Expectations about memory change across the life span are impacted by aging stereotypes.

This study examined whether expectations about memory change with age vary for different personality types. Four adjectives from each of M. L. Hummert, T. A. Garstka, J. L. Shaner, and S. Strahm's (1994) age-stereotype trait sets were selected to create 11 adjective clusters varying in both valence (positive vs. negative) and relevance to memory functioning. There were 373 participants in 3 age groups who rated the memory abilities of target adults, defined by the adjective clusters, across the adult life span. Consistent with past studies, participants believed in age-related memory decline. However, participants rated target adults with positive personality traits as having better memory ability and less age-related memory decline than target adults with negative personality traits. This effect was larger when the traits were relevant to memory than when they were not. Finally, older participants were more strongly influenced by both the valence and the relevance of the personality descriptions than younger participants.