SFL 334 Adult Dev. & Aging Midterm

Psychometric approach vs. Cognitive-Structural approaches

Psychometric approach: focuses on measuring intelligence on standardized tests. 

Cognitive-Structural approaches: qualitative (ways that people conceptualize problems); HOW they think 

There are __ primary mental abilities, but 5 are the focus of most research. What are the 5?

25

Numbers: basic math skills.

Word fluency: production of speech.

Verbal meaning: vocabulary.

Inductive reasoning: from specific to general.

Spatial orientation: reasoning in a 3D world

What are the age effects on primary mental abilities?

\-stabilize in midlife, gradual DECLINE in later life.

\-typically only 1 or 2 abilities decline w/ age, until very late in life.

What are Secondary mental abilities? How many are there?

Researchers have combined the primary abilities (25) into SIX secondary abilities

Of the secondary mental abilities, fluid intelligence & crystalized intelligence are the two most studied. What are they, and their age affects?

1. Fluid Intelligence: abstract thinking, inductive reasoning…etc.


1. **DECREASES** w/ age

\

2. Crystalized Intelligence: Amount of knowledge a person has.


1. I**NCREASES** w/ age

What are some things that cause a change in intelligence? (4)

1. Social variables: job, marriage
2. Personality: flexible attitudes
3. Health & Lifestyle: disease is linked to a decline in intell.
4. Training Programs: reduces declines

The Cognitive-structral approach to intelligence looks at what? Who’s theory is it based off of?

HOW a person thinks

Piaget’s Theory:

b. Formal Operation’s Period

* Abstract ideas, deductive reasoning

What does Piaget’s theory say about Formal operational thought?

* Occurs during adolescence
* Only 10%-30% reach the highest levels of this stage
* After this stage, there is no other development in thinking

\*others say he didn’t take it far enough & didn’t account for cognitive growth.

Many researchers believe that thinking processes continue to develop through adulthood, they call theses theories_____.

Post-formal thought or Postformal theories

Reflective Judgement, dealing with dilemmas, & learning to work w/ realistic scenarios are all examples of what stage of cognitive structural thinking?

Post-formal operational NOT formal operational

Creativity peaks in late 30’s early 40’s and then _______

DECLINES

Expertise or expert performance _____ after middle age.

Declines

\*However, through experience, older experts are able to compensate for their cognitive decline.

Wisdom is related to _______ NOT age.

Experience.

What are the 4 stores of memory?

1. Sensory Memory
2. Short-term Memory
3. Long-term Memory
4. Working Memory

This store of memory: lasts 20 seconds to a few hours.

a. Sensory Memory

b. Short-term Memory

c. Long-term Memory

d. Working Memory

b. Short-term Memory

This store of memory: Lasts indefinitely

a. Sensory Memory

b. Short-term Memory

c. Long-term Memory

d. Working Memory

c. Long-term Memory

This memory: Lasts 1-4 seconds, brings in lots of information

a. Sensory Memory

b. Short-term Memory

c. Long-term Memory

d. Working Memory

a. Sensory Memory

This memory: currently holding and using information, mainly through rehearsal.

a. Sensory Memory

b. Short-term Memory

c. Long-term Memory

d. Working Memory

d. Working Memory

How do the 4 stores of memory work?

1. All information starts as sensory stimuli & is lost unless processed further.
2. Some is placed into short-term w/ rehearsal/actively using it (working memory), then long-term memory

What is the mechanism we use to process stimuli, focus on that to process, & determine how far to process it?

Attention

What is defined below, and does it inc. or dec. w/ age?

\-ability to choose what stimuli to focus on

a. Selective Attention

b. Attentional Capacity

c. Vigilance

a. Selective Attention

DECLINES w/ age

What is defined below, and does it inc. or dec. w/ age?

\-ability to sustain attention. 

a. Selective Attention

b. Attentional Capacity

c. Vigilance

c. Vigilance

DECLINES w/ age

What is defined below, and does it inc. or dec. w/ age?

