The article by Laura L. Carstensen explores the significant role of the subjective sense of future time in human motivation and development. As people age, the subjective sense of remaining time becomes a better predictor of behavior than chronological age. Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) posits that as time horizons shrink, individuals prioritize emotional regulation over knowledge acquisition. This shift is evident in various contexts, including geographical relocations, illnesses, and wars, which also limit subjective future time. SST explains why older adults prioritize emotionally close social partners and prefer emotionally positive information, even though they may have smaller social networks. Recent research indicates that older adults process negative information less deeply than positive information, which aligns with their preference for emotionally meaningful experiences. These findings suggest that motivational changes, rather than biological or psychological decline, account for many age-related differences in behavior and preferences.The article by Laura L. Carstensen explores the significant role of the subjective sense of future time in human motivation and development. As people age, the subjective sense of remaining time becomes a better predictor of behavior than chronological age. Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) posits that as time horizons shrink, individuals prioritize emotional regulation over knowledge acquisition. This shift is evident in various contexts, including geographical relocations, illnesses, and wars, which also limit subjective future time. SST explains why older adults prioritize emotionally close social partners and prefer emotionally positive information, even though they may have smaller social networks. Recent research indicates that older adults process negative information less deeply than positive information, which aligns with their preference for emotionally meaningful experiences. These findings suggest that motivational changes, rather than biological or psychological decline, account for many age-related differences in behavior and preferences.