psychology of aging midterm questions

Normal changes in the cardiovascular system with age in adulthood are reflected in a lowering of which measure? A. Aerobic capacity B. Low density lipoproteins C. Left ventricular thickness D. Blood pressure

A. Aerobic capacity

The ends of the chromosome lost with repeating cell replications that are thought to underlie the aging process are called the: A. Telomeres B. Cross-links C. Mutations D. Mitochondria

A. Telomeres

The main reason that older adults are more likely to die during extreme periods of cold weather is that: A. They cannot maintain their core body temperature B. Their sweat glands function less effectively C. They lack the ability to sense the outside temperature D. Their skin is more sensitive to temperature extremes

A. They cannot maintain their core body temperature

Vocabulary, factual information, and historical knowledge fall into the category of _______ memory, a process not affected by aging.

Semantic

According to the Berlin Wisdom Paradigm, wisdom is a form of expert knowledge:

In the pragmatics of life

Older adults subjected to the process called ______ are likely to view themselves as unable to carry out activities for themselves.

Infantilization

As shown in research on decision-making, one advantage that older problem-solvers seems to possess involves their greater ability to make the most out of:

Information from prior experience

Problems in everyday life that are the easiest to solve for older adults are those that:

Involve definite, well-stated goals.

Older adults who eat a diet that includes food rich in ______ are likely to experience some cognitive benefits.

Omega-3

While multitasking, most people:

Pay a price in terms of the quality of their performance

Which executive functioning do you rely most heavily upon while driving?

Planning your route

The idea that older adults possess reserve capacity, abilities that are there to be used but are currently untapped supports the:

Plasticity model

Both older adults and older monkeys showed that they could remember over a 2-year period how to perform a task involving ______ memory, in which they slid a small metal nut off a rod.

Procedural

In the procedure known as testing the limits, researchers studying the aging process try to:

Provide cognitive training until they show no more improvements

Brinley plots are used to understand which type of cognitive performance?

Reaction time

According to the text which is NOT one of the factors that affect the aging of intelligence?

Relationships

The most extensive study of adult intelligence is the:

Seattle Longitudinal Study

Barb E. Dahl is a 72-year-old woman who is pleased that for the first time in her life she has finally been able to shed excess pounds without having to diet. In reality, however, Barb's weight loss is probably not so good because it is due to: A. Loss of muscle mass B. Relative increase in cartilage C. Decrease in collagen D. Reductions in glucose

A. Loss of muscle mass

Researchers who study the aging of the central nervous system contrast the view that growth is always possible with the model stating that aging causes inevitable degeneration, known as the: A. Neuronal fallout model B. Glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis C. Mechanical slowing proposal D. Prosthetic decline theory

A. Neuronal fallout model

Behavioral controls for helping individuals cope with incontinence include engaging in which type of measures? A. Pelvic muscle training B. Use of adult diapers C. Urinating only when necessary D. Increasing fluid intake

A. Pelvic muscle training

Which model of development emphasizes the influence you have on the other people in your home, school, and community? A. Reciprocal B. Mechanistic C. Organismic D. Contextual

A. Reciprocal

Gerontologists recommend that older adults at risk of falling receive which type of intervention? A. Reduce the fear of falling B. Restrict them to one-floor dwellings C. Eliminate exercise from their daily routines D. Lower their sense of self-efficacy

A. Reduce the fear of falling

Psychology defines intelligence as:

An individual's mental ability

What is the survivor principle? A. People who live to old age are the ones who managed to outlive the many threats that could have caused their death at an earlier age. B. Coping in which people attempt to reduce their stress by changing something about their situation when they are about to die. C. The opportunity for patients to have autonomy in making decisions about the type, site and directions of the care that they receives at the end of life. D. Involves the experience of panic attacks in which people develop physical stamina.

Answer: A. People who live to old age are the ones who managed to outlive the many threats that could have caused their death at an earlier age.

What is the percentage of people older than 65 in the 2010 census? A. 10% B. 13% C. 4% D. 20%

Answer: B. 13%

Life expectancy is: A. The maximum age for a given species B. The average number of years of life remaining to the people born within a similar period of time. C. When individuals could expect to live in good health and with little disability D. Illness burden to a society can be reduced if people become disabled closer to their time of death

Answer: B. The average number of years of life remaining to the people born within a similar period of time.

