Dr. Ellen Langer

In fact, the other day, and the other day now means years ago, I was helping this woman with something, and somebody dear to me said, you're probably 20 years older than she is. I had no sense. I thought I was helping this old person. age is just not a relevant factor for me. Sometimes you want to be aware of age.

In fact, the other day, and the other day now means years ago, I was helping this woman with something, and somebody dear to me said, you're probably 20 years older than she is. I had no sense. I thought I was helping this old person. age is just not a relevant factor for me. Sometimes you want to be aware of age.

In fact, the other day, and the other day now means years ago, I was helping this woman with something, and somebody dear to me said, you're probably 20 years older than she is. I had no sense. I thought I was helping this old person. age is just not a relevant factor for me. Sometimes you want to be aware of age.

We did some research where we had people who, you know, they're accused in the environment that often tell us how old we are, and those are not always so good. So for example, if I, at my age, I'm in a fancy store and I go to buy, let's say, a dress, a skirt, okay? It would be inappropriate for me to buy a miniskirt. I'm too old to be wearing almost nothing there, right?

We did some research where we had people who, you know, they're accused in the environment that often tell us how old we are, and those are not always so good. So for example, if I, at my age, I'm in a fancy store and I go to buy, let's say, a dress, a skirt, okay? It would be inappropriate for me to buy a miniskirt. I'm too old to be wearing almost nothing there, right?

We did some research where we had people who, you know, they're accused in the environment that often tell us how old we are, and those are not always so good. So for example, if I, at my age, I'm in a fancy store and I go to buy, let's say, a dress, a skirt, okay? It would be inappropriate for me to buy a miniskirt. I'm too old to be wearing almost nothing there, right?

So clothing tells you how old the person is. Now, we did research, just archival research, with people who wore uniforms, right? Now, if you're wearing a uniform from the first day you start working, you're there 30 years, there's no difference. Okay. There's no age-relevant cue. And in those situations are healthier. Really? Yeah. Because they're not getting the cue that they're old.

So clothing tells you how old the person is. Now, we did research, just archival research, with people who wore uniforms, right? Now, if you're wearing a uniform from the first day you start working, you're there 30 years, there's no difference. Okay. There's no age-relevant cue. And in those situations are healthier. Really? Yeah. Because they're not getting the cue that they're old.

So clothing tells you how old the person is. Now, we did research, just archival research, with people who wore uniforms, right? Now, if you're wearing a uniform from the first day you start working, you're there 30 years, there's no difference. Okay. There's no age-relevant cue. And in those situations are healthier. Really? Yeah. Because they're not getting the cue that they're old.

Yeah, I do actually. I think that when we start entertaining these negative thoughts and evaluating ourselves, we're always going to find evidence. As you get older, you start, oh, my God, am I forgetful? So you pay attention each time you forget, and that makes it even worse. When I said to my students in this health class, smart kids at Harvard, this is on Thursday. I teach Tuesday and Thursday.

Yeah, I do actually. I think that when we start entertaining these negative thoughts and evaluating ourselves, we're always going to find evidence. As you get older, you start, oh, my God, am I forgetful? So you pay attention each time you forget, and that makes it even worse. When I said to my students in this health class, smart kids at Harvard, this is on Thursday. I teach Tuesday and Thursday.

Yeah, I do actually. I think that when we start entertaining these negative thoughts and evaluating ourselves, we're always going to find evidence. As you get older, you start, oh, my God, am I forgetful? So you pay attention each time you forget, and that makes it even worse. When I said to my students in this health class, smart kids at Harvard, this is on Thursday. I teach Tuesday and Thursday.

I said, what was the last thing I said in class on Tuesday? Nobody remembers. I said, you must be getting dementia. All right. So that when a young person forgets, it's okay. They don't pay any attention to the forgetting. As you get older and you forget, you get less involved in what you're doing.

I said, what was the last thing I said in class on Tuesday? Nobody remembers. I said, you must be getting dementia. All right. So that when a young person forgets, it's okay. They don't pay any attention to the forgetting. As you get older and you forget, you get less involved in what you're doing.

I said, what was the last thing I said in class on Tuesday? Nobody remembers. I said, you must be getting dementia. All right. So that when a young person forgets, it's okay. They don't pay any attention to the forgetting. As you get older and you forget, you get less involved in what you're doing.

If you're trying to learn something, you have the competing part of you saying that you're not going to remember this and so on. And independent of all of this, I think a lot of the loss in memory has nothing to do with memory. You know, when I was young and you're introducing me to people, I thought it was important for me to remember their names. Andrew, I know, doesn't speak well of me.

If you're trying to learn something, you have the competing part of you saying that you're not going to remember this and so on. And independent of all of this, I think a lot of the loss in memory has nothing to do with memory. You know, when I was young and you're introducing me to people, I thought it was important for me to remember their names. Andrew, I know, doesn't speak well of me.

If you're trying to learn something, you have the competing part of you saying that you're not going to remember this and so on. And independent of all of this, I think a lot of the loss in memory has nothing to do with memory. You know, when I was young and you're introducing me to people, I thought it was important for me to remember their names. Andrew, I know, doesn't speak well of me.

I don't really care. You're going to introduce me to five of your—what do I care? If I'm going to need their names, chances are I will meet them again, right? So afterwards, if you say to me, remember Jim, and I say to you, which one was Jim? It wasn't that I forgot, right? To forget means I had to have learned it in the first place.

I don't really care. You're going to introduce me to five of your—what do I care? If I'm going to need their names, chances are I will meet them again, right? So afterwards, if you say to me, remember Jim, and I say to you, which one was Jim? It wasn't that I forgot, right? To forget means I had to have learned it in the first place.