Experimenting Counterclockwise: The Surprising Impact of Mindset and Environment on Aging

 

 

Ellen Langer's "Counterclockwise" experiment was a study conducted in 1979 that explored the effects of environment and mindset on physical and mental health. The results were groundbreaking for its time when it came to the health of older adults.

 

 

Experiment background and motivation

 

Ellen Langer was a professor of psychology at Harvard University, primarily interested in the complexities of cognition, decision-making, and the aging process. She postulated that the physical and mental changes that people undergo as they age are strongly influenced by social and psychological factors, and sought to understand how environment and mindset affect the aging process.
In particular, we focused on the concepts of 'mindfulness' and 'unconditioned living', looking at the link between how people perceive and react to their experiences and environment and their actual behaviour and mental health. We believed that the automatic and conditioned responses that are prevalent in society limit our abilities and prevent us from recognising wider possibilities, and that if we can break those patterns, positive change will occur.

 

Interest in aging

 

Langer was particularly interested in the impact of social and psychological factors on the aging process, wanting to understand how social expectations, stereotypes, and individual self-perceptions affect the actual aging process and health. For example, he hypothesised that the negative perceptions that older people have of being 'old' in society may actually worsen their physical and mental health.

 

 

"Counterclockwise" experiment

 

Against this backdrop, Langer wanted to explore whether, by allowing older people to 'go back' to their youth and experience the environments and situations of that time, they could induce positive changes in their physical and mental health. The hypothesis was that 'allowing older people to perceive themselves in a younger state could have a positive impact on their physical and mental health status'. In other words, we wanted to specifically measure the impact of psychological and social factors on the ageing process and to find out to what extent age-related physical and cognitive degeneration could be reversed.
With this experiment, Langer hoped to expand our understanding of the aging process and explore new approaches to improve the quality of life for older adults.

 

 

Experimental Design

 

Langer and her team divided the participants into two groups. One group was placed in the "counterclockwise" condition and asked to act as if they were back in 1959, while the other group was set up as a control group that simply reminisced about the same time period.
In other words, the purpose of Ellen Langer's "Counterclockwise" experiment was to explore whether older participants could induce positive changes in their physical and cognitive health by immersing themselves in the environment of their youth.

 

Participant Selection

 

The participants were all healthy men over the age of 75, who were in relatively good health despite their age and had sufficient cognitive and physical ability to participate in the experiment.

 

Set up experimental groups

 

"Counterclockwise" condition group: 

Participants in this group were asked to behave as if they were back in the environment of 1959. To do this, participants spent a week in a specially created environment that recreated the lifestyle of 1959. Participants were instructed to act as they were 20 years ago, not as they are today.

Control group: Participants in the control group simply participated in activities that reminisced about 1959. This group was surrounded by an environment from the same time period, but unlike the "Counterclockwise" condition group, they were not asked to act as if they had gone back in time.

 

Recreating environments

 

The team worked to recreate the 1959 environment as accurately as possible. To do so, they used the following elements
Furniture and decorations: We decorated the space with furniture and decorations that reflected the style of the time.
Newspapers and TV programmes: We provided newspapers from 1959 and popular TV programmes to immerse participants in the news and entertainment of the time.
Music: We played music that was popular at the time to create an atmosphere of the past.
Costumes: Participants were encouraged to wear clothing from 1959.

 

Guidelines for action

 

Participants in the "Counterclockwise" condition group were asked to talk about past events in the present tense and to behave in the same way they did when they were younger. They were immersed in the language, behaviours, and ways of thinking of their younger selves in an environment that made them feel like they were back in time, including everyday activities such as eating, resting, and having casual conversations. The idea was to explore whether allowing participants to perceive themselves as their younger selves could lead to positive changes in their physical and mental health.

 

Changes over the course of the experiment

 

Physical and Cognitive Ability Assessment

 

Before and after the experiment, the participants were assessed for their physical and cognitive abilities. The assessments included physical flexibility, strength, perceptual ability, memory, and cognitive function, and the research team used the assessments to measure changes in the participants' health and ability to be active.
The experiment allowed us to observe and analyse the impact of environment and mindset on the physical and mental health of older adults, and the results showed that participants could experience positive changes in their physical and cognitive functioning by immersing themselves in a bygone era.

 

Changing participants' behaviour and attitudes

 

Participants placed in the "Counterclockwise" condition gradually behaved as if they were returning to their old selves: they were more energetic, actively engaged in activities, and were more positive and active in everyday conversation. Compared to the control group, they appeared younger and more active.

