As people age, they react differently to others' problems: some become more open and tend to help, while others behave more harshly and distantly. According to experts, this difference is related to how a person interprets the losses experienced throughout life.
A long-term study by Stanford University shows that older people are generally more inclined to help others. However, other research also notes the opposite trend: some people become more closed off and prone to control as they age. Scientists believe that the main difference lies not in the quantity of losses, but in how they are perceived.
According to scientists, people who perceive losses as a process that "diminishes" them tend to manage their lives more rigidly, striving to create more control and protect what they have lost. Conversely, those who perceive losses as change and new opportunities become more open and behave more generously.
Experts state that two people experiencing the same life events can arrive at completely different psychological outcomes. It is precisely the subjective interpretation of events that determines the basis of behavior.
Researchers also draw attention to the "paradox of control." While controlling everything is thought to help in combating uncertainty, excessive control can have an adverse effect, leading to the weakening of social ties and a decrease in the quality of life.
At the same time, research from the National University of Singapore shows that people generally tend to become more generous as they age. This is explained by the perception of experience not as a limited resource, but as a source of knowledge and understanding.(lent.az)