PSYC289 UNL Exam 3

Transition to adulthood

Role changes such as finishing education, starting work, independent living, marriage/parenthood.

Emerging adulthood

Period (≈18-25) of identity exploration and delayed adult roles in Western societies.

Telomeres

DNA end caps that shorten with each cell division, linked to cellular aging.

Cross-linkage theory

Aging caused by protein fibers in connective tissue forming bonds, reducing elasticity.

Fluid intelligence

Ability to solve novel reasoning problems; peaks in early adulthood then declines.

Crystallized intelligence

Accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; increases through middle adulthood.

Postformal thought

Adult cognitive stage characterized by relativistic, less absolute thinking integrating emotion and logic.

Epistemic cognition

How individuals justify beliefs and decisions, evolving from dualism to relativism and commitment.

Climacteric

The biological transition of midlife when fertility and hormone levels change.

Menopause

Cessation of menstruation in women, typically around age 52, marking end of reproductive capacity.

Andropause

Gradual age-related decline in testosterone in men, sometimes causing physical and mood changes.

Seattle Longitudinal Study

Schaie's study showing many cognitive abilities remain stable through midlife.

Generativity vs. stagnation

Erikson's midlife stage: contributing to society vs. self-focused inertia.

Big Five personality traits

Five broad dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism.

Sandwich generation

Adults caring simultaneously for their children and aging parents.

Neurofibrillary tangles

Twisted fibers inside brain neurons associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Implicit memory

Unconscious memory (e.g., skills) that is less affected by aging than explicit recall.

Associative memory

Ability to form links between unrelated items; declines significantly in late adulthood.

Selective optimization with compensation

Strategy of focusing on key activities, maximizing performance, and compensating for losses.

Integrity vs. despair

Erikson's final stage: reflecting on life with satisfaction vs. regret.

Disengagement theory

Idea that aging involves mutual withdrawal between older adults and society.

Continuity theory

Aging adults maintain consistent patterns of behavior, preferences, and relationships.

Socioemotional selectivity theory

Older adults prioritize emotional goals and close relationships as time horizons shrink.

Dementia

Broad term for cognitive decline severe enough to interfere with daily life, including Alzheimer's.

Amyloid plaques

Protein deposits between neurons in Alzheimer's disease that disrupt cell function.