Deck 16: Social Aspects of Later Life

Question 1

Which adaptation level is associated with the greatest happiness and lack of worry about environmental demands?

A) zone of maximum performance potential
B) the marginal adaptation level
C) average level of competence and press level
D) zone of maximum comfort

Answer 1

D

Question 2

When Jake looks back upon his past, he realizes that he always had very little patience when dealing with children. What does Jake's realization about himself signify?

A) external continuity
B) internal continuity
C) external discontinuity
D) internal discontinuity

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which statement best fits with an individual whose life is characterized by minimal continuity?

A) "Could I get any duller?"
B) "Consistency is my middle name."
C) "I wish that I were more spontaneous."
D) "I am never sure what I am going to do next."

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Experimenters are attempting to assess the upper limits of Ralph's physical, perceptual, cognitive, and personal skills. When they are done, what will they have determined?

A) Ralph's proactivity
B) Ralph's continuity
C) Ralph's competence
D) Ralph's environmental press

Question 5

Which one of the following conditions destroys internal continuity?

A) Parkinson's disease
B) Huntington's disease
C) Alzheimer's disease
D) Crohn's disease

Question 6

As with many individuals with senile dementia, Allan has begun to experience a reduced and distorted sense of himself. What is this an example of?

A) external continuity
B) internal continuity
C) external discontinuity
D) internal discontinuity

Question 7

All of the following individuals are currently in jobs that challenge them to need to perform at their average level of competence. Who would be entering his or her "maximum comfort zone?"

A) Janet, whose job just got significantly harder
B) Tyson, whose job just got slightly harder
C) Jerry, whose job just got slightly easier
D) Mark, whose job just got significantly easier

Question 8

When an individual is at adaptation level, when is a zone of maximum performance potential created?

A) when a significant decrease in press occurs
B) when a slight decrease in press occurs
C) when a slight increase in press occurs
D) when a significant increase in press occurs

Question 9

Barry has just run the mile in just under four minutes, which is his best time ever. What would this represent?

A) his level of compliance for this skill
B) his level of fitness for this skill
C) his level of competence for this skill
D) his level of proactivity for this skill

Question 10

Ken can cope with his current boss's bad attitude because he has had past experience dealing with similar bosses. What best explains Ken's ability?

A) continuity theory
B) mechanics intelligence
C) the social convoy
D) cross-linking theory

Question 11

What premise is continuity theory based on?

A) the premise that change is uncommon in adulthood
B) the premise that we tend to address life's daily problems using strategies that have been successful in the past
C) the premise that the maximum level of cognitive abilities is achieved in middle adulthood
D) the premise that environmental demands decline with age

Question 12

Professor Navez feels apathetic about his research and teaching job because he is not feeling challenged by his work. Where is Professor Navez operating?

A) in a maladaptive zone
B) at a marginal adaption level
C) in the zone of maximum comfort
D) in the zone of maximum performance potential

Question 13

Albert says, "During the past 30 years, my living arrangement pattern would best be described as 'single' to 'married with children' to 'divorced and on my own.'" What does his statement exemplify?

A) external continuity
B) internal continuity
C) external discontinuity
D) internal discontinuity

Question 14

When is adaptation level reached?

A) when competence exceeds an environmental press
B) when environmental press exceeds competence
C) when the environmental press makes no demands on competence, but competence still exists
D) when the environmental press is at the average state for a given level of competence

Question 15

Watching his grandchildren for the weekend has increased the environmental press in Hugo's life slightly, bringing out the best in Hugo's interpersonal skills. While watching his grandchildren, where is Hugo operating?

A) at the adaptation level
B) in the zone of maximum comfort
C) in the zone of maximum performance potential
D) in a marginal zone

Question 16

When is maladaptive behaviour most likely?

A) under conditions of high competence and weak environmental press
B) under conditions of medium competence and moderate environmental press
C) under conditions of low competence and weak environmental press
D) under conditions of no competence and no environmental press

Question 17

Joanne has retired from her full-time job as a professor; however, she still writes educational textbooks on a part-time basis and volunteers at her local church. What best describes Joanne's new life?

A) cross-linking theory
B) social convoy theory
C) continuity theory
D) bridge job theory

Question 18

Sasha is seventeen and is borrowing her mom's car to complete the road test portion of her driver's test. What primary ability will the driving examiner be assessing?

A) Sasha's environmental press
B) Sasha's ego strength
C) Sasha's cognitive skills
D) Sasha's competence

Question 19

Since he is the reigning Prince of England, William must attend formal gatherings nearly every day. What do such gatherings represent?

A) proactivity
B) discontinuity
C) an environmental press
D) an example of competence

Question 20

What do we call the demands exerted on one's self by one's surroundings?

