Term
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Definition
-average age is 51
-begins when menstruation stops
-estrogen production declines dramatically
-hot flashes, nausea, fatigue
-not as bad as it used to be |
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Term
| Describe changes in vision |
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Definition
-accommodation of the eye (ability to focus and maintain image) declines sharply from 40-59
-middle age individuals have difficulty viewing objects up close
-retina also becomes less sensitive to low levels of illumination |
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Term
| Describe hormone replacement therapy |
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Definition
-adds the declining levels of reproductive hormones from the ovaries
-estrogen and progestin
-prescribed as treatment for side effects of menopause
-increased risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease
-short term, benefits may outweigh the risks |
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Term
| Describe Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence |
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Definition
Fluid: ones ability to reason abstractly
-declines in middle adult years
-memory, problem solving
Crystallized: accumulated info and verbal skills
-increases in middle adulthood
-language, social intelligence |
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Term
| Describe longitudinal vs. cross sectional studies of intelligence |
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Definition
Longitudinal:
-inductive reasoning increased until end of middle adulthood
*middle adulthood is peak of cognitive function
Cross: decline more likely
-inductive reasoning shows consistent decline |
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Term
| Describe primary mental abilities over time, according to the Seattle Longitudinal Studies |
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Definition
1. Verbal ability (ideas expressed in words)
2. Verbal memory (recalling lists of words)
3. Inductive reasoning
4. Spatial orientation
*highest level of functioning of these occur in middle adulthood
5. Numeric ability
6. Perceptual speed
*declines in middle age
-perceptual speed shows earliest decline |
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Term
| Describe the slowdown in processing speed |
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Definition
-begins in early adulthood and continues into middle age
-decline is not dramatic |
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Term
| Describe generativity vs. stagnation |
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Definition
-Erikson's crisis in middle adulthood
-being productive in a caring way
Generativity: adults desires to leave legacy of themselves to next generation
Stagnation: develops when individuals sense they have done little to help the next generation (self-absorption)
1. Biological- have kids
2. Parental- nurture offspring
3. Work- teach skills
4. Cultural- pass along ideas and values |
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Term
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Definition
timetable for events, based on social norms
-get married, have kids, etc
Impacted by: culture, cohort, SES
Timing is important: can lead to stress |
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Term
| Describe the Big Five—what they are and their pattern over time |
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Definition
-traits of personality
1. Neuroticism- emotional stability
2. Extraversion- sociability
3. Openness- open to new experiences, ideas
4. Agreeableness- good natured
5. Conscientiousness- persistence and determination
-tend to change most in early adulthood
-Neuro, Extra, Open decrease; Agree, Consc increase |
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Term
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Definition
-often exaggerated
-depends on individual circumstances |
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Term
| Describe empty nest syndrome |
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Definition
-decline in marital satisfaction after children leave home
-occurs if parents have lived vicariously through children
-most of the time satisfaction increases when children leave |
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Term
| Describe grandparenting, as seen by men and women |
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Definition
-grandmothers have more contact than gfathers
-women see it as part of responsibility
-men have fewer expectations and see it as voluntary
1. Biological reward and continuity
2. Source of emotional fulfillment
3. Remote role
-some grandparents take over parenting roles
-they have an elevated risk for health problems |
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Term
| Describe life span vs. life expectancy |
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Definition
Life Span: max number of years a person can live, 120-125
Life Expectancy: the number of years a person will probably live (78) |
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Term
| Describe population pyramids |
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Definition
-displays pop growth over time
-today's pyramid is more evenly distributed |
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Term
| Describe gerontology vs. geriatrics |
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Definition
Gerontology: multidisciplinary study of old age
-lifespan perspective
-gains and losses
Geriatrics: medical speciality dedicated to aging
-aging=disease |
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Term
| Describe primary vs. secondary aging |
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Definition
Primary: universal, irreversible changes
Secondary: result of disease
-heart disease, cancer, stroke |
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Term
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Definition
-extensive bone tissue loss
-women are especially vulnerable
-deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, estrogen and lack of exercise |
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Term
| Describe some diseases that can impair vision…and the leading cause of blindness |
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Definition
Cataracts: thickening of the lens that causes vision to become cloudy
-can be treated by glasses or simple procedure
Glaucoma: damage to optical nerve because of fluid build up
Macular Degeneration: deterioration of the macula of the retina
-leading cause of blindness |
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Term
| Describe why life expectancy is longer for women |
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Definition
Social factors: habits, lifestyles, occupation
-men are heavier smokers, drinkers
-women have better immune system (estrogen)
-X chromosome may produce more antibodies |
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Term
| Describe the treatment/cure for arthritis |
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Definition
| Exercise increases strength and reduces pain |
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Term
| Describe retirement—crisp vs. blurred |
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Definition
the way people withdraw from full time employment
Crisp: go to work one day, then no more work the next
Blurred: changing jobs, getting laid off; indistinct |
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Term
| Describe lowering risk of Alzheimer’s disease |
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Definition
related risk factors as heart disease
-healthy diet
-exercise
-weight control
-obesity, smoking, high cholesterol and lipids |
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Term
| Describe integrity vs. despair |
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Definition
Erikson's 8th and final stage in late adulthood
Integrity: satisfied with life experiences
Despair: negative view
-socially isolated in early adulthood, stagnate in middle adulthood
Generativity still important; volunteering
-better health, satisfaction |
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Term
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Definition
-prominent part of Integrity vs Despair
-involves looking back one life experiences, evaluating, interpreting and reinterpreting them |
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Term
| Describe activity, disengagement, and continuity theories |
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Definition
Activity: an active old person is more satisfied
-roles are similar to middle age
-loss of activity: decline
Disengagement: old people adjust to decline by disengaging from outside world and focusing on inner self
-help transfer power from on gen to another
Continuity: core personality traits remain through life
-successful aging: maintain preferred roles
-satisfaction: current lifestyle consistent with life experiences |
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Term
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Definition
prejudice in which people are categorized and judged solely on the basis of chronological age
-negative stereotypes |
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Term
| Describe socioemotional selectivity theory |
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Definition
Older adults become more selective about their social networks
-increase contact with closer friends and family
-limits social exchanges
-only most rewarding |
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Term
| Which government program pays for health care for older adults? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe selective optimization with compensation |
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Definition
successful again is linked to 3 factors:
1. Selection- focus on fewer activities
2. Optimization- maintain performance
3. Compensation- regulate losses
-driving, running, memorization |
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Term
| Describe successful aging |
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Definition
-emphasizes choice and autonomy
-activity with family, community, church, society; exercise
-emotionally selective, optimize choices, compensate losses |
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Term
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Definition
individuals go through life embedded in a personal network of individuals to whom they give and receive social support
Social support helps in the following ways:
-helps cope
-reduces symptoms of disease
-lower incidence of depression |
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Term
| Describe the Big Five personality traits and their pattern over time |
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Definition
-continue to change over time
-older adults are more conscientious and agreeable than middle age and young adults
-more positive, live longer and vice versa |
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Term
| Describe the alternate definitions of death |
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Definition
Clinical: no heartbeat, breathing, rigor mortis,
Brain Death: all electrical activity of the brain has ceased
-a flat EEG
-death of both higher cortical and lower brain stem |
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Term
| Describe active vs. passive euthanasia |
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Definition
Active: causing; intervention or action
Passive: allowing; withholding treatment |
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Term
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Definition
-document to be filled out when patient can think clearly
-expresses the person's desire regarding extraordinary medical procedures that might be used to sustain life |
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Term
| Describe the stages of dying |
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Definition
1. Denial-its not really going to happen
2. Anger-resentment, rage, envy
3. Bargaining-hope that it can postponed or delayed
4. Depression
5. Acceptance-sense of peace |
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Term
| Describe where death happens for most Americans |
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Definition
| 80% occur in institutions or hospitals |
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Term
| Describe the grieving process |
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Definition
Grief-emotional experience of loss
-process is more like a roller coast than clear cut stages
-Pining, Separation anxiety, despair
-feelings occur repeatedly shortly after loss
-pining and protest tend to diminish, but some can stay til end of life |
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Term
| Describe coping with different types of death |
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Definition
Traumatic, sudden: more intense and prolonged effects; coping process is more difficult
-accompanied by PTSD symptoms (nightmares, flashbacks)
-death of a child can be very devastating |
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Term
| Describe grief—length of time |
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Definition
-80-90% say after 6 months they can accept it as reality
-prolonged grief stays unresolved and can lead to health problems and depression |
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Term
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Definition
Hospice: program committed to making end of life as free from pain, anxiety, and depression as possible
-emphasizes palliative care: reduces pain and suffering
-emotional, spiritual, social, legal, financial needs
-normally 6 months or less to live |
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