How does the reality of late adulthood differ from the stereotypes of aging imparted by Western culture? Refer to patterns of physical, cognitive, and social development in your answer.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The answer can indicate that late adulthood is not just a time of inevitable, irreversible, and pervasive decline, as popular stereotypes might suggest. Points made might include the following:

Physical development: Many physical changes are brought about by the aging process. The most obvious are those of appearance-hair thinning and turning gray, skin wrinkling and folding, and sometimes a slight loss of height as the thickness of the disks between vertebrae in the spine decreases-but subtler changes also occur in the body's biological functioning. For example, sensory capabilities decrease as a result of aging: vision, hearing, smell, and taste become less sensitive. Reaction time slows, and physical stamina changes.

Cognitive development: Some declines in intellectual functioning during late adulthood do occur, although the pattern of age differences is not uniform for different types of cognitive abilities. In general, skills relating to fluid intelligence (which involves information-processing skills such as memory, calculations, and analogy solving) show declines in late adulthood. In contrast, skills relating to crystallized intelligence (intelligence based on the accumulation of information, skills, and strategies learned through experience) remain steady and in some cases actually improve. Even when changes in intellectual functioning occur during late adulthood, people often are able to compensate for any decline. They can still learn what they want to; it may just take more time. Furthermore, teaching older adults strategies for dealing with new problems can prevent declines in performance. There is even research evidence that playing video games during late adulthood can produce benefits in intellectual functioning.

Social development: People in late adulthood most often see themselves as functioning members of society, with only a small number of them reporting that loneliness is a serious problem. Certainly, late adulthood brings significant challenges. People who have spent their adult lives working enter retirement, bringing about a major shift in the role they play. Moreover, many people must face the death of their spouse. Especially if the marriage has been a long and good one, the death of a partner means the loss of a companion, confidante, and lover. It can also bring about changes in economic well-being. Not all people in late adulthood need a life filled with activities and social interaction to be happy; as in every stage of life, some older adults are just as satisfied leading a relatively inactive, solitary existence. What may be more important is how people view the aging process: evidence shows that positive self-perceptions of aging are associated with increased longevity.