Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Definition
Socio-emotional selectivity theory is a psychological theory that suggests as people age, they prioritize the pursuit of emotional satisfaction and meaningful relationships over acquiring new information or expanding their social networks.