Chapter 1-5 for Test 1

First few chapters to be studied to ace the first test

Gerontology

the scientific study of aging from maturity through old age, has changed our understanding of aging and the aging process.

Ageism

myths about aging that lead to negative stereotypes of older people that lead to a form of discrimination against older adults based on their age.

Life-span perspective

the divide of human development into two phases: an early phase (childhood to adolescence) and the later phase (young adulthood, middle age and old age).

The early phases is characterized by:

rapid age-related increases in people’s size and abilities.

During the later phase:

changes in size are slow, but abilities, perspectives, knowledge, and other characteristics continue to develop as people continue adapting to the environment.

What are the key features of the life-span perspective:

multidirectionality, plasticity, historical context, and multiple causation

What is multidirectionality?

development that involves both growth and decline; as people grow in one area, they lose in another and at different rates.

What is an example of a multidirectionality?

the tendency for people’s vocabulary ability tends to increase throughout the life, but reaction time tends to slow down.

What is plasticity?

What is historical context?

What is multiple causation?