9.3

Question 1

Big Five” basic personality traits

Answer 1

neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness)

Question 2

ego-integrity-versus despair stage

Answer 2

eriksons final stage of life, characterized by a process of looking back over one’s life, evaluating it, and coming to terms with it

Question 3

integrity

Answer 3

When people achieve integrity, they feel they have fulfilled the possibilities that have come their way in life, and they have few regrets.

Question 4

redefinition of self versus preoccupation with work role 

Answer 4

the theory that those in old age must redefine themselves in ways that do not relate to their work roles or occupations

Question 5

body transcendence versus body preoccupation 

Answer 5

a period in which people must learn to cope with and move beyond changes in physical capabilities as a result of aging

Question 6

3 developmental task in old age according to peck

Answer 6

redefinition of self versus preoccupation with work role 

• body transcendence versus body preoccupation 
• ego transcendence versus ego preoccupation 

Question 7

ego transcendence versus ego preoccupation 

Answer 7

the period in which older adults must come to grips with their coming death

Question 8

According to Levinson,

Answer 8

people come to realize that they are no longer on the centre stage, but rather are playing bit parts. This loss of power, respect, and authority can be difficult for individuals accustomed to having control in their lives.

Question 9

Neugarten found four different personality types in her research on people in their seventies:

Answer 9

• DISINTEGRATED AND DISORGANIZED PERSONALITIES.
• PASSIVE-DEPENDENT PERSONALITIES.
• DEFENDED PERSONALITIES
• INTEGRATED PERSONALITIES.

Question 10

DISINTEGRATED AND DISORGANIZED PERSONALITIES.

Answer 10

Some people are unable to accept aging and experience despair as they get older. They are often found in long-term care facilities.

Question 11

PASSIVE-DEPENDENT PERSONALITIES

Answer 11

Others become fearful—of falling ill, of the future, of their own inability to cope. They are so fearful that they might seek help from family and care providers, even when they don’t need it.

Question 12

DEFENDED PERSONALITIES

Answer 12

Others respond to the fear of aging quite differently—by trying to stop it in its tracks. They might attempt to act young, exercising vigorously and engaging in youthful activities. Unfortunately, they might set unrealistic expectations and run the risk of disappointment.

Question 13

INTEGRATED PERSONALITIES.

Answer 13

The most successful individuals cope comfortably with aging. They accept it with a sense of self-dignity.
most fall in this category

Question 14

life review

Answer 14

the point in life at which people examine and evaluate their lives
- life review is triggered by the increasingly obvious prospect of death.

Question 15

age stratification theories 

Answer 15

the view that an unequal distribution of economic resources, power, and privilege exists among people at different stages of the life course

Question 16

wisdom

Answer 16

expert knowledge in the practical aspects of life

Question 17

Three major approaches provide explanations to successful aging

Answer 17

disengagement,
activity,
continuity theories

Question 18

disengagement theory 

Answer 18

the period in late adulthood that marks a gradual withdrawal from the world on physical, psychological, and social levels
-mutual process

Question 19

activity theory 

Answer 19

the theory suggesting that successful aging occurs when people maintain the interests, activities, and social interactions with which they were involved during middle age

Question 20

continuity theory 

Answer 20

the theory suggesting that people need to maintain their desired level of involvement in society in order to maximize their sense of well-being and self-esteem

Question 21

selective optimization

Answer 21

the process by which people concentrate on particular skill areas to compensate for losses in other areas

Question 22

continuing care community

Answer 22

a community that offers an environment in which all the residents are of retirement age or older and need various levels of care

Question 23

adult daycare facilities

Answer 23

facilities in which older adults receive care only during the day; they spend nights and weekends in their own homes

Question 24

skilled nursing facilities

Answer 24

facilities that provide full-time nursing care for people who have chronic illnesses or who are recovering from a temporary medical condition

Question 25

instistuionalism

Answer 25

a psychological state in which people in nursing homes develop apathy, indifference and a lack of caring about themselves

Question 26

learned heloplessness

Answer 26

a belief that one has no control over ones environment

Question 27

Whatever the reason they retire, people often pass through a series of retirement stages

Answer 27

Retirement might begin with a honeymoon period, in which people engage in a variety of activities, such as travel, that were previously hindered by work. The next phase might be disenchantment, in which they conclude that retirement is not all they thought it would be because they miss the stimulation and companionship of work or find it hard to keep busy (Atchley and Barusch, 2005).

The next phase is reorientation, in which retirees reconsider their options and become engaged in new, more fulfilling activities. If successful, this leads to the retirement routine stage, in which they come to grips with the realities of retirement and feel fulfilled. Not all people reach this stage; some can feel disenchanted for years.

The last phase is termination. Although for some people this occurs when they go back to work, for most it follows major physical deterioration. In this case, health becomes so bad that the person can no longer function independently.

Question 28

The process of adjusting to widowhood encompasses three stages.

Answer 28

first stage, known as preparation, spouses prepare (in some cases, for years or even decades) for the eventual death of the partner. Consider, for instance, the purchase of life insurance, the preparation of a will, and the decision to have children who might eventually provide care in one’s old age. Each of these actions helps prepare for the eventuality that one will be widowed and will require some degree of assistance (Heinemann and Evans, 1990; Roecke and Cherry, 2002).

The second stage of adjustment to widowhood, grief and mourning, is an immediate reaction to the death of a spouse. It starts with the shock and pain of loss and continues as the survivor works through the emotions the loss brings up. The time a person spends in this period depends on the support received from others, as well as on personality factors. In some cases, grief and mourning may last for years, while in others it lasts a few months.

The last stage of adjustment to the death of a spouse is adaptation. In adaptation, the widowed individual starts a new life. The period begins with the acceptance of loss and continues with the reorganization of roles and the formation of new friendships. The adaptation stage also encompasses a period of reintegration in which a new identity—as an unmarried person—is developed.

Question 29

friendships provide social support

Answer 29

assistance and comfort supplied by another person or a network of caring, interested people

Question 30

elder abuse

Answer 30

the physical or psychological mistreatment or neglect of older adults