Do people really become less interested in friendship and socializing as the get older?
A. A lot of research has been done on this topic. Some theorists claimed that loss of interest in other people, and “turning inward,” was a natural, even “adaptive” response as one approached the end of one’s life, but the research evidence shows that this is not true. People don’t lose interest in social relationships as they get older. However their interests and objectives for socializing do change. Whereas younger people are interested in exploring new relationships, especially ones that will give them new opportunities to learn and make useful social and business contacts, older adults are interested primarily in relating to the people who are already important to them–that is, long standing friends and especially family members. These enduring and cherished relationships remain as important as ever, and may even become more important. In fact, older adults are very successful at deriving emotional satisfaction from these relationships.
