Social perceptions of failures in memory monitoring

Can repetitious verbal behavior elicit negative stereotypes about age, memo ry, and competence? Young adults (n = 102 M age 19.3 years) and community-d welling older adults (n = 98, M age 67.3 years) read a script containing a hypothetical conversation between 2 female targets. In the experimental con dition, I of the targets repeated several statements during the conversatio n. Significant Target X Condition interactions were obtained on measures of perceived age, competence, and memory ability. The results demonstrate tha t conversational behavior may contribute to negative age-related perception s in the same way as other external markers of age (e.g., vocal and facial features).