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