PSC `156 Chapter 1 Lifespan Perspective and SOC

True/False: Dementia is a normal part of aging

False

World Health Organization: Dementia

cases will eventually surpass ___ million

worldwide by ___

157, 2050

How is progression of dementia slowed?

Healthy Lifestyle

What is Cognitive Heathspan?

Years without cognitive impairment

What is ageism?

A form of

discrimination against older

adults based on their age. “Old” concept / stereotype: old age = decline

Gerontology

The scientific

study of aging from maturity

through old age

What are the two phases of the lifespan perspective?

Early (infanthood, childhood, adolescence): rapid age-related gains in size & abilities

• Later (young adulthood, middle age, old age): slower changes
Development is complex, and difficult to encompass with one approach/theory

• Lifespan perspective emphasizes that human development takes a lifetime to complete

• → Lifelong development! The entire lifespan is important

Which of the following statements best aligns with the lifespan

perspective in gerontology? A. Aging is primarily a process of inevitable decline in physical and

cognitive abilities.

B. Human development is influenced by a combination of

biological, psychological, and social factors throughout life.

C. Older adults are less capable of learning new skills compared to

younger individuals.

D. Ageism is justified because older adults contribute less to

society.

B.

What are the 4 features of Balte’s Perspective?

Multi-Directionality, Plasticity, Historical Context, Multiple Causation

What is Multi-Directionality from Balte’s Perspective?

Development

involves growth and decline → growth

in one area may mean decline in

another area, and at different rates
Example: Adolescence is a prime example of simultaneous gains and losses in brain function, often termed "selective optimization."

Gain: Improved self-regulation, abstract thinking, and prefrontal cortex development.

Loss: A decline in raw spontaneity, impulsivity, and creativity as the brain becomes more focused on logical decision-making.

What is plasticity from Balte’s perspective?

One’s capacity is not

predetermined. Many skills can

be trained or improved with

practice, even in late life.

Example: Learning an instrument late in life, new language

What is historical context from Balte’s perspective?

Everyone develops

within a particular set of circumstances

determined by the historical time in

which we are born and the culture in

which we grow up.
Example: Living through Covid

What is Multiple Causation from Balte’s perspective?

How people

develop results from a wide

variety of forces (e.g., biological,

psychological, sociocultural, life

cycle forces)
Biological: genetic & health related factors

• Psychological : perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and

personality factors

• Socio-cultural: interpersonal, societal, cultural, and

ethnic factors

• Life-cycle: The same events can affect people

differently depending on timing (cohort effects)

Which example best illustrates multi-directionality, plasticity,

historical context, and multiple causation?

A. A 55-year-old recalls how growing up during the advent of the

internet shaped their communication habits and career

opportunities.

B. A 40-year-old balances work, family, and personal goals,

demonstrating the role of _____ in development.

C. 30-year-old changes careers multiple times, reflecting the idea

that development can take different directions at any age.

D. A 75-year-old learns to use a smartphone, showing that abilities

can adapt with training and effort.

A: Historical context
B: Multiple causation
C: multi directionality

D plasticity

What are some goals of the lifespan perspective?
To delineate the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors and _____ that are

the foundations of lifespan psychology

• To specify the biological and environmental ______ & _____ that shape development,

including the range of plasticity

mechanisms, opportunities and constraints

What are the key SOC model features?
a) An age-related _____ in the amount /

quality of biologically based resources

b) An age-related _____ in the amount / quality

of culture needed to generate growth

c) An age-related _____ in the efficiency of

using resources, as well as lack of resources

Requirement to shift more resources to maintain the same level of function for optimal aging

decrease
increase
decline

What does SOC Model stand for?

Selection, Optimization, Compensation. Selecting goals, optimizing resources to achieve those goals, and

compensating for losses to maintain functioning

What is Selection in the SOC Model with example?

As people age, they focus on or

select abilities deemed essential for functioning. Adjusting goals in response to loss of resources. Example: An older adult stops attending large parties (LBS) to focus only on small family gatherings. A pianist plays fewer pieces in concert. An older adult focuses only on reading, reducing other hobbies. Focusing energy on fewer, more important goals due to reduced resources (time, energy, health).

What is Optimization in the SOC Model with example?

Individuals then optimize

their behavior by focusing on this more limited

set of abilities. Example: practicing piano daily for two hours to improve proficiency. Practice a few compositions in more depth. Buying a magnifying lamp for better vision. Acquiring resources or refining skills to achieve the best possible results.

What is Compensation in the SOC model with examples?

People learn to

compensate for decline by designing workaround

strategies. Examples: switch to audiobooks or large-print books when eyesight declines further. use voice-to-text features to bypass fine motor skill difficulties, uses walking poles or knee braces, Adjusted relative

tempo to minimize

losses in keying

latency

. Using alternative means or technology to maintain performance despite losses.

What is a population pyramid? Can you analyze this one?

A graphic technique used to

illustrate changes in the age distribution of a population

What is culture?

Shared basic value orientations, norms,

beliefs, and customary habits and ways of living.

What is ethnicity?

An individual/collective sense of identity based on

historical and cultural group membership. There are solid and

fluid qualities of ethnic group identities.

Culture vs. ethnicity

Culture could be culture of America for example of personal space and shaking hands, ethnicity is more like ancestry and cultures from that that you may blend with the culture of where you are currently

Normative age-graded influences

Experiences strongly tied to

chronological age that occur to “most”

people at a particular age

Normative history-graded influences:

Events most people within a specific

culture experience at the same time

Non-normative influences:

Random; important for specific

individual

What will population be like in 2100?

Females outnumber males

• Older adults will be better educated

• Better education → longer life expectancy (higher income =

better health)

• Demographic shifts = adaption of social policies

• Countries may become economically strained

• Older adults are increasing across all

cultural groups

• Ageism & racism contribute to intersections

of discrimination in older adulthood

Which of the following statements about the demographics of

aging is TRUE?

A. The majority of older adults worldwide live in developed countries.

B. By 2050, the proportion of the global population aged 65 and older

is expected to double.

C. Older adults have consistently lower levels of education compared

to younger generations, regardless of region or time period.

D. The aging population is decreasing in low- and middle-income

countries due to shorter life expectancies.

B

Match each example with the correct type of influence:

A. Normative age-graded influence

B. Normative history-graded influence

C. Non-normative influence

1. Starting school at age 5 →

2. Living through World War II →

3. Winning a national art competition →

4. Retiring at age 65 →

5. Experiencing a major economic recession →

1. Starting school at age 5 → Normative age-graded

2. Living through World War II → Normative history-graded

3. Winning a national art competition → Non-normative

4. Retiring at age 65 → Normative age-graded

5. Experiencing a major economic recession → Normative history-graded

Which of the following best describes the core principles of the

SOC model (Selection, Optimization, and Compensation)?

A. Selecting one’s goals, avoiding risks, and compensating for

failures.

B. Setting priorities, organizing tasks, and completing them

efficiently.

C. Selecting goals, optimizing resources to achieve those goals, and

compensating for losses to maintain functioning.

D. Strategizing, observing outcomes, and changing behaviors to

align with external expectations

C