Deck 18: Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

According to Labouvie-Vief's theory of emotional expertise,elders improve in ______________,which contributes to their remarkable resilience.

A)gerotranscendence
B)affect optimization
C)ego integrity
D)ego differentiation

Answer 1

B

Question 2

According to Erikson,despair occurs

A)when elders feel they have made many wrong decisions,yet time is too short to find an alternate route to integrity.
B)with the realization that the integrity of one's own life is part of an extended chain of human existence.
C)when elders have the capacity to view their own lives in the larger context of all humanity.
D)when elders attempt to adapt to the mix of triumphs and disappointments that are an inevitable part of life.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Seventy-year-old Jane has a sense of optimism and good psychological well-being despite physical declines and increased health problems.According to Labouvie-Vief,in a negatively charged situation,Jane is likely to

A)use emotion-centered coping strategies.
B)use humor to diffuse the situation.
C)withdraw from the conflict.
D)feel overwhelmed if she cannot find a quick solution.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Research shows that engaging in reminiscence

A)often leads to rumination.
B)is a form of escape from the realities of a shortened future and the nearness of death.
C)occurs because elders have nothing else to do.
D)can be positive and adaptive for elders.

Question 5

Mrs.Van Dalen often tells stories about people and events from her childhood,and reports associated thoughts and feelings.Mrs.Van Dalen is engaged in

A)gerotranscendence.
B)reminiscence.
C)life review.
D)affect optimization.

Question 6

While 80-year-old Naomi's contemporaries have died,she faces the reality of death constructively through efforts to make life more secure,meaningful,and gratifying for younger generations.According to Peck,Naomi has attained

A)body transcendence.
B)ego transcendence.
C)ego differentiation.
D)future differentiation.

Question 7

Mr.Suko is 80 years old.He is argumentative,bitter,and regretful.He has a tendency to blame others for his personal failures.According to Erikson,Mr.Suko's behavior disguises

A)fear.
B)mistrust.
C)isolation.
D)self-contempt.

Question 8

Today's elders in industrialized nations are largely

A)focused on the past.
B)present- and future-oriented.
C)depressed.
D)focused on the inevitability of death.

Question 9

Sharon often draws on the past for effective problem-solving strategies and for teaching younger people.Sharon uses __________ reminiscence.

A)self-focused
B)other-focused
C)knowledge-based
D)childhood-based

Question 10

______________ reminiscence is linked to adjustment problems.

A)Other-focused
B)Self-focused
C)Knowledge-based
D)Childhood-based

Question 11

In Peck's theory,____________ requires older adults to move beyond their life's work,their bodies,and their separate identities by investing in a future that extends beyond their own lifespan.

A)ego differentiation
B)body transcendence
C)ego integrity
D)ego transcendence

Question 12

According to Robert Peck,for those who invested heavily in their careers,____________ involves finding other ways to affirm self-worth through family,friendship,and community life.

A)body transcendence
B)ego transcendence
C)vocational differentiation
D)ego differentiation

Question 13

The final psychological conflict of Erikson's theory,_______ versus _________,involves coming to terms with one's life.

A)intimacy;guilt
B)initiative;isolation
C)ego integrity;despair
D)industry;intimacy

Question 14

Joan Erikson speculated that success in attaining gerotranscendence is apparent in

A)higher marital satisfaction.
B)greater community involvement.
C)displaying socioemotional selectivity.
D)heightened inner calm.

Question 15

Erikson's widow,Joan Erikson,suggested an additional stage of psychosocial development called

A)gerotranscendence.
B)disengagement.
C)continuity.
D)reminiscence.

Question 16

_________________ predicts ego integrity in late adulthood.

A)Completion of college
B)Midlife generativity
C)Retirement
D)Identity foreclosure in adolescence

Question 17

Which of the following is associated with ego integrity?

A)higher SES
B)increased isolation
C)greater self-acceptance
D)increased gender contentment

Question 18

Neil,age 70,has learned to focus on his psychological strengths.He overcomes his physical limitations by emphasizing the compensating rewards of cognitive,emotional,and social powers.According to Peck,Neil has attained

A)body transcendence.
B)ego differentiation.
C)ego transcendence.
D)physiological denial.

Question 19

Mr.Martin reached the last years of his life feeling whole,complete,and satisfied with his achievements.He realized that the paths he followed,abandoned,and never selected were necessary for fashioning a meaningful life course.Mr.Martin has achieved

A)a sense of integrity.
B)finality.
C)tolerance.
D)a sense of disengagement.

Question 20

Mr.Sarandon recalls past experiences with the goal of achieving a greater self-understanding.Mr.Sarandon is engaged in

A)life review.
B)retrospection.
C)recall.
D)recognition.

Question 21

Which of the following statements is true about resilience in old age?

A)Old age is a time in which the personality inevitably becomes rigid and morale declines.
B)Most seniors show a modest age-related dip in acceptance of change.
C)A flexible,optimistic approach to life is common in old age.
D)Elders tend to score higher in extraversion than middle-aged adults.

Question 22

When asked about dissatisfactions in their lives,many older adults respond that they are unhappy about

A)their adult children.
B)their financial situation.
C)their physical health.
D)nothing at all.

Question 23

Elders have accumulated a lifetime of self-knowledge,leading to ______________________ conceptions of themselves than at earlier ages.

A)more idealistic and focused
B)less secure and simplistic
C)more secure and complex
D)less idealistic and simplistic

Question 24

May stops by her mother June's house every day.If June is having trouble getting dressed or making the bed,then May helps her and the two women chat while they work.May's behavior toward June illustrates the

A)dependency-support script.
B)independence-ignore script.
C)assisted independence script.
D)co-dependency-support script.

Question 25

Even a self-reliant elder does not always resist unnecessary help because

A)compliance is easier than resistance.
B)independent behaviors are reinforced at the expense of dependent behaviors.
C)passive behavior is expected.
D)it brings about social contact.

Question 26

Mr.Vickers is a senior who has several hoped-for selves.As he continues to age,which of the following will likely occur?

A)He will eliminate impossible selves and will not replace them.
B)He will delete some possible selves and replace them with new ones.
C)He will become saddened by the hoped-for selves that will never come to be.
D)He will hold hoped-for goals but will not take concrete steps to attain them.

Question 27

Religious involvement is associated with

A)higher SES.
B)less reminiscence.
C)greater death anxiety.
D)better physical health.

Question 28

Which of the following is true about psychological well-being in late adulthood?

A)The physical impairment-depression relationship is weaker among higher-SES elders.
B)More than actual physical limitations,perceived negative physical health predicts depressive symptoms.
C)The majority of adults over age 75 suffer from chronic depression.
D)Late-life depression tends to be less severe and of shorter duration than depression earlier in life.

Question 29

A stable self-concept allows for _____________,a key feature of integrity.

A)self-acceptance
B)self-evaluation
C)acceptance of others
D)agreeableness

Question 30

One of the strongest risk factors for late-life depression is

A)distance from family.
B)poor sleep patterns.
C)financial problems.
D)disability.

Question 31

Which of the following is true about gender differences in negative life changes?

A)In very old age,negative life changes are greater for men than for women.
B)Social relations,even in very old age,are more often a source of stress for men than for women.
C)Women of very advanced age tend to report a lower sense of psychological well-being than men.
D)Men of very advanced age tend to report a lower sense of psychological well-being than women.

Question 32

Jim retired from his job at the age of 65.The next year,Jim created a network of volunteers who provide child-care services for economically deprived families.Jim has reached a new phase of adulthood called the _______ Age,which is a time of personal fulfillment.

A)Second
B)Third
C)Fourth
D)Fifth

Question 33

Which of the following is true about social contact among elders?

A)Among elders who have trouble performing daily activities,social contact is linked to a less positive everyday existence.
B)Among elders who experience no difficulty with daily activities,social contact is linked to a less positive everyday existence.
C)Social interaction while assisting elders with physical care and household chores is always meaningful and rewarding for the care recipient.
D)Older adults frequently attribute their dependency to underresponsive social partners.

Question 34

Negative life events may evoke __________ in older than in younger adults.

A)more stress and depression
B)less stress and depression
C)more emotional reactions
D)more excitement at the prospect of facing a challenge

Question 35

Involvement in both organized and informal religious activities is especially high among ____________ elders.

A)high-SES Caucasian
B)low-SES ethnic minority
C)British
D)Dutch

Question 36

August stops by his mother April's house every day.If April has no trouble with tasks like making coffee or unloading the dishwasher,then August withdraws and attends to other jobs.August's behavior toward April illustrates the

A)dependency-support script.
B)independence-ignore script.
C)assisted independence script.
D)codependency-support script.