\-how much information can be processed at one time. How much can you pay attention to.

a. Selective Attention

b. Attentional Capacity

c. Vigilance

b. Attentional Capacity

DECLINES w/ age

What two components make up Reaction time?

Decision Time: Cognitive process

Motor Time: Body response

\*BOTH SLOW DOWN w/ AGE but the greatest decline is DECISION TIME

What is defined below, and does it dec. or inc. w/ age?

\-getting info back out of memory

a. encoding

b. storage

c. retrieval

c. retrieval

DECLINES w/ AGE

What is defined below, and does it dec. or inc. w/ age?

The way info is kept in long-term memory

a. encoding

b. storage

c. retrieval

\

b. storage

NO CHANGE w/ AGE

What is defined below, and does it dec. or inc. w/ age?

a. encoding

b. storage

c. retrieval

Getting info into the memory system

a. encoding

SLOWS DOWN w/ age.

Define working memory. Does it inc or dec. w/ age?

Actively holding and using information.

Significant DECLINE w/ age.

What are the two Major types of Long-term Memory?

1. Implicit Memory: everyday routines like driving a car (Automatic, effortless)

\*NO AGE DIFFERENCE


2. Explicit Memory: consciously recalled, such as recalling a memory from your life or solving a problem

\*DECLINES w/ AGE

What are the two types of explicit memory?

1. Semantic memory: remembering general facts, language, ideas


1. NO AGE DIFFERENCE
2. Episodic memory: Memories connected with specific events or points in time


1. DECLINES W/ AGE
2. ex. what you did yesterday, high school graduation , etc.

What are two ways memory is retrieved?

1. Recall: remembering info w/OUT cues or hints (ex. essay question)


1. DECLINES w/ AGE
2. Recognition: selecting info from a list of several items. (MC question)


1. NO CHANGES w/ AGE

What type of memory is defined below:

\-being able to estimate how much you can remember.

a. Flashbulb memory

b. Source memory

c. False memory

d. Prospective memory

e. Memory monitoring

e. Memory monitoring

\*DECLINES w/ AGE

ex. Lists of groceries, Not how much you can remember BUT how accurate you are judging your capacity

What type of memory is defined below:

\-ability to remember source of a familiar event or determine if it really happened or not

a. Flashbulb memory

b. Source memory

c. False memory

d. Prospective memory

e. Memory monitoring

b. Source memory

ex. remembering if you took your meds or not

\*DECLINES w/ AGE

What type of memory is defined below:

\-vivid recollection of specific, dramatic events (don’t need to involve trauma).

a. Flashbulb memory

b. Source memory

c. False memory

d. Prospective memory

e. Memory monitoring

a. Flashbulb memory

\*DECLINE w/ AGE

What type of memory is defined below:

\-remembering what you are supposed to do today. 

a. Flashbulb memory

b. Source memory

c. False memory

d. Prospective memory

e. Memory monitoring

d. Prospective memory

NO CHANGE w/ AGE

\-Mid-life people have the hardest time; they are the busiest haha

What type of memory is defined below:

\-memory of items or events that did not occur.

a. Flashbulb memory

b. Source memory

c. False memory

d. Prospective memory

e. Memory monitoring

c. False memory

\*DECLINE W/ AGE meaning we have MORE false memories!

What things delay decline in memory?

1. PHYSICAL EXERCISE
2. Cognitive tasks
3. External Memory aids
4. Treating depression

What do the letters represent in this equation? B = *f*(P, E)

B: Behavior= *f(Person, Environment)*

What’s the difference between Competence & Environmental Press? How do these person-environment concepts tie together?

Competence: „is the theoretical upper limit of a person’s *capacity* to function.

Environmental Press: The demands the environment puts on you.

ex. When someone grows up with something, for example swimming in the ocean they will have a greater competence with that thing. Vs. if you bring in Dr. Miller from UT. and put him in the ocean his environmental press rises significantly b/c his competence in swimming in the ocean is lower than his wife who grew up swimming in the ocean.