What are the two types of differences that come to play regarding individuality? A. Assimilation, balance B. Multidirectionality, plasticity C. Interindividual, intra-individual D. Isolation, intimacy

Answer: C. Inter-individual, intra-individual

What is tertiary aging? A. Disease-related impairment B. Normal age-related changes C. Rapid decline shortly before death D. Changes that improve the individual's functioning

Answer: C. Rapid decline shortly before death

What phrase associated with nonnomative influences? A. Early bird gets the worm B. Find a penny pick it up C. Wrong place wrong time D. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Answer: C. Wrong place wrong time

Older adults are often viewed as weak and infirm but they really want to be viewed as: A. Creative and imagination B. Strong and supportive C. Tired and insane D. Individuals who have lived for a long time

Answer: D. Individuals who have lived for along time.

Gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and religion all contributed to: A. Social exchange B. Social indicator C. Social comparison D. Social factors

Answer: D. Social factors

In the field of gerontology, what is their main focus of study on? A. Children B. Young adults C. Middle aged adults D. The elderly

Answer: D. The elderly

What is known as a survey of a large sample of British adults focusing on the relationship among health, social class and occupation: A. Asch conformity B. Milgram C. Carlsberg social experiment D. Whitehall II study

Answer: D. Whitehall II study

The continuity principle has two points that define it, what are they? A. How people view themselves and the aging process B. The changes that people experience in later adulthood build on the experience they had in their earlier years and to the way that people think about their own identities. C. Biological and psychological D. They become different from each other and variation performance within the same individual.

Answer: B. The changes that people experience in later adulthood build on the experience they had in their earlier years and to the way that people think about their own identities.

Research on video game training in young adults shows that these games have the effect of improving:

Attentional control

The ageist stereotype that older adults are "past their sell-by date," according to the World Health Organization, is refuted by the fact that: A. An Olympic gymnast performed a record-setting high jump at the age of 42 B. A 100-year-old Canadian woman completed a marathon in Toronto. C. The majority of women in sub-Saharan Africa care for their grandchildren D. Most Nobel prize winners in Medicine or Physiology are scientists in their 60s and 70s

B. A 100-year-old Canadian woman completed a marathon in Toronto.

The idea that older adults are much more satisfied with their lives when they are able to leave behind their former social roles and involvement is consistent with which role adjustment theory? A. Activity B. Disengagement C. Mechanistic D. Ecological

B. Disengagement

The view that development is best viewed as continuous throughout life is referred to as the ________ perspective. A. Gerontological B. Life span C. Contextual D. Sociocultural

B. Life Span

A 35-year-old woman feels concerned about her career because she believes that, by this age , she should have advanced further than she has by now. Her concern would be best explained by which theoretical approach to understanding development? A. Life span B. Life course C. Life expectancy D. Life clock

B. Life course

According to the biological theory known as error catastrophe, the most significant effects of aging involve which structure in the cell? A. Chromosome B. Mitochondrial DNA C. Microfibril D. Collagen

B. Mitochondrial DNA

Diabetes can be prevented and even treated by which behavior? A. Increasing the intake of sugars B. Monitoring weight and diet C. Reducing involvement in exercise D. Increasing intake of red wine

B. Monitoring weight and diet

A 72-year-old woman has been told by her physician that, because she is obese, she is putting increased weight on her joints, thus increasing her risk of developing the musculoskeletal disease known as: A. Hypertension B. Osteoarthritis C. Emphysema D. Hypolipidemia

B. Osteoarthritis

In the condition known as _________, the individual has difficulty controlling urination and feels the need to urinate more frequently than normal. A. Urge incontinence B. Overactive bladder C. Stress incontinence D. Nephron dysfunction

B. Overactive bladder

Experts worry that future generations of older adults will experience more age-related hearing loss due to which preventable behavior? A. Failure to engage in aerobic exercise B. Overuse of earphones in portable listening devices C. Workplace exposure to industrial noise D. Thinning of the atmosphere's ozone layer

B. Overuse of earphones in portable listening devices

The condition known as ______ may increase the risk of cognitive disorders developing in order adults by overdiagnosis of prescription drugs. A. Peptide poisoning B. Polypharmacy C. Pseudodemenia D. Protein overloading

B. Polypharmacy

The selective optimization with compensation model proposes that older adults engage in what type of behavior when faced with loss? A. Seek help from younger adults to do those tasks for them B. Try to put more energy into the abilities which they care about the most C. Continue to try to achieve their goals, even if they seem out of reach D. Disengage from as many social roles and obligations as they can.

