Chapter 15

working memory

The mental "workbench" where individuals manipulate and assemble information when decision making problem solving and comprehending language.

climacteric

The midlife transition in which fertility declines.

leisure

The pleasant times after work when individuals are fee to pursue activities and interests of their own choosing.

middle adulthood

The developmental period that begins approximately 40 to 45 years of aged and extends to about 60 to 65 years of age.

erectile dysfunction

The inability to adequately achieve and maintain an erection that results in satisfactory sexual performance.

crystallized intelligence

Accumulated information and verbal skills, which increase with in middle adulthood, according to Horn.

menopause

Cessation of a woman's menstrual periods, usually in the late forties or fifties.

chronic disorders

Disorders that are characterized by slow onset and long duration. They are rare in early adulthood, they increase during middle adulthood, and they become common in late adulthood.

meaning-making coping

Involves drawing on beliefs, values, and goals to change the meaning of a stressful situation, especially in times of chronic stress as when a loved one dies.

fluid intelligence

The ability to reason abstractly, which begins to decline from middle adulthood on, according to Horn.