Abstract
Trait impressions of faces may differ between older and younger adults (YA) that may be explained by a number of phenomena. The dedifferentiation hypothesis of cognitive aging suggests that older adults' (OA) cognitive processes become less distinct over time (Ghisletta & de Ribaupierre, 2005). This study evaluates age-related behavioral dedifferentiation in first impressions of faces by analyzing the degree to which older or younger adults use a rating scale when rating trait impressions of both older and younger faces. OA differentiated less than YA on ratings of babyfaceness, competence, health, trustworthiness, and hostility, but not attractiveness. An own-age bias was only partially supported in ratings of health, attractiveness and untrustworthiness. The positivity effect was only supported minimally in differentiation of the most untrustworthy faces. Finally, correlations between measures of cognitive and sensory abilities paralleled differentiation of trait impressions from faces between older and younger adults.