Chapter 15 Psych 241

Middle Age

A social construct reflecting new midlife roles.

Presbyopia

Difficulty focusing on nearby objects with age.

Myopia

Nearsightedness, difficulty seeing distant objects.

Brightness Compensation

Need for ⅓ more brightness due to aging.

Presbycusis

Gradual age-related hearing loss, faster in men.

Multitasking Decline

Decreased ability to ignore distractions with age.

Sensory Declines

Gradual loss in sensory and psychomotor abilities.

Bone Density Loss

Common reduction of bone density in midlife.

Vital Capacity

Max air volume lungs can expel and inhale.

Hypertension

Major health issue prevalent in middle age.

Cancer Prevalence

Cancer surpassed heart disease as leading death cause.

Diabetes Increase

Prevalence of diabetes has doubled in midlife.

Postmenopausal Susceptibility

Increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

Breast Cancer Risk

Increases with age, particularly in women.

Hormone Therapy

Effective for menopause symptoms but carries risks.

Life Expectancy

Women generally live longer than men.

Cognitive Prime

Middle-aged individuals often in cognitive prime.

Fluid Intelligence

Ability to solve novel problems without prior knowledge.

Crystallized Intelligence

Using lifetime-acquired knowledge for problem-solving.

Encapsulation

Fluid intelligence dedicated to specific knowledge areas.

Postformal Thought

Integrative thinking useful in complex situations.

Creativity and Intelligence

Creativity is not strongly linked to intelligence.

Retirement Age

Average age of retirement has increased.

Cognitive Flexibility

Improved by engaging in complex work.

Literacy Training Need

Urgent requirement in the US and globally.