a lifespan theory of motivation positing that as people age, they reorganize their goals to give priority to those that are emotionally meaningful (.e.g., satisfying relationships) rather than to those that are future oriented (e.g. seeking new challenges). The theory predicts that people who are older or who are in other situations that place constraints on time attach greater importance to increasing emotional closeness with significant others than do people who are younger or perceive time as relatively open ended. [first proposed in 1993 by U.S. psychologist Laura L. Carstensen]