Glossary
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
What is socioemotional selectivity theory?
Socioemotional selectivity theory explains how our sense of time remaining affects social goals. When the future feels expansive, gaining knowledge and forming new relationships may take priority. When time feels limited, emotionally meaningful experiences and close relationships may matter more.
Carstensen, Isaacowitz, and Charles put perceived time horizon at the center of the theory. Age is related to that perspective, but it is not the only influence. A change in someone's sense of an ending can also change priorities.
Example
Someone who expects to move away soon might choose an evening with close friends over an event for meeting new professional contacts. The example illustrates a limited time horizon making emotional meaning more important; it does not imply that the same person always rejects new relationships.
Why it matters
The theory concerns which goals matter most as perceived time horizons change. People of the same age can have different time horizons and priorities.