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Do people get more emotional as they get older? The surprising shift in emotional regulation and experience

Contrary to the stereotype of the cranky older person, research consistently shows that negative emotions generally decrease with age. Instead of getting more emotional, studies indicate that most older adults develop better emotional regulation, focus more on positive experiences, and report higher levels of emotional well-being compared to their younger counterparts. This phenomenon is explained by psychological theories like socioemotional selectivity theory, which explores how our perception of time shapes our motivational priorities.