PSYC-305 Adult Dev. & Aging

Question 1

Erik Erikson’s Theory for late adulthood

Answer 1

Integrity Vs. Despair: reflecting on the past; piecing together a positive view (integrity) vs. concluding that one’s life has not been well spent (despair)

Question 2

Active Theory

Answer 2

The more active and involved that older adults are, the more likely they are to be satisfied with their lives

Question 3

Socioemotional Selection Theory

Answer 3

The time left to live affects priorities and social relationships; they become more selective about their social networks.

Older adults focus on making the most of present life. Social focus shifts to being with the closest attachment figures

Question 4

Selection Optimization with Compensation Theory

Answer 4

The process by which people concentrate on selected skill areas to compensate for losses in other areas

Question 5

Degree of personal life investment (Paul Baltes’ view)

Answer 5

Selection of domains and life priorities; vary across the life course and are important for meaningful goals to make life satisfying

Question 6

Rodin and Langer Study (1977)

Answer 6

Found that patient’s feelings of control and self-determination in nursing homes important for health and survival

18 months later: The “responsibility” group was healthier, happier, and more active than the group without responsibility

Only half of the “responsibility” group had died compared to the dependent group

Question 7

Who is most likely to live in poverty? Gender and ethnic differences

Answer 7

Women more likely to live in poverty 60% African American; 50% Latina

Question 8

Death

Answer 8

Biological death: breathing and blood pressure, rigidity of the body

Brain/Neurological death: all electrical activity of the brain has ceased for a specific period and flat EEG recording

Question 9

Euthanasia (passive and active)

Answer 9

Painlessly ending the lives of persons suffering from incurable diseases or severe disabilities

Passive: withholding of available treatments, allowing the person to die

Active: death induced deliberately, as by injecting a lethal dose of a drug

Question 10

Euthanasia vs Physician Assisted

Answer 10

Euthanasia is when a drug is administered by a physician, and physician-assisted is when the patient administrates the drug

Question 11

Hospice

Answer 11

a program committed to making the end of life as free from pain, anxiety, and depression as possible

Question 12

Palliative Care

Answer 12

Reducing pain and suffering and helping individuals die with dignity

Question 13

Living Will

Answer 13

a document filed while an individual can still think clearly

Question 14

Kubler-Ross’ stages of dying

Answer 14

Denial and isolation: “It can’t be” (defense mechanism)

Anger: “Why me?” (extreme emotional discomfort)

Bargaining: “Just let me do this first” (avoidance)

Depression: withdrawal, crying, grieving (coping with acceptance)

Acceptance: a sense of peace

Question 15

Characteristics of Grieving

Answer 15

Prolonged grief: ensuring despair and unresolved over an extended period of time
Ex. loss of a child or long-term
partner

Disenfranchised grief: grief over deceased person that is a socially ambiguous loss that can’t be openly mourned or supported
Ex. miscarriage, abortion