B. Try to put more energy into the abilities which they care about the most

The text recommends that the best advice for an older adult trying to maintain his or her digestive functioning is to: A. Take laxatives and other digestive aids on a regular basis B. Add higher levels of saturated fats to their diets C. Eat a diet that includes a relative balance among nutrients D. Add more salt to the diet to increase salivary flow.

C. Eat a diet that includes a relative balance among nutrients

Psychologists diagnosing Alzheimer's disease look for which key symptom in its early stage? A. Occasionally misplacing objects at home B. Being absent-minded from time to time C. Forgetting names of good friends or family D. Being unable to name the star of a popular movie

C. Forgetting names of good friends or family

Woman experiencing the menopause may encounter which of the following physiological symptoms? A. Thicker bone density B. Lowered LDL levels C. Increases in testosterone D. High blood pressure

C. Increases in testosterone

Sarcopenia is associated with age-related changes in the _________. A. Bones B. Lungs C. Muscles D. Kidneys

C. Muscles

The disease that involves an abnormal thinning of the bones is: A. Osteoarthritis B. Tendonitis C. Osteoporosis D. Sarcopenia

C. Osteoporosis

In the condition known as sleep apnea, the older adult experiences which symptoms during the night? A. Constant leg movements B. Frequent need to urinate C. Restricted airflow in the throat D. Disturbing nightmares

C. Restricted airflow in the throat

To indicate a broadening of our understanding of changes in individuals over time, the term developmental ________ is increasingly becoming used in the field. A. Psychology B. Sociology C. Science D. Programming

C. Science

The feeling that a person is able to succeed at a specific type of task is referred to as _________. A. Selective optimization B. Identity accommodation C. Self-efficacy D. Ego integrity

C. Self-efficacy

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is almost always caused by: A. Sun exposure B. Overeating C. Smoking D. Genetics

C. Smoking

The multiple threshold model of aging predicts that people will experience challenges to their identities as they get older in a ________ manner. A. Clockwise B. Stepwise C. Sudden D. Selective

C. Sudden

Which cosmetic procedure is shown to be associated with a higher rate of skin cancer? A. Liposuction B. Tatooing C. Tanning beds D. Body piercing

C. Tanning beds

Sunscreen protects you from which harmful rays? A. Gamma B. Magnetic C. Ultraviolet D. Delta

C. Ultraviolet

The modernization hypothesis of ageism proposes that attitudes toward older adults will be most negative in societies that: A. Emphasis oral traditions in which families hand down collective wisdom. B. Do not believe in an afterlife in which people can come back from the dead. C. Value people for the amount they can produce and contribute to society D. Insist that older adults try to "fit in" by looking as young as possible.

C. Value people for the amount they can produce and contribute to society

A psychological factor affecting the driving performance of older adults is:

Changes in decision-time speed

The World Health Organization defines health as having which qualities?

Complete physical, mental, and social well-being

In the disease known as ________, the heart cannot distribute enough blood throughout the body to reach the major organs, causing the tissues to swell with fluid.

Congestive heart failure

By using ________ to guide them, older adults can compensate for age-related changes in memory and speed when comprehending language.

Context

The condition known as multi-infarct dementia causes cognitive changes as a result of: A. Traumatic brain injury B. Chronic substance abuse C. Sensory deprivation D. A series of small strokes

D. A series of small strokes

In a process called identity _________, people are able to accept negative information about themselves as part of their sense of self without feeling unduly disturbed or devastated. A. Assimilation B. Reflection C. Balance D. Accomodation

D. Accomodation

Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement regarding Alzheimer's: A. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia B. Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 7% of the over-65 population C. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can be made only from autopsy D. Although it can be difficult, given the correct medication Alzheimer's can be cured

D. Although it can be difficult, given the correct medication Alzheimer's can be cured

Older adults with a history of _________ are more likely than others to experience loss of smell and taste sensitivity. A. Extreme exercise B. Sleep disorders C. Glucose intolerance D. Cigarette smoking

D. Cigarette smoking

According to the plasticity principle in development, individuals can alter the course of their own development by: A. Seeking genetic therapy B. Accelerating the rate of the social clock C. Describing the changes that occur in their bodies D. Engaging in physical and mental exercise

D. Engaging in physical and mental exercise

Researchers are identifying a possible genetic candidate for determining longevity known as the ________ gene. A. BOXY B. GWAS C. SNPP D. FOXO

