Chapter 15

Question 1

Middle adulthood

Answer 1

The stage of adulthood between and late adulthood, beginning at 40-45 and ending at 60-65.

Question 2

Interindividual variability

Answer 2

The fact that people do not age in the same way or at the same rate.

Question 3

Presbyopia

Answer 3

loss of elasticity in the eye lens that makes it harder to focus on nearby objects.

Question 4

metastasis

Answer 4

the movement of malignant or cancerous cells into parts of the body other than where they originated.

Question 5

arteriosclerosis

Answer 5

hardening of the arteries

Question 6

atherosclerosis

Answer 6

the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) on the lining of arteries

Question 7

leukocyte

Answer 7

white blood cells

Question 8

menopause

Answer 8

the cessation of menstruation

Question 9

perimenopause

Answer 9

the beginning of menopause, usually characterized by 3 to 11 months of amenorrhea or irregular periods

Question 10

climacteric

Answer 10

the gradual decline in the reproductive capacity of the ovaries, generally lasting about 15 years

Question 11

sexual dysfunction

Answer 11

a persistent or recurrent problem in becoming sexually aroused or reaching orgasm

Question 12

multidirectionality

Answer 12

in the context of cognitive development, the fact taht some aspects of intellectual functioning may improve while others remain stable or decline.

Question 13

plasticity

Answer 13

the fact that intellectual abilities are not absolutely fixed but can be modified

Question 14

crystallized intelligence

Answer 14

a cluster of knowledge and skills that depends on accumulated information and experience, awareness of social conventions, and good judgement

Question 15

fluid intelligence

Answer 15

a person’s skills at processing information