Unit 5 Flashcards
visible signs of aging
skin sags
hair is thinner and turns grayer
age spots
toenails and fingernails develop ridges and become more thicker
Middle Adulthood
developmental period beginning at age 40 and extending from the age of 60 to 65
metabolic syndrome
condition characterized by hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance. Chronic stress disorder is linked to metabolic syndrome
climacteric
midlife transition in which fertility declines
menopause
the complete cessation of a womens menstraution
crytallized Intelligence
accumulated information and verbal skills increase in middle adulthood
Fluid intelligence
the ability to reason abstractly, which steadily declines from middle adulthood on
working memory
close to short-term memory where individuals can assemble information when making decisions
leisure
the pleasant times after work where individuals d what they like at there own choosing
generatively
adults desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation
stagnation
individuals feel they have done nothing for the next generation
contemporary life-events approach
life events influence individuals development depends not only on the life events but on mediating factors
fight-or-flight
when men go through stress they are more likely to become aggressive, withdraw from social contact or drink alcohol
tend and befriend
when women experience stress they are more likely to form social alliances with others that tend to be girls
social clock
the timetable according to when individuals need to perform life tasks
….. getting married, having kids extra
Big Five Factors of Personality
neuroticism (emotional stability) extraversion openness to experiences agreeableness conscientiousness
Cumulative Personality Model
states that with time and age, people become more adept at interacting with their environment in ways that promote stability of personality
Empty Nest Syndrome
a decrease in martial satisfaction after children leave home
life span
the maximum number of years and individual can live
life expectancy
number of years someone will probably live by an average person in a particular year
evolutionary theory of aging
the view that natural selection has not eliminated many harmful conditions in older adults
cellular clock theory
cells can divide up to 75-80 times
as we get older our cells divide slower
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 ricochet around inside a cell and damage DNA
hormonal stress theory
aging in the body hormonal system can lower resilience under stress and increase the likelihood of disease