T or F: According to Kahana’s Congruence Model, people with particular needs search for the environments that meet them best.

TRUE:

ex. A person w/out personal transportation seeks a house near a bus route.

What housing option of the elderly is described below:

\-Apartment complex for older adults w/ shared meals & residents must be capable of independent living

a. Adult day care

b. Aging in Place/Home Modification

c. Congregate Housing

d. Assisted living

c. Congregate Housing

What housing option of the elderly is described below:

\-Helps elderly deal w/ tasks by modifying the environment

a. Adult day care

b. Aging in Place/Home Modification

c. Congregate Housing

d. Assisted living

b. Aging in Place/Home Modification

What housing option of the elderly is described below:

\-Designed to Provide support, companionship, and certain services during the day.

a. Adult day care

b. Aging in Place/Home Modification

c. Congregate Housing

d. Assisted living

a. Adult day care

3 types:


1. Social services (meals, recreation, etc.)
2. Intensive health care (therapy for more serious medical problems)
3. Specialized care for dementia or developmental disabilities

What housing option of the elderly is described below:

\-Provides a supportive living arrangement for people who need assistance /w personal care, but are NOT physically/mentally impaired that would need 24/hr care

a. Adult day care

b. Aging in Place/Home Modification

c. Congregate Housing

d. Assisted living

d. Assisted living

\*emphasizes personal control, choice, dignity, & autonomy

What are the three levels of care of Nursing Homes?

1. **Skilled nursing care:** consisting of 24-hour care, including medical and other health services
2. **Intermediate care:** also 24-hour but at a less intensity
3. Custodial care--doesn’t offer medical services.

a.Assistance with ADLs and IADLs

\*Reasons for living in nursing homes: rebab after hospital stay & long-term residential care.

At any given time___% of elderly >65 are in a nursing home & about ___% of elderly over the age of 85 will spend some time in a nursing home.

4%

50%

What are some risk factors causing people to live in a nursing home?

>75 age

\-Women

\-Widowed/divorced

\-No children/siblings nearby

\-Significant problems w/ ADLS & IADLS

\-Some Cognitive Impairment

What race is more likely to go to a nursing home?

Whites b/c we don’t have multigenerational homes

What two things are predictors of resident satisfaction in nursing homes?

1. Staff satisfaction & Morale
2. Client sense of control

How should we NOT communicate w/ elderly residents?

Patronizing speech & Infantilization (baby talk)

Define Personality Traits

distinguishable, relatively enduring characteristics that are stable across social contexts 

* dispositional traits, stage theories (personal concerns), life narratives

T or F: Personality Traits are fairly UNSTABLE across social contexts.

FALSE; they are stable

ex. You tend to be introverted no matter what setting your in (church, class, home, etc.)

What personality trait from McCrae & Costa’s Model (OCEAN) is described below?

\-anxiety, hostility, impulsiveness

a. Neuroticism

b. Extroversion

c. Openness

d. Agreeableness

e. Conscientiousness

a. Neuroticism

What personality trait from McCrae & Costa’s Model (OCEAN) is described below?

\-warmth, gregariousness, excitement seeking, social

a. Neuroticism

b. Extroversion

c. Openness

d. Agreeableness

e. Conscientiousness

b. Extroversion

What personality trait from McCrae & Costa’s Model (OCEAN) is described below?

* open to new ideas and experiences.

a. Neuroticism

b. Extroversion

c. Openness

d. Agreeableness

e. Conscientiousness

c. Openness

What personality trait from McCrae & Costa’s Model (OCEAN) is described below?

* soft-hearted, trusting, generous

a. Neuroticism

b. Extroversion

c. Openness

d. Agreeableness

e. Conscientiousness

d. Agreeableness

What personality trait from McCrae & Costa’s Model (OCEAN) is described below?

