Chapter 7: Higher Order Cognitive Functions Flashcards
Peseverate
producing the same words in a sequence
Elderspeak
simplified speech pattern directed at older adults similar to the way people talk to babies
Communication predicament model of aging
older adults are thought to be mentally incapacitated, which leads younger people to elderspeak and reduce older adults’ ability to use language
Infantilization
older adults lose the incentive to attempt to regain self-sufficiency in daily life activities
Everyday problem-solving
the ability to solve problems that typically occur in people’s daily lives in more than one way
Intelligence
an individual’s mental ability
Classic aging pattern of intelligence
inverted u-shape; intelligence peaks in early adulthood then steadily declines
Two main categories of mental abilities
verbal and non-verbal intelligence
Three health-related factors affecting aging of intelligence
(1) greater decline among smokers (2) among men, obesity predicts lower intelligence scores (3) people with more active engagement show less decline
Plasticity model
intelligence is “plastic” or modifiable rather than just an attribute that inevitably declines with age
Reserve capacity
abilities that exist to be used but are currently untapped
Testing the limits
the process of tapping into one’s reserve capacity and continuing to train them until they show no further improvements
Mechanics of intelligence
cognitive operations like speed, working memory, and fluid intelligence
Baltes wisdom model
wise people are experts in the pragmatics of intelligence
Pragmatics of intelligence
being able to apply one’s abilities to solving real-life problems
Berlin Wisdom Paradigm
wisdom is a form of expert knowledge in the pragmatics of life
Five characteristics of wise people according to Berlin Wisdom Paradigm
lifespan contextualism, value relativism, factual knowledge, procedural knowledge, management of uncertainty
Lifespan contextualism
wise people become aware of the role of culture in shaping their lives and personalities
Value relativism
wise people become less likely to judge others and have a greater appreciation for individual differences
Theory on multiple intelligences
intelligence includes several traditional abilities: logical-mathematical, verbal, visual-spatial, naturalistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical, bodily-kinesthetic
Tests of executive function in SLS
trail making, inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, verbal/word fluency, number ability
Financial capacity
capacity to manage money and financial assets in ways that meet a person’s needs and are consistent with their values and self-interest
Ways to combat cognitive decline
physical activity like exercise and dancing, playing/learning music, social engagement, video games and brain-training games (only in the trained tasks and possible closely related tasks), exergames (but not working memory)
