Younger adults focus on growth and outcome, older adults on pursuing goals

Alexandra M. Freund, professor of psychology at the University of Zurich, finds in her research that contrary to the stereotype of a general decline in one’s later years, older adults are better at managing their lives and remaining motivated to complete difficult tasks. While younger adults are more oriented towards achieving gains and focus on outcomes, older adults have a stronger orientation towards maintenance and avoiding losses and they focus more on the process of pursuing their goals. This research suggests that a heterogeneous age mix in teams is beneficial for both companies and society at large.