Question 1

The brain's "master planner," responsible for executive functions such as selective attention, is located in the _____ lobes.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes are responsible for executive functions such as selective attention and planning, and are often referred to as the brain's "master planner." The parietal lobes are involved in sensory processing, the temporal lobes are associated with auditory processing and memory, and the occipital lobes are responsible for vision.

Question 2

The idea that the amount of time that a person has left to live changes priorities and social relationships is the basic premise of _____ theory.

Accepted Answer

Socioemotional selectivity theory proposes that as individuals perceive the amount of time they have left, they prioritize emotionally meaningful goals and social relationships. This theory suggests that as people age and perceive time as limited, they are more likely to invest in emotionally close relationships and have a preference for positive over negative social interactions.

Question 3

Compared to younger people, older people:

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that as people age, they become better at regulating their emotions and are able to selectively focus on positive information while minimizing the impact of negative information. This is known as "socioemotional selectivity theory." Therefore, option A is the correct choice.

Question 4

Coping with loneliness is the main challenge widowed people face.

Accepted Answer

Losing a spouse can result in feelings of loneliness and social isolation for widowed individuals. Coping with these emotions and finding ways to connect with others can be a significant challenge.

Question 5

According to the information-processing perspective, older people have which problem?

Accepted Answer

According to the information-processing perspective, older people may have difficulty in selectively attending to information, which can lead to difficulties in memory and processing speed.

Question 6

Which memory system is preserved the longest, even into Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Procedural memory, which involves memories of how to perform tasks or procedures, tends to be preserved longer in Alzheimer's disease compared to other types of memory, such as semantic or episodic memory. This is because procedural memory is stored in different brain areas that are less affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

Question 7

Rajivini's husband of 50 years has recently died. If she is like many widows, Rajivini may complain most about:

Accepted Answer

Loneliness is a common complaint among widows as they may feel isolated and miss the companionship of their partner. While financial issues and conflicts with children may arise, loneliness is often the most significant and poignant challenge faced by widows. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 8

In Erik Erikson's model of psychosocial development, the consequence of a failure to reach _____, when a person has serious regrets about his or her life.

Accepted Answer

According to Erikson's model, the final stage of psychosocial development is integrity vs. despair. If an individual fails to reach a sense of integrity, which includes reflecting on their life and feeling satisfied with what they have accomplished, they may experience a sense of despair and regret in old age. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and a negative outlook on life. Therefore, the consequence of a failure to reach integrity is despair.

Question 9

Glen, age 65, is convinced that at his age, he is destined to have neural loss and brain deficits, so he stops trying to remember new names. Glen has problems with:

Accepted Answer

Glen's belief that he is destined to have neural loss and brain deficits is affecting his memory self-efficacy, which is the belief in one's ability to remember information. By stopping himself from trying to remember new names, Glen is not only limiting his memory potential but also reinforcing his negative belief about aging and cognitive abilities.

Question 10

The elevated risk of death that occurs after a spouse dies is called the _____ effect.

Accepted Answer

The elevated risk of death that occurs after a spouse dies is referred to as the widowhood mortality effect. This effect encompasses a range of factors, including stress, social isolation, and depression, which can contribute to an increased risk of mortality for the surviving spouse.

Question 11

Jeannie has always divided her attention very well. For example, she could talk on the telephone while preparing dinner, and do half a dozen other things at the same time. Jeannie is now in her elderly years. According to the text, Jeannie MOST likely has:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jeannie has always divided her attention very...

Question 12

Sean is 68 years old. Developmentalists classify Sean as:

Accepted Answer

Sean is 68 years old, which is within the age range of 65-74, which is classified as "young-old" by developmentalists.

Question 13

According to the text, the best antidote for widow's loneliness is to focus on:

Accepted Answer

Making new widowed friends can provide a sense of understanding and shared experience that is beneficial in coping with loneliness.

Question 14

Every bereaved person benefits from joining a widowhood support group.

Accepted Answer

While some individuals may find support groups helpful, not everyone will benefit from them. Grief is a personal process and each person handles it in their own way. It's important for individuals to find what works best for them and seek out the support they need, whether it's through a support group, counseling, or other means.

Question 15

Which group could use interventions to improve memory self-efficacy?

Accepted Answer

Memory self-efficacy can be improved in people of any age, as it is related to cognitive abilities and beliefs about one's own memory capacity. Interventions can include memory training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and education about memory strategies. Gender does not appear to be a significant factor in memory self-efficacy.

Question 16

In Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages, the final milestone, _____, occurs when a person reviews and makes peace with life.

Accepted Answer

Integrity is the final milestone in Erikson's psychosocial stages, occurring in late adulthood. It refers to the ability of a person to look back on their life with a sense of satisfaction and acceptance, even in the face of regrets or unfulfilled goals. This stage involves reflecting on one's accomplishments, relationships, and experiences, and finding a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Individuals who reach this stage successfully are able to resolve any lingering conflicts or challenges from earlier stages and feel a sense of wholeness and completion.

Question 17

Sarah is trying to remember what she ate for dinner last Friday when her husband took her to a restaurant. According to the memory-systems perspective, this information is in Sarah's _____ memory.

Accepted Answer

Episodic memory pertains to the recollection of personal experiences and events that occurred at specific times and places. Sarah trying to remember what she ate for dinner last Friday at a restaurant is an example of episodic memory retention. Option B) Semantic memory refers to the recollection of general knowledge and facts about the world, while option C) Declarative memory includes both episodic and semantic memory. Option D) Short-term memory refers to the temporary storage of information for immediate use and is not relevant to the scenario given.

Question 18

A psychologist is evaluating Karl. As part of the evaluation, the psychologist asks Karl questions such as "See if you can remember these three words 5 minutes from now." The psychologist is testing Karl's _____ memory.

Accepted Answer

Episodic memory is the memory of specific events that have happened in a person's life. In this case, the psychologist is asking Karl to remember three words 5 minutes from now, which is a test of episodic memory.

Question 19

Which nation has the OLDEST median age?

Accepted Answer

According to 2021 estimates from the CIA World Factbook, Italy has the oldest median age of 47.3 years. China's median age is 38.4 years, Brazil's median age is 33.5 years, and the United States' median age is 38.5 years.

Question 20

The _____ age at which half the population is younger and half is older is rapidly rising in the industrialized world. In Germany, Italy, and Japan, it will soon be well into middle age.

Accepted Answer

The median is the value that splits the population into two halves, so it is the best choice for this question. The mean and average are the same thing, and they are not necessarily the value that splits the population into two halves. The mode is the value that appears most frequently, so it is not relevant to this question.

Quiz 13: Later Life: Cognitive and Socioemotional Development