\-hardworking, well-organized, persevering

a. Neuroticism

b. Extroversion

c. Openness

d. Agreeableness

e. Conscientiousness

e. Conscientiousness

What are the Age effects of personality traits for McCrae & Costa’s Model (OCEAN)?

Fairly stable for everyone; in general though,

O,N, & E DECREASE….A tends to INCREASE

The Five Factor Model (Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness, Agreeableness, & Conscientiousness) is one of the more researched models on personality. It shows that these five traits are fairly ______ over the life course)

Stable aka the ranking

What does Karl Jung’s & Erik Erikson’s Stage theoroes say about personality?

Karl Jung: Personality changes through adulthood to find __**balance**__ (extroversion-introversion, femininity & masculinity)

Erik Erikson’s Stages of Life: 8-stage model of development that is progressive

What were the last 4 of Erikson’s 8 Stages?

•**Identity vs. role confusion** (adolescence)

•**Intimacy vs. isolation** (20’s and 30’s)

•**Generativity vs. self-absorption** (40-65)

•**Integrity vs. despair** (late adulthood)

Kotre expanded Erikson’s concept of generativity that shows there is growth and development in gererativity through adulthood. What were his 5 areas of expansion? (BATCC)

•**Biological and parental**: raising children (doesn’t have to be own kids, ex. George Washington being the Father of America)

•**Technical**: passing specific skills to next generation

•**Cultural**: being a mentor to others

•**Agentic**: be or do something that transcends death

•**Communal**: contributing in interpersonal community activities

T or F: Most men go through a Mid-life crisis

FALSE: only a small minority go through an actual crisis

Usually WORK or HEALTH related

Instead of a mid-life crisis, most midlife people go through a Midlife _______ or a re-evaluation period.

Correction

\-Usually positive thing where they asses their values & priorities

What are life Narratives? What do they say about personalities?

•This perspective asks the question, “Who am I?” “What kind of person do I want to be?”

__identity changes throughout adulthood.__

McAdams said that people create a life story that is an internalized narrative & each story has what 4 things?  

•A **narrative tone**: bleak, optimistic, etc.

•**Theme**: victim, love story, etc.

•**Nuclear episodes**: key turning points

•**Main character**: “dutiful mother”, “reliable worker” “a big disappointment”, “black sheep of the family”, etc.

What was Whitbourne’s Identity Theory? What are its two parts?

Whitbourne said that people construct their identity as they go through adulthood.
It consists of two parts:


1. **Scenario**: Game plan, how things should go.
2. **Life story:** Our autobiography (how it actually plays out)

Whitbourne found that _______ was the most important part of people’s identities.

FAMILY

What refers to the development aspects of a job that also implies more commitment?

A career

According the research what two key factors should we consider when choosing a career?

1. Personality & Interests
2. Self-Efficacy aka what are our talents

Combination of passion & talents=satisfying career

Which of Holland’s job & personality types are described below?

•salesmen, businessmen

a. Investigative

b. Social

c. Realistic

d. Artistic

e. Conventional

f. Enterprising

f. Enterprising

Which of Holland’s job & personality types are described below?

•poets, artistics

a. Investigative

b. Social

c. Realistic

d. Artistic

e. Conventional

f. Enterprising

d. Artistic

Which of Holland’s job & personality types are described below?

•scientists and researchers

a. Investigative

b. Social

c. Realistic

d. Artistic

e. Conventional

f. Enterprising

a. Investigative

Which of Holland’s job & personality types are described below?

•teachers, social workers, counselors

a. Investigative

b. Social

c. Realistic

d. Artistic

e. Conventional

f. Enterprising

b. Social

Which of Holland’s job & personality types are described below?

•Accountants, bank tellers

a. Investigative

b. Social

c. Realistic

d. Artistic

e. Conventional

f. Enterprising

e. Conventional

Which of Holland’s job & personality types are described below?

