood instrument (Dixon & Hultsc
h, 1983) to determine whether age changes are anticipated for oneself as we
ll as for typical adults. Young adults (N = 468; mean age = 21.0 years) rat
ed the memory of either typical adults (aged 25, 45, or 65 years) or themse
lves at one of these ages. As in Ryan and Kwong See (1993), anticipation of
decline was obtained on two of the three self-efficacy scales (i.e., capac
ity and change). In addition, beliefs about everyday memory decline (i.e.,
capacity and locus) were weaker for the self than for typical others. Hence
, support was obtained for negative stereotypes about memory and aging in K
orea as well as a self-protection bias indicating stronger anticipation of
age-related decline among others.