D. FOXO

An 80-year-old woman is suffering from limited range of motion due to degenerative changes in her knees, shoulders, and wrists. If you were her physical therapist, you might suggest that she offset these changes by engaging primarily in: A. Strenuous exercise B. Intake of sodium C. Rest and relaxation D. Flexibility training

D. Flexibility training

In the Bronfenbrenner ecological model of development, which type of system has the most direct impact on the individual? A. Mesosystem B. Exosystem C. Macrosystem D. Microsystem

D. Microsystem

Health professionals treating older adults with osteoarthritis are most likely to recommend which of the following approaches as a long-term strategy, particularly for individuals with mild symptoms? A. Weight gain B. Bed rest C. Corticosteroids D. Mild exercise

D. Mild exercise

In _________ disease, the individual primarily suffers from disturbances in motor functioning, including having tremors, shuffling gait, and difficulties maintaining balance. A. Lewy's B. Pick's C. Wernicke's D. Parkinson's

D. Parkinson's

A number of studies relate age-related changes in the _______ and decreases in planning and ability to encode information in long-term memory. A. Brain stem B. Hypothalamus C. Occipital lobe D. Prefrontal cortex

D. Prefrontal cortex

Which of the following is a documented risk factor for developing cataracts? A. Listening to loud music B. Cigarette smoking C. Looking at bright colored pictures D. Reading small print in the dark

D. Reading small print in the dark

One way you can communicate more effectively with older adults who suffer from hearing loss is to: A. Speak as loud as possible B. Talk to them as you would to children C. Use as little body language as possible D. Reduce interference from outside noise

D. Reduce interference from outside noise

As proposed by terror management theory, the cause of ageism can be traced to: A. Lack of familiarity about the aging process B. Loss of contact with older adults in the family C. Greater urbanization and industrialization in society D. The anxiety that people feel about their own deaths

D. The anxiety that people feel about their own deaths

The country with the highest percentage of obesity in the world is: A. Finland B. Russia C. Bulgaria D. United States

D. United States

While you are at rest, the brain's ______ is at work, processing information that you generate internally.

Default network

The tendency to ramble may be especially likely to occur in the speech of older adults who experience "mental clutter," or an inability to:

Inhibit irrelevant information

The model of self-regulation and driving predicts that an older adult will continue to drive depends on the psychological factors of:

Self-confidence and need for independence

Mixing up who said what in a conversation that happened in the past is an instance of _______ memory failure, a problem that affects older more than younger adults.

Source

Making older adults conscious about their age during a memory test is likely to trigger the condition known as ______ in which their performance actually becomes worse.

Stereotype threat

As noted in the text, when administering the WAIS-IV to an older adult, the examiner is instructed to note such factors as:

Vision problems

While checking in on an older adult patient whose husband is visiting her in the hospital, a nurse's aide finds them holding hands and kissing. The aide immediately laughs and says, "That's so cute!" What is the aide's behavior referred to in the psychology of aging?

Elderspeak

The abilities to plan, use working memory, allocate mental resources to incoming tasks, and inhibit information are included in the cognitive skill known in psychology as:

Executive functioning

Recalling important and distinctive events that stand out from other memories of past events are ______ memories.

Flashbulb

The behavioral risk factors for chronic disease in later adulthood include tobacco smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and:

Harmful use of alcohol

Research from the Institute of Highway Safety shows that older drivers in the U.S. faced with the challenge of making a left-hand turn while driving in a busy intersection are most likely to experience which outcome?

Having an accident

The number one cause of death in the United States, primarily because it is suffered by older adults, is:

Heart disease

A trained neuropsychologist assessing older adults is likely to use which type of procedures?

Tailoring the assessment to the client's age and symptoms

Through video game training, researchers hope one day to demonstrate that the improvements in skills acquired in these platforms will help older adults improve in their everyday lives, a process known as:

Transfer

The thinking involved in Piaget's stage of formal operations involves which type of ability?

Using abstract symbols and logic

Instruction manuals that use terms that are _______ are particularly challenging for older adults.