A) an environmental press
B) maximum comfort
C) internal continuity
D) competence

Question 21

According to Oswald and Wu (2010), which of the following is used to assess one's subjective well-being?

A) competence
B) wealth
C) overall health
D) life satisfaction

Question 22

While attempting to cope with the death of her sister, Megan decides to participate in a spontaneous celebration of life sponsored by a local church. What does participation in this celebration illustrate?

A) the use of a spiritual support
B) the use of a secular support
C) the use of a tertiary support
D) the use of a docility support

Question 23

What does retirement always involve the loss of?

A) integrity
B) maximum performance potential
C) autonomy
D) occupational identity

Question 24

According to Erik Erikson, what characterizes the conflict of integrity versus despair?

A) attempting to make sense out of one's life
B) forming an initial sense of identity
C) a sense of great care for the next generation
D) developing a sense of trust

Question 25

What characterizes docility?

A) a sense of little control
B) a sense of intermediate care
C) a sense of high competence
D) a sense of possible selves

Question 26

When businessman Elias notices that a lot of business deals take place on the golf course, he signs up for golf lessons. What is Elias exhibiting?

A) docility
B) proactivity
C) environmental press
D) disengagement

Question 27

Fanny is a young-older woman who believes that she has an improved subjective well-being as compared to when she was younger. According to Charles and Carstensen (2010), which of the following factors may account for Fanny's opinion?

A) her wealth
B) her social network
C) her education
D) her husband and family

Question 28

According to Schlossberg (2004) and Sterns and Chang (2010), what term could be used to describe retirement?

A) discontinuity
B) restructuring
C) transition
D) modification

Question 29

Which part of the brain helps to control emotion?

A) amygdala
B) hippocampus
C) cerebellum
D) cerebrum

Question 30

How is retirement best defined?

A) It is a difficult transition period between working life and frailty.
B) It is a complete withdrawal from the workforce.
C) It is the non-working phase of life after age 65.
D) It is a self-described state involving withdrawal from full-time employment.

Question 31

What does the ability to exert control over one's life underlie?

A) a strong sense of docility
B) a strong sense of proactivity
C) a strong sense of environmental press
D) a strong sense of competence

Question 32

Noah is trying to come to grips with the fact that he is very old, and doesn't have long to live. To do this, he thinks of the things he has accomplished, the children he has raised, and the things he has done for the community. Which of Erikson's stages is Noah struggling with?

A) generativity vs. stagnation
B) integrity vs. despair
C) intimacy vs. isolation
D) initiative vs. guilt

Question 33

Which of the following phrases would best complete the analogy, "Docility is to proactivity as?"

A) social is to cognitive
B) extrovert is to introvert
C) maximum comfort is to maximum performance
D) environmental control is to self-control

Question 34

According to numerous researchers, what do many older adults turn to in order to assist them to cope with the daily challenges of living?

A) medication
B) religious faith
C) family and friends
D) cognitive therapy

Question 35

What does an individual have if he or she holds a positive self-evaluation that is based on positive life experiences?

A) a dysphoric well-being
B) an indeterminate well-being
C) a subjective well-being
D) an inverse well-being

Question 36

According to Erik Erikson, which of the following 80-year-olds has achieved integrity?

A) Elmer, who is highly self-conscious
B) Christine, who is highly self-affirming
C) Harold, who has good self-recognition skills
D) Francis, who has excellent self-monitoring skills

Question 37

When coping with high levels of stress, how do individuals who rely on spiritual support differ from those with little religious commitment?

A) They show lower levels of self-esteem.
B) They demonstrate more discomfort with rigid church dogma.
C) They report higher states of well-being.
D) They add to their burden more.

Question 38

In order to achieve life integrity, what must older adults must evaluate their lives through?

A) a lifespan analysis
B) an acquaintanceship
C) a zone of maximum performance potential
D) a life review

Question 39

Hazel is tired of worrying about her new landlord. When her friends tell her to become involved to protect her interests, Hazel says, "It's too late in the day. Whatever happens happens. I'll simply do whatever the landlord says." What is Hazel exhibiting?

A) docility
B) proactivity
C) adaptation level
D) high levels of competence

Question 40

What is a clean break from employment called?

A) a "cusp" retirement
B) a "crisp" retirement
C) a "convoy" retirement
D) a "competent" retirement

Question 41

How is the rate of volunteerism of retirees expected to change in Canada over the next few decades?

A) The rate will increase significantly.
B) The rate will increase slightly.
C) The rate will decrease slightly.
D) The rate will decrease significantly.

