Deck 11: Growing Older

Question 1

According to Erik Erikson, the main task of middle adulthood is the resolution of:

A) Integrity vs. Despair
B) Generativity vs. Stagnation
C) Trust vs. Mistrust
D) Intimacy vs. isolation

Answer 1

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Question 2

One main difference between Freud and Erikson is that:

A) Erikson's theory covers the life span
B) Freud's theory covers the life span
C) Erikson's theory has no conflicts within the stages
D) Freud's theory has conflicts in various stages

Answer 2

Erikson's theory covers the life span

Question 3

Carol Gilligan (1982) has criticized Erikson's theory because it:

A) Describes the developmental trajectory of males better than females
B) Ignores the importance of attachment to others and interdependence
C) Reflects the traditional pathway of male development, in which independence is highlighted as the primary goal
D) All of the above

Answer 3

All of the above

Question 4

Television ads that promise youthful appearance, or the energy to act youthful, enforce the:

A) Midlife imperative
B) Midlife astonishment
C) "Graying of America"
D) Double standard rule of aging

Question 5

An example of the double standard rule of aging is:

A) A woman marrying a man 20 years younger
B) Older women being viewed as selfless and nurturing while men are viewed as selfish and unconcerned
C) A man marrying a woman 20 years younger
D) Older women being viewed as more active in the community than older men

Question 6

The "sandwich generation" refers to women who:

A) Have to work at home as well as outside the home
B) Are responsible for caring for both the young and the old
C) Are held responsible for midlife astonishment while not gaining its privileges
D) Are serving the more dominant youth generation while trying to gain power themselves

Question 7

Nancy just turned fifty and is experiencing heightened vulnerability, shame and severe loss of self esteem. Pearlman describes this developmental transition as:

A) Midlife imperative
B) Midlife astonishment
C) "Graying of America"
D) Double standard rule of aging

Question 8

Nancy just turned fifty and is experiencing various symptoms such as profuse sweating, headaches, increased weight, insomnia, aches and pains, dryness and thinning of the vaginal walls, irritability, and hot flashes. She is most probably experiencing:

A) Midlife astonishment
B) Empty nest syndrome
C) Menopause
D) An abnormal medical condition

Question 9

In the US, menopause is viewed by older women as:

A) Positive most of the time
B) An achievement or attained status
C) Difficult, troublesome, confusing, and depressing
D) Psychological rather than biological

Question 10

Mansfield and Voda (1993) suggested that menopausal women received most of their information about menopause from:

A) Their physicians
B) Medical sources
C) Mothers and spouses
D) Friends and media

Question 11

The "empty nest syndrome" seems to have catalyzed a crisis mainly for those women:

A) Who view their children's departure as a positive thing
B) Whose lives are characterized by independence
C) Whose lives revolve around their children
D) Whose lives are emotionally deprived

Question 12

Men at midlife suffer from:

A) declined sexual potency
B) decreased social power
C) declining physical strength
D) All of the above

Question 13

One advantage that a middle aged woman has over her male counterpart is that she is:

A) More expressive in her needs
B) Used to sexism so it is easier for her to adjust to ageism
C) More confrontational
D) Comfortable in her psychological state

Question 14

Aging men buying sports cars and leaving their family to marry a "trophy wife" are most likely motivated by:

A) Male menopause
B) Midlife crisis
C) Midlife astonishment
D) The double standard of aging

Question 15

According to empirical research, which of the following notions of "midlife crisis" has been supported?

A) Some researchers have found that midlife crisis is a myth
B) Midlife crisis is a universal phenomenon, experienced by all men.
C) Midlife crisis appears to be related to age regardless of career and family issues
D) All of the above

Question 16

Middle aged women who choose to return to college or work are known as:

A) Reentry women
B) Late bloomers
C) Nontraditional
D) Midlife crisis women

Question 17

In comparison to older men, older women express

A) More negative attitudes towards youth
B) More negative attitudes towards aging
C) Fewer feelings of loneliness
D) Increased feelings of control

Question 18

This group of people finds their status enhanced with age:

A) Men from certain ethnic minorities
B) Women who belong to devout religious institutions
C) Men who belong to devout religious institutions
D) Ethnic minority women

Question 19

Reid (1995) speculates that the distinctive issues faced by ___________enable them to successfully negotiate old age.

A) Adolescent females
B) Older women
C) Aging lesbians and gay men
D) Adolescent males

Question 20

Parental imperatives are:

A) Roles that force female and male adults into positions consistent with their respective gender roles
B) The use of traditionally feminine power strategies such as manipulation to accomplish goals
C) The use of personal resources
D) Both b and c

Question 21

Discuss the double standards of aging and explain their effects on women and men.

Question 22

Are there any positive elements in growing older for women and men? Discuss.

Question 23

Compare and contrast men's midlife crisis to women's empty nest syndrome and explain the psychological implications.

Question 24

Who is most disadvantaged as they get older, men or women? Explain.

Question 25

Based on the text discussion about retirement, describe a woman who adjusts well to retirement and a woman who does not.