•construction and factory workers

a. Investigative

b. Social

c. Realistic

d. Artistic

e. Conventional

f. Enterprising

c. Realistic

The Average American changes jobs b/w:

5-10 times

\*The first job after colleges lasts less than 1 year

T or F: Majority of workers say they would choose another career if they could start over.

TRUE

What are the 5 developmental aspects of pursuing a career? (EEMDR)

1. Exploration
2. Establishment
3. Maintenance
4. Deceleration
5. Retirement

What is defined below:

–Denying a job to someone solely on the basis of whether the person is a man, a woman or based on their sexual orientation.

a. Sex discrimination

b. Glass ceiling

c. Glass elevator

a. Sex discrimination

What is defined below:

The level to which women may rise in a company, but not go beyond

a. Sex discrimination

b. Glass ceiling

c. Glass elevator

b. Glass ceiling

\*This is a barrier to promotion women and ethnic minorities often experience.

What is defined below:

–When men are promoted and rise in the company much faster than female counterparts, even in traditionally female occupations.

a. Sex discrimination

b. Glass ceiling

c. Glass elevator

c. Glass elevator

What is Work Family Conflict?

When conditions and experiences at work have an adverse (or positive) effect on family interaction and well-being.

Work to Family Conflict: what is role conflict?

Expectations of one role interferes with one’s ability to adequately perform the expectations of another role.

What is the spillover effect?

Aspects of experiences at work (stress, frustration) spill over to how persons interacts at home. 

The structural aspects (hours worked, unstable schedule, etc) of work are related to _____.__ Whereas the experiences (stress) at work are more ties to the \* ____\*

Work-family conflict; spillover effect

What would be a spill-over effect rather than a work-family conflict?

a. critical supervisor

b. work schedule

c. Positive relationship w/ coworker

d. working over 40hrs a week

a. critical supervisor

T or F: A key determinant of work experience is having a supportive supervisor.

TRUE

•Buffers the effects of job pressure on new mothers

•Decreases negative effect of work-family conflict on families

•Associated with better parenting

•Critical supervisors predicts harsh parenting

•Associated with better child outcomes

•Supportive supervisoràless worker stressàless negative spillover to family

T or F: Among the working class, **TALENT** is the primary developmental track.

FALSE: Seniority

Does job satisfaction increase or decrease as we get older?

INCREASES

What is the **Age Discrimination Act of 1986?**

Law made it illegal to use age as criterion for hiring, firing, laying off, or for determining work conditions.

What are the 4 categories we use to organize leisure activities? (CPSS)

**Cultural**—attending sporting events, church, and concerts

**Physical**—playing sports, doing aerobics, gardening, hiking

**Social**—visiting friends and going to parties

**Solitary**—reading, listening to music, and watching TV

T or F: It’s is the __amount of satisfaction__ you derive from your leisure activities, __not your level of participation.__

TRUE

T or F: Research shows that leisure preferences in adulthood are completely different from those earlier in life.

FALSE; it show they actually REFLECT those in earlier life (CONTINUITY)

\
leisure preferences reflect at what stage of life they’re in; older people choose activities that are less strenuous 

Retirement became normative after which world war?

WWII

\*before then most older people feared unemployment b/c they didn’t have money

\*SS act passed in 1930 to provide money to older pop. based on employment history

During & After WWII companies frequently offered private pensions. Why?

because salaries were frozen during WWII, so offering pensions was a way to attract employees. 

What are some characteristics of retirement as a life stage?

* social norms have changed (neg to positive (Freedom!))
* Good for the economy=more jobs for young people
* a part of our culture.

Most workers retire by choice. Early retirement is usually do to what two reasons?

1. Financial security (+)
2. poor health (-)

T or F: Happily married people tend to retire earlier than those who are unhappy.

TRUE! They want to spend more time with their family

What is the retirement process

(6: PRDRRT)

1. Preretirement
Planning and preparing for the event, especially financially.
2. Retirement event
3. Disenchantment
4. Reorientation
5. Routine
6. Termination