Question 42

Gene is about to retire after coaching college basketball for 30 years. He has decided that rather than going "cold turkey" on coaching, he will take a low-paying part-time job as a high school coach to help ease him into retirement. Which of the following does this exemplify?

A) a bridge job
B) semi-retirement
C) transitional retirement
D) a social convoy

Question 43

According to Ekerdt (2010), how do most people feel about retirement?

A) They feel lonely and isolated.
B) They enjoy the freedoms that retirement provides to them.
C) They detest retirement.
D) They feel very good about it, provided they have their health and financial security.

Question 44

When compared to men, women are more likely to do which of the following?

A) enter the work force earlier
B) spend more time in the work force
C) retire when their spouse is in poor health
D) have more discontinuous work histories

Question 45

In the last 30 years, what has happened to the number of community organizations designed to involve older adults?

A) The number has increased significantly.
B) The number has increased slightly.
C) The number has remained stable.
D) The number has decreased slightly.

Question 46

Francesca retired from her nursing job five years ago. Although she volunteers at a soup kitchen, she does not have any job that is related to nursing anymore. What type of retirement has Francesca experienced?

A) a crisp retirement
B) a blurred retirement
C) a semi-retirement
D) a normal retirement

Question 47

Whose behaviour best exemplifies a "blurred" retirement process?

A) Ben, who just permanently retired after working 40 straight years at a paper mill
B) Gregory, who has never had an out of the home career and whose work load is not changing significantly
C) Johnny, who is a retired accountant, but became a bookkeeper, and now wants to completely retire
D) Stella, who is unsure as to whether her full-time job as a lawyer is about to end, so she takes on more part-time work

Question 48

Which is the best example of a "social convoy?"

A) a newly married couple
B) Generation X
C) several adult life-long friends
D) a retired individual who plans to move to a community with other retirees

Question 49

According to the text, satisfaction in one's retirement is dependent upon which of the following factors?

A) wealth
B) health
C) age
D) gender

Question 50

What is a "bridge job?"

A) your first part-time job out of high school or college
B) the highest-paying job of your career
C) a job taken after ending your main career but prior to retirement
D) a job you take after retiring

Question 51

How does a person's activity level typically change after retirement?

A) The number of paid and volunteer hours both increase.
B) The number of volunteer hours increases while the paid hours decrease.
C) The number of paid hours increases while the volunteer hours decrease.
D) The number of paid and volunteer hours both decrease.

Question 52

How do most researchers explain the path to retirement?

A) It involves a sequence of predictable phases.
B) It is a complex process based on a number of factors.
C) It is different for men and women.
D) It varies according to culture.

Question 53

According to Barnes and Parry (2004), what is one interesting gender difference concerning satisfaction in retirement?

A) A sense of high personal competence is more important for males.
B) Traditional gender roles create more difficulties for males.
C) Good health is more important for females.
D) Financial security is more important for females.

Question 54

According to the text, what is the most important thing to an older adult?

A) health
B) relationships
C) wealth
D) a safe place to live

Question 55

Which of the following is a negative health consequence of forced retirement?

A) poor cognitive function
B) issues with digestion
C) loss of mobility
D) restless sleep patterns

Question 56

Why do the majority of people retire?

A) because they chose to
B) because they lost their jobs due to layoff or dismissal
C) because they were experiencing health problems
D) because they had to stay home to care for a loved one experiencing health problems

Question 57

Eric has maintained contact with six of his high-school friends for the past 60 years. They often get together for activities, to socialize, and to simply spend time together. What do Eric and his long-time friends exemplify?

A) close friends
B) a clique
C) lifelong acquaintances
D) a social convoy

Question 58

By volunteering in her community, how is recent retiree Melody likely to feel?

A) that she is denying a life transition
B) that she is exemplifying personal stagnation
C) that she is improving her community
D) that she is docile

Question 59

Many retired individuals will maintain their contacts within their communities by doing which of the following?

A) working part-time
B) attending church or social functions
C) visiting friends on a regular basis
D) volunteering

Question 60

Self-employed Herschel is retiring from his job early. What is the most likely reason for this decision?

A) He has health problems.
B) He has financial independence.
C) He no longer likes his job.
D) He wants to spend more time with his family.

Question 61

Merlin and Kay are both 69 years old and married. Compared with Karin and Rick, who are 37 years old and married, Merlin and Kay probably experience which of the following?

A) a reduced potential for conflict
B) a lower potential for pleasure
C) a greater difference from one another in terms of health
D) more gender differences in terms of sources of pleasure

Question 62

Approximately how many times more are Canadian women more likely to become widowed than their male counterparts?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Question 63

How do the sizes of social convoys vary between generations?

A) Young adults have the largest convoys.
B) Middle-aged adults have the largest convoys.
C) Older adults have the largest convoys.
D) Convoy size does not vary by generation.

