339 Lecture Slides

developmental influences

- normative age-graded influences
- normative history-graded influences
- non-normative life events

theoretical models of aging

- selective optimization with compensation model of aging (gains and losses)
- ecological model of aging (interaction between person and environment results in adaptation)

metatheoretical approaches to the study of aging

- mechanistic metamodel (nurture)
- organismic metamodel (nature)
- contextual metamodel (nature and nurture)
- life-span developmental perspective

factors in developmental research

- chronological age
- cohort
- time of measurement

developmental research designs

- cross-sectional
- longitudinal
- time-lag
- sequential

measurement

- reliability (dependable?)
- validity (correct?)
- sampling

approaches to conducting aging research

- experimental
- quasi-experimental
- descriptive
- multifactor
- meta-analytic (synthesizes summary statistics from variety of studies)
- mega-analytic (combines raw data from multiple studies with identical measures)

programmed theories of biological aging

- time clock theory (life span determined by genetic blueprint)
- immune theory (immune system programmed to maintain efficiency for limited time then decline)
- evolutionary theory (members of society are programmed to live long enough to birth and raise children)

stochastic theories of biological aging

- error theory (error occurs at cellular level, production of faulty molecules)
- wear and tear theory (begin life with fixed amount of energy, expend energy earlier = aging begins early)
- stress theory (longer for regulatory systems to return to normal level from stress, prolonged exposure to stress hormones)

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

provides an image of people's brains with structural and functional information

scaffolding theory of aging and cognition

- throughout life, the brain adapts to neural challenges by building alternative neural circuitry, or scaffolds
- scaffolds can offset age-related decline in functioning

cognitive reserve

notion of cognitive reserve arises from a number of findings showing that some individuals have certain symptoms in their brain that are like those with Alzheimer's but don't show any of the cognitive declines associated with A.D.

spearman's g

general ability that relates to intelligence

thurstone's primary mental abilities

- verbal meaning
- number (arithmetic)
- word fluency
- inductive reasoning
- spatial orientation
- memory
- perceptual speed

gardner's eight intelligences

- linguistic intelligence
- logical-mathematical intelligence
- spatial intelligence
- musical intelligence
- bodily-kinesthetics intelligence
- interpersonal intelligence
- intrapersonal intelligence
- naturalistic intelligence

categories of intelligence

- fluid intelligence ("raw" intelligence, numerical reasoning, logic)
- crystallized intelligence (function of education, experience, culture, verbal abilities)

dual-process model of intelligence

- mechanics of intelligence (perceptual processing, categorizing information, memory)
- pragmatics of intelligence (factual and procedural knowledge)

what does fluid intelligence depend on?

- working memory
- long term memory
- speed of processing

wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS-R)

verbal subtests:
- vocabulary
- information
- comprehension
- similarities
- arithmetic
- digit span
performance tests:
- picture completion
- digit symbol
- block design
- picture arrangement
- object assembly

perspectives in the study of intelligence

- phase 1: mapping an inevitable age-related decline in intelligence
- phase 2: identifying the components of intelligence that remain stable and those that decline
- phase 3: focus on intraindividual variability
- phase 4: interest in new ways to define and measure intelligence

flynn effect

refers to the fact that a sample of 60-year-olds today will score higher than a sample of 60-year-olds who took the same test in 1990

classic aging pattern

- verbal abilities remain stable with age
- nonverbal abilities decline with age

mental activity and intellectual functioning hypotheses

- disuse hypothesis of cognitive aging: skills and abilities get rusty when not used on a regular basis
- engagement hypothesis: novel and challenging tasks and mental exercises prevent decline in intellectual functioning

encapsulation model

with increasing age, knowledge becomes more channeled within specific domains