Vague

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, in 2012, the highest fatality rates were for drivers ages:

16-19

Researchers investigating the role of lifestyle factors as modifying an individual's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease believe that _______ can play a protective role. A. Exercise B. Nicotine C. Caffeine D. Mood

A. Exercise

Researchers studying caloric restriction find that rats fed on diets low in total calories: A. Have longer lifespans B. Experience more stress C. Mate less frequently D. Become more hostile

A. Have longer lifespans

People who resolve the industry vs. inferiority issue associated with Erikson's psychosocial theory unfavorably are likely to have difficulty in which area of development? A. Identifying with the work ethic B. Getting close to a romantic partner C. Being able to accept death D. Having a strong sense of self

A. Identifying with the work ethic

A woman is caring for her husband who suffers from advanced dementia. The Nation Institute of Aging would suggest that caregivers she should engage in which activity to help herself cope with caregiver burden? A. Join a caregiver's support group B. Discontinue ties with friends C. Move her husband to a nursing home

A. Join a caregiver's support group

Research on the olfactory sensation in older adults suggests strongly that one of the most important causes is: A. Loss of chemical receptors B. Exposure to environmental toxins C. Genetic predisposition D. Increases in mucus membranes in the nose

A. Loss of chemical receptors

Health professionals use the individual's ability to complete the tasks of bathing, dressing, transferring, using the toilet, and eating to assess:

Activities of daily living

What is the definition of functional age? A. Age based on performance B. Age of an individual's bodily system C. Performance of reaction time and memory D. Performance of learning and intelligence

Answer: A. Age based on performance

What are the four principles of adult development and aging? A. Changes are continuous over the life span, only the survivors grow old, individually matters, and normal aging is different from diseases. B. Survival of the fittest, nature vs. nurture, retrieval failure, and retroactive interference. C. Time of measurement, cognitive deterioration, selective attrition, and bereavement D. Episodic memory, dyadic withdrawal, identity and asphasia

Answer: A. Changes are continuous over the life span, only the survivors grow old, individually matters, and normal aging is different from diseases.

The concept that the illness burden to society can be reduced of people become disabled closer to the time of their death is known as: A. Compression of morbidity B. Health expectancy C. Life expectancy D. SES

Answer: A. Compression of morbidity

Religion provides what to adults? A. Source of coping strategies, social support in times of crises and a systematic basis for integrity life experience B. A crutch C. A way to establish one's identity through multiple ways such as worship, community and volunteering D. A community to establish hope and kindness

Answer: A. Source of coping strategies, social support in times of crises and a systematic basis for integrity life experience.

Transition prior to assuming the full responsibilities associated with adulthood is known as: A. Evolving adolescence B. Emerging adulthood C. Extended adolescence D. Young adulthood

Answer: B. Emerging adulthood

Individual's identification as being male or female: A. Sexuality B. Gender C. Sex D. Personality

Answer: B. Gender

What are the events that occur to everyone within a certain culture or geopolitical unit? A. Nonnormative influences B. Normative history graded influences C. Normative age grade influences D. Socioeconomic influence

Answer: B. Normative history graded influences

Many types of ages are used to describe an individual: functional, chronological, biological, social and _________ A. Gemological B. Psychological C. Chemical D. Physical

Answer: B. Psychological

The perspective that included biological, social and psychological is known as: A. Cognitional social B. Contextual influences C. Biopsychosocial D. Cognitive psychological identity

Answer: C. Biopsychosocial

According to a large study conducted in the U.K., older adults who suffer from chronic back pain also have a higher rate of: A. Cataract formation B. Dizziness and vertigo C. Cognitive symptoms D. Olfactory impairment

C. Cognitive symptoms

Exposure to the asbestos increases an individual's risk of developing _______ cancer. A. Skin B. Stomach C. Lung D. Colon

C. Lung

A young woman joins her college's intramural tennis team because it's a sport she always wanted to try but had no opportunities to do so. It turns out that she's virtually a natural and soon advances to the top of the varsity team's roster. This example illustrates which process in an individual-environment interactions? A. Multidimensionality B. Epigenesis C. Niche-picking D. Accommodation

D. Accommodation

A factor in the driving behavior of older adults is that, compared to younger adults, they are more likely to:

Know how to react in an emergency

Crowded intersections pose a particular risk for older adults not only because of the many cars, but because they often have:

Many pedestrians

Findings on the effects of age on memory for events from the long-ago past, or remote memory, show that:

Memories from events in the distant past are no better than from the present

Al Nino is a man in his 70s who is receiving rehabilitation following his recent lip surgery. Luckily his physical therapist avoids elderspeak because she refers to him as:

Mr. Nino

As pointed out in "Aging Today," compared to eating, fixing the radio, or adjusting the GPS while driving, cellphone use is _____ dangerous:

Much more

The General Slowing Hypothesis purposes that older adults becoming slower primarily because of:

Nervous system changes

The view known as ________ theory proposes that older adults use different neural circuits depending on task demands to make up for the losses that they suffer elsewhere in the brain.

Scaffolding