CURIOSITY AND UNCERTAINTY IN YOUNG, MIDDLE AGED, AND OLDER ADULTS

Stereotypes about aging suggest that older adults should show decreased levels of curiosity. Sixty individuals, representing young, middle aged, and older adults, participated in a word frequency task measuring epistemic curiosity at varying levels of uncertainty. A measure of general or trait‐like curiosity, the Ontario Test of Intrinsic Motivation, was also administered. Results showed that age level was not significantly related to either epistemic (i.e., situational) curiosity or the more trait‐like curiosity scores. High levels of curiosity were reported by all age levels. A relationship between uncertainty level and curiosity was found in the young adult group only. After completing the word frequency problems, participants were also presented with a list of 160 words and asked to identify words they remembered seeing during the experiment. Correct recognition of target items was related to uncertainty level but not to age level. Explanations for these findings and their implications for stereotypes about aging are discussed.