Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Adulthood & Aging > Personality Changes in Elderly > Flashcards

Personality Changes in Elderly Flashcards

1
Q

Personality is…

A

Relatively enduring styles of thinking, feeling, and acting that characterize an individual

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The biggest controversy in personality research is whether personality

A

stays stable or changes across the lifespan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

This controversy is maintained due to (2)

A

oContradictory folk beliefs

oContradictory research findings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the 2 levels of analysis as outlined by McAdams?

A

Level 1: Traits

Level 2: Personal concerns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are traits?

A

Enduring dispositions that show evidence of considerable genetic influence.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Trait theory focuses on the content of personality where the goal is to

A

identify and measure the most important traits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Traits theory does not (2):

A

discuss the origins of personality or try to tell the story of a person’s life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Trait theorists argue against considering what two things since traits are supposed to be stable across contexts and lifespan

A

context and experience

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Traits are relatively

A

stable and enduring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Some traits are

A

more important than others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Personality traits exist on a

A

continuum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which traits are most important? OCEAN?

A 
o	Openness to Experience 
o	Conscientiousness 
o	Extraversion 
o	Agreeableness 
o	Neuroticism
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Each trait consists of 6

A

sub-traits or facets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What facets make up N? (6)

A

Facets (Emotions)
1. Anxiety – worry about things/relaxed most of the time
2. Hostile (anger) – get angry easily/rarely get irritated
3. Self-conscious – am easily intimidated/am not embarrassed easily
4. Depression – often feel blue/feel comfortable with myself
Facets (Behavior)
1. Impulsiveness – often eat too much/easily resist temptations
2. Vulnerability – panic easily/remain calm under pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

These Facets make up what trait?

  1. Fantasy (imagination) – have a vivid imagination/seldom daydream
  2. Aesthetics (artistic interests) – believe in the importance of art/do not like poetry
  3. Action (adventurousness) – prefer variety to routine/dislike changes
  4. Ideas (intellect) – like complex problems/avoid philosophical discussions
  5. Values (liberalism) – tend to vote for liberals/believe in one true religion
  6. Feelings (emotionality) – experience emotions intensely/seldom get emotional
A

Openness to Experience

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What Facets are encompassed by extraversion? (6)

A

Facets (Interpersonal)

  1. Warmth (friendliness) - make friends easily/am hard to get to know
  2. Gregariousness – love large parties/prefer to be alone
  3. Assertiveness – take charge/wait for others to lead the way

Facets (Temperamental)

  1. Activity (activity level) – am always busy/like to take it easy
  2. Excitement Seeking – love excitement/dislike loud music
  3. Positive Emotions (cheerfulness) – radiate joy/am seldom amused
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The following facets make up which trait?

  1. Trust – trust others/distrust people
  2. Straightforwardness (cooperation) – am easy to satisfy/have a sharp tongue
  3. Altruism – make people feel welcome/look down on others
  4. Compliance (morality) – would never cheat on taxes/use flattery to get ahead
  5. Modesty – dislike being venter of attention/think highly of myself
  6. Tender-Mindedness (sympathy) – sympathize with the homeless/believe in eye for eye
A

Agreeableness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Conscientiousness is encompassed by the facets: (6)

A
  • Competence (self-efficacy) – complete tasks successfully/misjudge situations
  • Order (orderliness) – like order/leave a mess
  • Achievement striving – work hard/do just enough to get by
  • Self-discipline – get chores done right away/waste my time
  • Deliberation (cautiousness) – avoid mistakes/rush into things
  • Dutifulness – follow the rules/break rules
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Costa and McCrae largely found stability across

A

the big 5 in early adulthood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What else did costa and McCrae find in early adulthood? (3)

A
  1. N decreases from 20s to 50s
  2. C and A increase
  3. Nonetheless, interpreted that personality is stable after 30
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What did Costa find about personality in middle age?(2)

A
  1. N, E and O significantly decreased during 40s/early 50s. Few life events seem to correlate with these life changes
  2. A & C remained relatively stable
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is perceived control?