Question 64

Eve is very close to her siblings, is very involved in their lives, and keeps an average level of contact with them. She does not resent or envy her siblings, but rather, thinks well of them. How would you best describe Eve's relationship with her siblings?

A) intimate
B) loyal
C) congenial
D) apathetic

Question 65

Which older adult is more likely to be involved with friends?

A) Bob, who is a married male
B) Sandy, who is a widow
C) Ellen, who is a married female
D) Beth, who is a female who never married

Question 66

How does the average middle-aged married couple differ from the average older married couple?

A) The older couple is more likely to be characterized as unhappy.
B) The older couple is more likely to be characterized as disengaged.
C) The older couple is more likely to be characterized as similar to each other.
D) The older couple is more likely to be characterized as docile.

Question 67

What has been associated with a reduction in perceived daily hassles among individuals caring for incapacitated spouses?

A) high levels of perceived tension
B) high levels of perceived spirituality
C) high levels of perceived docility
D) high levels of perceived competence

Question 68

After 45 years of marriage, Athena now has to take care of her husband, who has a major debilitating disease. Compared to older adults who are not caregivers for their spouses, how is Athena most likely to feel about her marriage?

A) She is likely to feel more satisfied.
B) She is likely to feel less satisfied.
C) She is likely to feel equally satisfied.
D) She is likely to feel satisfied in a different way.

Question 69

When are sibling relationships particularly important?

A) When one is an unmarried older adult.
B) When one is a widowed older adult.
C) When one is an ill older adult.
D) When one is a lonely older adult

Question 70

According to socioemotional selectivity theory, what motivates the desire for social contact?

A) information seeking
B) discontinuity
C) infantilization
D) an altruistic gene

Question 71

Based on the data gathered to date, how do long-term gay and lesbian partnerships compare to long-term heterosexual relationships?

A) Long-term gay and lesbian partnerships are more loving than long-term heterosexual relationships.
B) Long-term gay and lesbian partnerships are more violent than long-term heterosexual relationships.
C) Long-term gay and lesbian partnerships are more sexual than long-term heterosexual relationships.
D) Long-term gay and lesbian partnerships are very similar to long-term heterosexual relationships.

Question 72

According to research, during which time frame of life are sibling relationships the most important?

A) during childhood
B) during the teenage years
C) during the middle-aged years
D) during later life

Question 73

When describing her relationship with her sister Lynn, Bonnie says, "I guess we're about as close as the average sibling pair, but you can't choose your siblings, so who knows?" What kind of sibling relationship do Bonnie and Lynn appear to have?

A) a congenial sibling relationship
B) an apathetic sibling relationship
C) a hostile sibling relationship
D) a loyal sibling relationship

Question 74

Mr. Robinson, who is 57, loves to play Solitaire and other card games online. What percentage of online gamers, such as Mr. Robinson, are young-old adults?

A) 25 percent
B) 29 percent
C) 33 percent
D) 37 percent

Question 75

All of these individuals are over 70 years old. Who is most likely to be most satisfied with his or her life?

A) Sergi, who has a close relationships with one of his sons
B) Diana, who has close relationships with all six of her children
C) Karl, who has a close relationship with one friend who is not a member of his family
D) Ernest, who has a close relationship with many friends who are not members of his family

Question 76

Hanna is a 70-year-old woman who has a choice. She can either go out with some old friends or make some new friends at the community centre. If Hanna's decision is based on emotional regulation, what does socioemotional selectivity theory predict that she will do?

A) She will choose to make new friends.
B) She will go out with her old friends.
C) She will stay home and see no one.
D) She will invite her old friends to the community centre so that they can all make new friends.

Question 77

Paul has just retired from his job as an accountant. He has decided to assist his wife at home now, so that they have equal time to pursue their leisure-time activities. With what does Paul help his wife?

A) volunteering
B) walking the dog
C) paying household bills
D) doing household chores

Question 78

Mrs. Martinez has a personal issue that she wants to discuss. In whom is she mostly likely to confide this information?

A) her daughter, Juanita
B) her friend, Mrs. Sanchez
C) her priest, Father Valdez
D) her husband, Julio

Question 79

Which of the following sets of siblings is most likely closest?

A) Frank, who is rich and does not work, and Fred, who works as a mechanic.
B) Jennifer and Jasmine, who are twins, but live in Toronto and St. John's respectively.
C) Sally, who lives in Vancouver, and Sarah, who lives in Halifax.
D) Vern, who has several friends, and Vito, who has only one close friend.

Question 80

On average, how long do most sibling relationships endure?

A) 40 years
B) 50 years
C) 60 years
D) 70 years