 

Behavioural changes

Increased engagement in activities: By taking on the roles of their youth in a time-travelling environment, the older adults in the experiment became more energetic and began to engage in a variety of activities: discussing past events, watching TV programmes from the period, listening to music, and more.
Increased physical activity: Participants moved more during the experiment and were more engaged in their daily physical activities, which led to improvements in their physical flexibility and strength.

 

Changes in attitude

Positive mindset: Participants developed a more positive mindset over the course of the experiment. The experience of returning to their past selves gave them confidence and a more positive attitude towards their current lives.
Increased social interaction: 

Participants became more socially active, engaging in more activities and interacting with each other. This change demonstrates the importance of social support networks and the impact of social interaction on older adults' mental health.

 

Changes in self-perception

Perception of youthfulness: 

Participants placed in the "Counterclockwise" condition began to feel younger and perceive themselves as more active and vibrant than before. Changes in self-perception also contributed to improvements in physical and mental health.

 

 

 

Experimental results

 

At the end of the experiment, participants in the "Counterclockwise" condition showed noticeable physical and mental improvements: they had better finger length, joint flexibility, intelligence, memory, and a number of other physical and cognitive metrics, and some participants even noticed improvements in their vision and hearing.

 

Improve physical performance

 

Finger length and joint flexibility: Participants experienced increased finger length and joint flexibility, which can be attributed to changes in the human body due to increased physical activity and motor skills. 
Improved vision and hearing: Some of the participants also improved their vision and hearing. These improvements in sensory function were unexpected and suggest that the environment and mindset can have a positive impact on the body's sensory systems.

 

Improve cognitive performance

 

Intelligence and memory: Participants showed improvements in intelligence and memory, including higher scores on tests of cognitive function. This suggests that the experience of travelling back in time and immersing yourself in the past can stimulate cognitive stimulation, which can improve memory and thinking.

 

Psychological and emotional changes

 

Self-perception and emotional state: Participants began to perceive themselves as younger and more energetic, and this shift in thinking had a positive impact on their emotional state and confidence. Positive self-perception plays an important role in increasing overall life satisfaction.

 

 

Experiment implications

 

The "Counterclockwise" experiment has become an important example of the impact of mindset and environment on physical and mental health: it demonstrates how people internalise social expectations and beliefs about their age, and how these affect their actual health and abilities, and also suggests that a positive mindset and active lifestyle can slow the aging process to some extent.

 

Social expectations and internalisation

 

People often internalise social expectations and stereotypes about aging, and these internalised beliefs can have a significant impact on behaviour, attitudes and physical health. This "Counterclockwise" experiment showed that by immersing participants in an environment reminiscent of their youth, they were able to let go of social expectations of ageing and reconnect with their healthier, younger selves, which led to a more vibrant and active self-image.

 

The reversibility of the aging process

 

Aging was largely considered an irreversible biological process. This experiment showed that aging, which is characterised by physical decline, cognitive impairment, and reduced regenerative capacity, can potentially be mitigated or improved, suggesting that given the right conditions and stimuli, it is possible to improve the physical and cognitive functioning of older adults.

 

The power of mindsets

 

The findings show that an individual's mindset and self-perception can have a significant impact on their physical and mental wellbeing. It can be argued that maintaining a positive mindset plays an important role in fostering a healthy lifestyle in old age.

 

 

Implications for geriatric health care

 

"Counterclockwise" experiments are providing new approaches to geriatric health care and treatment strategies. Creating an active and positive environment, promoting social interaction, and encouraging a positive mindset can improve the quality of life for older adults and lead to healthy aging.

 

 

Conclusion

 

More than just a scientific study, Ellen Langer's "counterclockwise" experiment was a landmark example of exploring the complex interplay between human perceptions of aging and the actual physiological changes that follow. It suggested that the aging process we encounter in our daily lives and our attitudes toward it are not just the natural consequences of the passage of time. Rather, it demonstrates how deeply embedded societal expectations and individual self-perceptions can have a profound impact on our physical and mental health.
By showing that the right combination of environment and mindset can promote physical and cognitive functioning in older adults and offer the possibility of leading a more vibrant life, this study calls for us to redefine our perceptions of ageing and explore new strategies to improve quality of life in old age. 
In conclusion, this study is not just about exploring the possibility of physical and mental improvement through travelling back in time, it is also about encouraging people to rediscover the deep inner power they can have over their own health and life. The 'counter-clockwise' experiment is reminding us of the scale of change that a positive mindset and environment can have on physical and mental health and quality of life, and it is encouraging us to rethink strategies around geriatric healthcare and emphasising that it is an essential element in maintaining a healthier and more vibrant life at any age.