HLD Final Exam Vocab

successful aging

characterizes individuals whose physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development is maintained longer than for most individuals and declines later for most people

integrity

through many different routes the older adult may have developed a positive outlook, developed the view of life well- spent, and create a sense of satisfaction

despair

if the older adult resolved one or more of the earlier stages in a negative way, retrospective glances about the total worth of their life might be negative

selective optimization with compensation theory

the theory that successful aging is related to three main factors: selection, optimization, and compensation

pathological aging

characterizes individuals who show greater than average decline as they age through the adult years, may have cognitive impairment in old age, or have chronic diseases that impair daily functioning

conscientiousness

a personality trait associated with a number of other positive outcomes, such as less cognitive decline

normal aging

characterizes most individuals, for whom psychological functioning often peaks in early middle age, remains relatively stable until the late fifties to early sixties, and then shows a modest decline through the early eighties, with marked decline can occur as individuals near death.

social support

thomas, 2010, found that older adults perceived their well being as better when they provided social support to others than when they received it

activity theory

the theory that the more active and involved older adults are, the more likely they are to be satisfied with their lives

life review

prominent in the final stage of life, involves looking back on life experiences and evaluating, interpreting, and often reinterpreting past experiences

ageism

prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person's age, especially against older adults

socioemotional selectivity theory

The theory that motivation changes as a function of time horizons, when time horizons are limited, as they are in late adulthood, there is a shift toward priorities that favor emotional meaning and satisfaction, older adults become more selective about their social networks.

contemporary life-events approach

emphasizes how a life event influences the individual's development depends not only on the life event, but also on mediating factors,

fight or flight

the view that when men experience stress, they are more likely to become aggressive, withdraw from social contact, or drink alcohol

stagnation

sometimes called the "self-absorption"- develops when individuals sense that they have done little or nothing for the next generation

intergenerational relationships

Adults in midlife play important roles in the lives of the young and the old, share experience and transmit values to the younger generation and providing care for the older generation

generativity

adults' desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation

US grandparents

characterized by higher parental efficacy, greater role satisfaction, better well being, and more attachment than Chinese grandparents

divorce rates

while the rates have gone down for young adults, but have increase for middle adults

empty nest syndrome

includes a decline in marital satisfaction after children leave the home

tend and befriend

the view that when women experience stress, they are more likely to seek social alliances with friends, especially other female friends

affectionate love

this type of love increases during middle adulthood

cumulative personality model

with time and age, people become more adept at interacting with their environment in ways that promote the stability of personality

big five factors of personality

the broad traits that encompass more narrow traits and characteristics

grief

the emotional numbness, disbelief, separation anxiety, despair, sadness, and loneliness that accompany the loss of someone we love

hospice

a program committed to making the end of life as free from pain, anxiety, and depression as possible, the goals of hospice care contrast with those of a hospital which are to cure disease and prolong life

brain death

a neurological definition of death- an individual is dead when all electrical activity of the brain has ceased for a specified period of time

complicated grief

grief that involves enduring despair and remains unresolved over an extended period of time

palliative care

emphasized in hospice care; involves reducing pain and suffering and helping individuals die with dignity

bargaining

the third stage of dying, the dying person develops hope that death can somehow be postpones

passive euthanasia

the withholding of available treatments, such as life-sustaining devices, allowing the person to die

assisted suicide

involves a physician supplying the information and/or the means of committing suicide but requiring the patient to self-administer the lethal medication and to decide when and where to do this

dual-process model

a model of coping with bereavement that emphasizes oscillation between loss-oriented stressors and restoration-oriented stressors

denial and isolation

first stage of dying, in which the dying person denies that she or he is really going to die

active euthanasia

death induced deliberately, as by injecting a lethal dose of a drug by physician or third party

acceptance

the fifth stage of dying, in which the dying person develops a sense of peace and acceptance of their fate and in many cases desire to be left alone

Climateric

A term used to describe the midlife transition during which fertility declines

Crystalized Intelligence

An individual’s accumulated information and verbal skills, continues to increase in middle adulthood

Expertise

Having extensive, highly organized knowledge, and understanding of a particular domain

Fluid Intelligence

One’s ability to reason abstractly, begins to decline during middle adulthood

Late Midlife

The age period of 55 to 65

Leisure

The pleasnt times after work when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosing

Menopause

Usually in the late forties or early fifties, a woman’s menstrual periods cease completely

Metabolic Syndrome

A condition characterized by hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance, and is linked to chronic stress

Middle Adulthood

The developmental period that begins approximately at 40yo and extends to about 60-65 yo.

Middle Adulthood Growth Trend

Individuals lose height and many gain weight

Working memory

The mental “workbench” where individuals manipulate and assemble information when making decisions, solving problems, and comprehending written and spoken language.

Working memory capacity

The amount of information that can be immediately retrieved and used, becomes more limited in middle age

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by a gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and eventually physical function.

Arthritis

Inflammation of the joints that is accompanied by pain, stiffness, and movement problems; especially common in older adults

Cellular clock theory

The theory that the maximum number of times human cells can divide is about 75-80. As we age, our cells become increasingly less capable of dividing

Dementia

A global term for any neurological disorder in which the primary symptoms involve a deterioration of mental functioning.

Evolutionary theory of aging

The view that natural selection has not eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults.

Free-radical theory

A theory of aging proposing that people age because normal cell metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals. These molecules richochet around inside cells, damaging DNA and other cellular structures.

Hormonal Stress Theory

The theory that aging in the body's hormonal system can lower resilience under stress and increase the likelihood of disease

Mitochondrial Theory

The theory that aging is caused by the decay of mitochondria, tiny cellular bodies that supply energy for function, growth, and repair

mTOR Pathway

A cellular pathway involving the regulation of growth and metabolism that has been proposed as a key aspect of longevity

Parkinson Disease

A chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis

Sirtuins

A family of proteins that have been to longevity, regulation of mitochondrial functioning in energy, potential benefits of calorie restriction, resistance to stress, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer

Wisdom

Expert knowledge about the practical aspects of life that permits excellent judgment about important matters