Did you know that older people are actually happier than most of us? According to psychologists it’s because of the fact that they spend most of their time reminiscing about their happy experiences in the past and forgetting about those which they find negative.

This helps older people have a positive and brighter outlook in life. However, a psychologist named Derek M. Isaacowitz of Northeastern University claimed that most of the researched on this theory regarding old age and happiness have no direct evidence. As a matter of fact, Isaacowitz and the late Fredda Blanchard-Fields insisted in an article in the journal, Perspectives on Psychological Science, that such theory requires further intensive research.

So far there are research findings that back the theory such as a study that showed how older people tend to go back to their happier moments in life by simply looking at pictures of faces and situations. In addition, there are also studies that revealed how older people engage in situations that can make them feel happier and this includes withdrawing themselves from those who can dampen their mood. Further, there are also findings that proved how older individuals learn to accept their disappointments in life especially with regard to goals which they failed to achieve in life. Instead, they make new goals geared toward their wellbeing.

However, Isaacowitz and Blanchard-Fields believe that there’s something missing and that’s the link between the strategies presented and the theory itself and the changes in feelings of these older individuals. Isaacowitz mentioned that some lab tests failed to deliver the required results. He said that this is evident in the process when they tried using cognitive processes in predicting the change in mood.

He also explained that looking at pictures doesn’t really make people happier or better about themselves. There are also some contradictions. For instance, some psychologists discovered that high scores in cognitive tests help older people feel happier while there are those that claimed that happiness among older individuals is due to cognitive loss which forced those to focus more on simpler and happier memories.

Isaacowitz also mentioned that intensive methods can only complicate the latest findings more. He added that even if research proves that older people are on average happier, they still want to find out what situations make them happier and what strategies a particular older individual utilizes and the qualities he or she possesses which contribute to happiness.