Question 1

At a recent family reunion, Philip's uncle recognized him as his brother's son, but he could not recall his name. Philip's uncle exhibited a(n) __________ memory deficit.

Accepted Answer

Associative memory deficit involves difficulty in linking pieces of information together, such as recognizing someone as a relative but not being able to recall their name.

Question 2

After retirement, older adults' problem-solving activities typically involve __________.

Accepted Answer

IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) refer to activities that are important for independent living, such as managing finances, grocery shopping, and maintaining a household. As older adults age, these tasks may become more difficult, requiring problem-solving skills to maintain independence. Marital difficulties, relating to children, and disputes with neighbors are not necessarily universal experiences for older adults in retirement.

Question 3

In setting personal goals, older adults __________.

Accepted Answer

Older adults tend to focus on goals that help them maintain their abilities and prevent further losses. This often includes goals related to physical health, such as exercising regularly and eating well, but may also include goals related to cognitive health, such as staying mentally active and engaged. While some older adults may deny their limitations, this is not necessarily a common approach to setting goals as it can lead to unrealistic expectations and potential disappointment. Likewise, while some may focus solely on gains in one area or losses in another, it is more typical for older adults to balance their goals across multiple domains to support overall wellbeing.

Question 4

The reminiscence bump __________.

Accepted Answer

The reminiscence bump is evident in the autobiographical recall of older adults from diverse cultures, meaning that individuals tend to recall more events from their adolescence and early adulthood than from other periods in their lives. Therefore, option A, B, and D are incorrect.

Question 5

Age differences in __________ memory are much smaller than in __________ memory.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that age differences in implicit memory, which involves unconscious or unintentional memory, remain relatively stable throughout adulthood, while age differences in explicit memory, which involves intentional or conscious memory, tend to increase with age.

Question 6

Orlando, age 82, is asked to describe important life events, noting the age at which each occurred. Among remote events recalled, Orlando is most likely to focus on events that occurred __________.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the reminiscence bump, where people tend to have a higher number of memories from the ages of 10 to 30. This period is marked by many firsts and significant life changes, making memories from this time more vivid and easily recalled.

Question 7

A common technique used by many older adults to compensate for their difficulties in producing language is to __________.

Accepted Answer

Using more sentences allows for a greater chance of effectively conveying their message while compensating for any difficulties with producing language.

Question 8

Which statement is true about memory in late adulthood?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement is true about memory in...

Question 9

Florence is more likely to __________ than her adult grandchildren.

Accepted Answer

As people age, they tend to experience more tip-of-the-tongue states. However, they also tend to develop better strategies for resolving them and have a higher success rate in doing so. Therefore, Florence is more likely to resolve tip-of-the-tongue states at a higher rate than her adult grandchildren.

Question 10

Earl has broad practical knowledge, emotional maturity, and the ability to apply his knowledge to make life more worthwhile. Earl demonstrates __________.

Accepted Answer

Earl's broad practical knowledge and emotional maturity, as well as his ability to apply his knowledge to make life more fulfilling, are characteristic of wisdom.

Question 11

Which statement is true about problem solving in late adulthood?

Accepted Answer

Older adults often prioritize emotional well-being and may avoid interpersonal conflicts to maintain harmony in their relationships. This approach can be part of a broader strategy to focus on positive, meaningful interactions in late adulthood.

Question 12

When speaking, older adults tend to __________ than younger people.

Accepted Answer

Older adults tend to use more pronouns when speaking, such as "he," "she," or "they," instead of using specific names or descriptions. This may be due to cognitive or memory changes that make it harder to recall specific names or details.

Question 13

Wisdom __________.

Accepted Answer

Wisdom is often associated with a deep understanding of life, human nature, and the complexities of the human condition, reflecting a high level of insight and discernment.

Question 14

Nina travels from the living room to the kitchen intending to get something, but then she does not recall what she intended to get. Nina's experience provides an example of __________ memory.

Accepted Answer

Episodic memory refers to memory for specific events or experiences that have occurred in a person's life. Nina's experience of forgetting what she intended to get while moving from one room to another is an example of episodic memory. Temporal memory involves the ability to remember sequences of events, semantic memory involves the recall of general knowledge and concepts, and implicit memory refers to unconscious memories of skills and habits.

Question 15

In old age, __________ is/are better preserved than __________.

Accepted Answer

Semantic memory, which is general knowledge about the world, tends to be better preserved in old age compared to episodic memory, which involves recalling specific events and experiences from one's past. This is believed to be because semantic memory is less reliant on the functioning of the hippocampus, which is known to decline in efficiency with age.

Question 16

Compared with younger married couples, older couples more often __________.

Accepted Answer

Older couples are more likely to have developed a deeper level of collaboration and communication skills, allowing them to work together more effectively in problem-solving scenarios. This is due to the fact that they have had more time to refine their relationship and work through and overcome any issues or communication problems that arise. Therefore, they are generally able to overcome issues through collaboration, rather than relying on ineffective problem-solving strategies. They also tend to have more intertwined lives, which means they are more likely to make joint decisions, rather than independent ones.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of an event-based memory task?

Accepted Answer

An event-based memory task involves remembering to perform an action in response to a specific event or cue, such as taking medicine when an alarm goes off. Options B, C, and D are not event-based tasks. Option B is a time-based memory task, where the action is performed at a certain interval regardless of any external cue. Option C is a prospective memory task, where the action is planned to be performed in the future. Option D is a retrospective memory task, where the focus is on recalling information from the past.

Question 18

The more a mental ability depends on __________ intelligence, the earlier it starts to decline.

Accepted Answer

Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to reason, solve problems, and think abstractly. This ability relies on processing speed and working memory, which tend to decline with age. In contrast, crystallized intelligence, which refers to knowledge and skills acquired through experience and education, tends to remain stable or increase with age. Therefore, the more a mental ability depends on fluid intelligence, the earlier it starts to decline.

Question 19

Which statement is true about cognitive functioning in late adulthood?

Accepted Answer

Selective optimization with compensation is the process of older adults focusing on certain cognitive functions that they wish to maintain and compensating for declines in other areas. Research has shown that older adults who engage in this process tend to sustain higher levels of cognitive functioning than those who do not. Option A is incorrect because certain biologically based information-processing skills, such as processing speed, tend to decline with age. Option B is incorrect because there is actually more individual variation in cognitive functioning in late adulthood than at any other time of life. Option D is also incorrect because cognitive loss tends to outweigh improvement and maintenance as people age.

Question 20

Van sometimes has trouble finding the right words to convey his thoughts. He often says, "It is right on the tip of my tongue." Like many older adults, Van is most likely __________.

Accepted Answer

Van's difficulty finding the right words suggests that he is experiencing word retrieval difficulties from long-term memory, which is a common age-related cognitive decline.

Quiz 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood