12: Midlife

Question 1

the age-related process, occurring at about age 50, in which ovulation and menstruation stop due to the decline of estrogen

Answer 1

menopause

Question 2

definitive study of the effect of aging on intelligence, involving simultaneously conducting and comparing the results of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies

Answer 2

Seattle Longitudinal Study

Question 3

a basic facet of intelligence, consisting of a person’s knowledge base of accumulated information

Answer 3

crystallized intelligence

Question 4

a basic facet of intelligence, consisting of the ability to quickly master new intellectual activities

Answer 4

fluid intelligence

Question 5

overall score of body deterioration, gained from summing how a person functions on multiple physiological indexes - predicts cognitive performance during adult life

Answer 5

allostatic load

Question 6

Paul Baltes’s three principles for successful aging/living: selection (focus on most important activities), optimization (work especially hard in these areas), and compensation (rely on external aids when we cannot cope on our own)

Answer 6

selective optimization with compensation

Question 7

five core psychological predispositions that underlie personality (Five Factor Model) - openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism

Answer 7

Big Five

Question 8

“Big Five” personality trait that defines our tendency towards negative feelings and psychological disturbances vs. mental health and resilience

Answer 8

neuroticism

Question 9

“Big Five” personality trait that describes outgoing attitudes, warmth, gregariousness and assertion vs. solitude

Answer 9

extraversion

Question 10

“Big Five” personality trait that describes passion to seek out new experiences vs. contentment with staying in comfort zone

Answer 10

openness to experience

Question 11

“Big Five” personality trait that describes hard-working, self-disciplined personality vs. irresponsibility

Answer 11

conscientiousness

Question 12

“Big Five” personality trait that describes kindness, empathy, lovingness, compromise vs. stubbornness, hostility, hot temper

Answer 12

agreeableness

Question 13

seventh psychosocial task in Erikson’s theory, when people in midlife find meaning from nurturing the next generation, caring for others, or enriching others’ lives through their work - people feel stagnant and purposeless without it

Answer 13

generativity

Question 14

well-being defined as pure pleasure (“feeling good”)

Answer 14

hedonic happiness

Question 15

well-being defined as having a sense of meaning and purpose in life

Answer 15

eudaimonic happiness

Question 16

in Dan McAdams’ research, a type of autobiography produced by highly generative adults that involves childhood feelings of being special, being unusually sensitive to others’ struggles, having a generative mission since adolescence, and redemption sequences

Answer 16

commitment script

Question 17

in Dan McAdams’ research, a characteristic theme of highly generative adults’ autobiographies, describing tragic events as catalysts for growth and positive change

Answer 17

redemption sequence

Question 18

uniquely adult form of intelligence that involves being sensitive to different perspectives, embracing uncertainty, self-transcendence, humility, and making decisions based on one’s inner feelings

Answer 18

postformal thought

Question 19

a basic role of grandparents, involving monitoring younger family members’ well-being and intervening to provide help in a crisis

Answer 19

family watchdogs

Question 20

grandparents who have taken on full responsibility for raising their grandchildren

Answer 20

caregiving grandparents

Question 21

adult children’s care for their disabled older parents

Answer 21

parent care