A

extent to which individuals believe they can control events they experience

23
Q

What is emotion regulation?

A

Typical strength of individuals’ emotional responsiveness in their everyday life

24
Q

What did Kandler find about personality in old age? (3)

A
  1. Increase in N, decrease in A, C, O, E
  2. No significant difference in perceptions of control and emotional regulation
  3. Decrease in subjective well being
25
Why might N increase in late adulthood?
They may be becoming wary of health-risks and dangers of everyday life
26
Why might E and A decrease in late adulthood?
They might be more selective in their activities and investments in social relationships
27
Why might O decrease in late adulthood?
They become selective in their cultural and intellectual activities
28
Why might C decrease in late adulthood?
They become selective in the effort they can put into being orderly and dutiful
29
What are 2 trait theory criticisms?
It is reductionist and has no story
30
What is meant by the reductionist criticism?
Better for predicting behavioral trends in genetic situations Ex: distinction between depression & anxiety (N) in a clinical setting
31
What is meant by the criticism that there is no story?
- What about context/situational factors? - ‘psychology of the stranger’ (McAdams, 1992) There’s not a personal touch to it. I wouldn’t be able to identify someone in this crowd from scores on the big 5.
32
In the second level of analysis which is personal concerns, what is responsible for changes in personality?
Changes in needs and motivations
33
What is the focus by personal concern theories?
There is a focus on context rather than just content - as our lives and life changes so do we.
34
The Stage Theory of Lifespan Personality Development was proposed by?
Erikson
35
Erikson said personality develops as a result of
how 8 life tasks are resolved
36
What is the criticism that Erikson received?
It is hard to falsify - more like armchair philosophy without empirical work
37
how does each stage work as defined by Erikson?
Each task involves a struggle between two opposing tendencies. To resolve, must balance these tendencies
38
Optimal resolution results in
basic strength (virtue)
39
Suboptimal resolution results in
maladaptive or malignancy
40
Logan reviewed Erikson's stages and described 3 main life tasks which were?
1. Build Trust 2. Achievement 3. Understand Ourselves (identity) He said the cycle begins in again in adulthood
41
What was Cox et al. interested in?
To what extent are dispositional (FFM) and developmental (generativity) factors associated with psychosocial adaptation in midlife?
42
Dispositional meaning
midlife adaptation should be a function of positive personality traits (ex: extraversion, emotional stability, conscientiousness, agreeableness)
43
Developmental meaning
midlife adaptation should be a function of the extent to which a person had the developmental demands of midlife (e.g., generativity)
44
Cox found dispositional factors were more associated with
well being. the big 5 had a stronger association: low on N, high on E and mid-on C, generativity was also associated
45
Cox found developmental factors were more associated with
Positive societal engagement: generativity was the highest association (ex: volunteering at church, coaches for kids sports teams)
46
T or F? There are some links in terms of well-being and positive societal engagement with the big 5 and generativity
True
47
T or F? generativity was associated with high levels of E & O
True
48
What did Torges find on the realtionship between generativity and ego integrity?
Study 1: o Resolving regret earlier in midlife predicts higher levels of ego integrity a decade later o Resolving regrets in late midlife also corresponds with concurrently greater ego integrity Study 2: o Higher levels of generativity earlier in midlife predicted higher levels of ego integrity in late midlife
49
Explain the Multidimensioanl Model of Generativity
1. Generative Concern - Concern for the next generation, ex: climate strike - Coupled with the general belief in the goodness of human kind leads to… 2. Generative Commitment to give back 3. Which leads to action 4. Which gives one meaning
50
Fears of mortality and aging lead to...(3)
emotional distress, behavioral changes and turmoil
51
What are 2 empirical challenges to the midlife crisis idea?
The big 5 and the berkley longitudinal study that found the majority of men were satisfied with their jobs and had exceeded their fathers
52
So why do people continue to believe in midlife crises?
The media & its a catch all
53
What might be an explanation for midlife crises?
People might just have the means to afford a new motorcycle at that point in their life

Adulthood & Aging (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions