Chapter 18

Question 1

Ego Integrity vs Despair

Answer 1

the eighth and final stage of psychosocial development, in which *people in late adulthood either achieve a sense of integrity of the self by accepting the lives they have lived, and thus accept death, or yield to despair that their lives cannot be relived

Question 2

Wisdom

Answer 2

the virtue in the eighth stage, an “informed and detached concern with life itself in the face of death itself”

Question 3

Terminal Drop

Answer 3

a sharp decline in well-being about 3-5 years before death

Question 4

Coping

Answer 4

adaptive thinking or behavior aimed at reducing or relieving stress that arises from harmful, threatening, or challenging conditions

Question 5

Three Main Components of Successful Aging

Answer 5

1) Avoidance of disease or disease related disability
2) Maintaining high physical & cognitive functioning
3) Active engagement in social & productive activities

Question 6

Disengagement Theory

Answer 6

theory of aging that holds that successful aging is characterized by mutual withdrawal between the older person and society

Question 7

Activity Theory

Answer 7

theory of aging that holds that to age successfully a person must remain as active as possible

Question 8

Selective Optimization with Compensation

Answer 8

enhancing overall cognitive functioning by using stronger abilities to compensate for those that have weakened

Question 9

Work and Retirement

Answer 9

forcing retirement is not legal because it is age discrimination

Question 10

What determines how one might adjust to retirement?

Answer 10

1) Health & financial status
2) Preretirement job stress
3) Marriage quality & dependents
4) Retirement planning
5) After retirement activities

Question 11

Living Arrangements

Answer 11

only about 3-5% of adults 65 and older live in senior housing

Question 12

Living Alone

Answer 12

because women outline men, most likely to live alone would be women

Question 13

Elder Abuse

Answer 13

abuse of the elderly primarily consists of neglect & financial abuse & most elder abuse is done by family

Question 14

Relationships and Health

Answer 14

strong social relationships are very important for health and mortality. People who are isolated and lonely tend to show more rapid physical & cognitive decline

Question 15

Lineal Obligation

Answer 15

intergenerational obligations, which are traditionally emphasized by Hispanic and Asian American cultures. These cultures tend to care for the elderly in their homes

Question 16

Long-term Relationships

Answer 16

couples still together in late adulthood report higher satisfaction and fewer adjustment problems in their marriage. The way couples handle conflict is key. Spouses who care for disabled partners may feel frustrated & that causes strain in the relationship

Question 17

Divorce and Remarriage

Answer 17

divorce in late adulthood is not common, but rates are rising in this age group. Men are more likely to remarry – average time between divorce and remarriage is 4 years – 3 years for men and 5 years for women

Question 18

The Widow Effect

Answer 18

men appear to be strongly affected when their wife dies

Question 19

Relationships with Adult Children

Answer 19

mother daughter relationships tend to be close. About 80% of older adults have frequent contact with their children

Question 20

Relationships with Siblings

Answer 20

the longest lasting relationships of all. The closer siblings live to each other, the closer they are. Survivors of the death of a sibling may grieve intensely & become lonely & depressed