The moderation effect of cognitive fusion on behavioral assimilation to age stereotype

Abstract

This research aimed to identify manipulable variables that moderate the effects of behavioral assimilation to age stereotype (BAAS). From a contextual behavioral perspective, individuals who are cognitively fused with the conceptual self could be more vulnerable to the age stereotype. A total of 100 older adult participants were assigned to one of two conditions: age stereotype condition; or neutral information condition (i.e., control condition). Individual differences in “cognitive fusion with conceptual self,” “general cognitive fusion,” “mindfulness,” “perspective taking,” and “acting actively and flexibly in the world” were considered as moderator. Results indicated that “cognitive fusion with conceptual self” significantly moderated the effects of BAAS: participants who were more cognitively fused with the conceptual self were more vulnerable to the age stereotype. No significant moderating effects were found for the other four variables. These findings suggest that if the cognitive fusion with the conceptual self was modified the effects of BAAS would be mitigated.