Chapter 15 Flashcards
Baby Boom Generation
Generation born btwn 1946 and 1964, which resulted from an 18-year surge in birth rates that began after WWII
Cohort
Group of people born at roughly the same time
Cohort Effects
The impact of pivotal historical and sociocultural events on an individual’s development
Interindividual Variability
Variability between individuals in the ways that various aspects of development unfold
Intraindividual Variability
Variability within a person in the ways that various aspects of development unfold
Primary Aging
Age-related changes that result from inevitable, intrinsic, processes of aging
Secondary Aging
Age-related changes that result from the accumulated effects of disease, bodily abuse or disuse, or environmental hazards
Osteoporosis
Condition in which bones become brittle and susceptible to fracture
Metabolic Syndrome
Cluster of risk factors that occur together, including excess abdominal fat, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, high levels of bad cholesterol, and low levels of good cholesterol
Low Density Lipoproteins
Type of cholesterol that is considered bad because at high levels it increases the buildup of plaque in the arteries, elevating the risk of heart attacks or stroke
High Density Lipoproteins
Type of cholesterol that is considered good because at high levels it appears to reduce the risk of heart attack
Sarcopenia
Progressive, age-related loss of muscle mass and strength
Glaucoma
Fluid builds up in the eye, putting pressure on the blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the optic nerve
Presbycusis
Decline in the ability to hear high-pitched sounds
Plaque
Deposits that form in the inner lining of the main arteries through the process of atherosclerosis, causing the arteries to become narrow and less elastic
Atherosclerosis
Process when fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances build up over time in the inner lining of the main arteries
Hypertension
Chronically high blood pressure
Prostate Gland
Part of the male reproductive system that produces semen
Climacteric
Gradual decline in the female sex hormones
Menopause
cessation of menstruation and the end of a woman’s reproductive capacity
Hot Flashes
Periodic sensations of heat that can trigger sweating and reddening of the face, neck, and chest among menopausal women
Placebo
Inert agent (like a sugar pill) that is administered in clinical trials in order to compare its effects with those of a medicine
Andropause
Gradual decline in the male sex hormones (Androgens)
Erectile Dysfunction
Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection
Acute Illness
Illnesses that have a rapid onset and short duration
-common cold or the flu
Chronic Illness
Illnesses that have a slow onset and long duration
-heart disease, arthritis
Disability
A physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one’s life activities
Cortisol
A stress hormone
Stress
Response to perceived threats or demands in the enviroment
Stressors
Perceived threats or demands in the environment
Allostatic Load
Accumulated wear and tear on bodily systems that results from having to adapt to stressors repeatedly
Type A Personality
Stress-prone personality type characterized by impatience, competitiveness, and hostility
Type B Personality
Less stress-prone personality type characterized by patience, non-competitiveness, and less tendency toward hostility
Crystallized Intelligence
Ability to use knowledge and skills acquired through life experience and education
Fluid Intelligence
Ability to solve novel problems, recognize patterns, and draw inferences in ways that do not require prior knowledge or experience
Flynn Effect
Gains in intelligence observed across successive cohorts in the 20th century
Expertise
Organized set of skills and knowledge in a particular area acquired through extensive experience in a particular domain
Creativity
Ability to produce work or a solution to a problem that is both novel and appropriate
