Abstract:

Fraud targeting older adults has increased dramatically in recent years. Criminals frequently exploit age-related stereotypes to manipulate older adults’ trust and successfully commit fraudulent acts. Among various negative aging stereotypes, the loneliness stereotype—which portrays older adults as lonely and socially isolated—is particularly prevalent across cultures. As a socially relevant stereotype closely tied to interpersonal relationships, the loneliness stereotype may have a unique influence on older adults’ trust behaviors. Specifically, activating the loneliness stereotype may heighten older adults’ need for emotional companionship and social connection, thereby increasing their trust toward others, including potential fraudsters. However, no research has systematically examined how activating loneliness stereotypes affects trust behavior in older adults, nor has the underlying psychological mechanism been explored. To address this gap, the present study draws on Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST) and Dynamic Integration Theory (DIT) to systematically investigate the relationship between loneliness stereotypes and trust decisions in older adults, examining both the characteristics of this effect and its underlying mechanisms.