Question 37

Which of the following is true about religious beliefs and behaviors in old age?

A)Less than one-fourth of U.S.elders attend religious services weekly.
B)British elders generally become more religious or spiritual as they age.
C)U)S.elders generally become more religious or spiritual as they age.
D)Japanese elders generally become less religious or spiritual as they age.

Question 38

Extraverted elders tend to engage in ______________ reminiscence directed at social goals,such as solidifying family and friendship ties and reliving relationships with lost loved ones.

A)self-focused
B)other-focused
C)knowledge-based
D)childhood-based

Question 39

The baby boomers are approaching late life with the conviction that their old age will not begin until

A)65.
B)70.
C)75.
D)80.

Question 40

Mrs.Hayley has come to terms with life despite its imperfections.She has become increasingly generous and good-natured.Mrs.Hayley shows gains in

A)emotion-centered coping.
B)agreeableness.
C)openness to experience.
D)extroversion.

Question 41

Which of the following is a criticism of activity theory?

A)It acknowledges psychological changes in old age where no such changes occur.
B)Research shows that elders who have smaller social networks are happier than those who engage in more activities.
C)Evidence fails to show that elders seek alternative sources of meaning and gratification in response to social losses.
D)Research shows that merely offering opportunities for social contact does not lead to greater social activity.

Question 42

Two decades ago,most Asian-American older adults were living with their children,whereas today __________ live independently.

A)a quarter
B)a third
C)half
D)two-thirds

Question 43

Mr.Zietz,a retired drama teacher,spends a lot of his time volunteering at a local community theater.He also enjoys weekend trips to see plays with his former colleagues.Mr.Zietz's activities are consistent with ____________ theory.

A)disengagement
B)activity
C)continuity
D)socioemotional selectivity

Question 44

_____ percent of older adults in the United States relocate to other communities.

A)One
B)Five
C)Fifteen
D)Twenty-five

Question 45

Elders' housing preferences reflect a strong desire for

A)moving near children.
B)relocation.
C)living in a temperate climate.
D)aging in place.

Question 46

Fran is a suburban elder.Which advantage is Fran likely to have over urban and rural elders?

A)Fran is more likely to own her own home.
B)Fran is more likely to have a higher income.
C)Fran is more likely to have nearby extended family.
D)Fran is more likely to have proximity to social services.

Question 47

In order for social support to foster well-being,

A)friends and family must provide informal rather than formal support.
B)friends and family should follow the dependency-support script.
C)elders need to assume personal control of it.
D)elders need to request it,rather than having it offered.

Question 48

According to __________ theory,when society arranges conditions that permit elders to remain engaged in roles and relationships,life satisfaction is improved and social interactions increase.

A)continuity
B)activity
C)socioemotional selectivity
D)disengagement

Question 49

The primary reason why more elders in Western countries live on their own today than ever before is

A)the high cost of nursing homes.
B)lack of assistance from their children.
C)decreasing governmental support.
D)improved health and economic well-being.

Question 50

Terry is an elder living in a small town.Which of the following is a likely advantage of Terry's community?

A)Terry probably has greater access to social services than urban elders.
B)Terry is more likely than urban and suburban elders to live near his children.
C)Terry is more likely than urban elders to develop closer relationships with extended family and neighbors.
D)Terry probably has better access to transportation than urban elders.

Question 51

Joy is a senior with limited mobility.Which of the following is most likely to be associated with her positive outlook on life?

A)her perceived social support from friends and family
B)the sheer amount of help family and friends provide
C)the amount of formal assistance she receives
D)her family's perceptions of Joy's independence

Question 52

Thomas decreased his activity level and interacted less frequently as he aged.He became more preoccupied with his inner life.At the same time,society freed Thomas from employment and family responsibilities.According to the ____________ theory,mutual withdrawal between Thomas and society took place in anticipation of death.

A)activity
B)socioemotional selectivity
C)continuity
D)disengagement

Question 53

Which of the following is true about elder suicide?

A)More elderly women than men take their own lives.
B)Ethnic minority elders have higher suicide rates than the white majority.
C)Failed suicides are much rarer in old age than in adolescence.
D)Medical examiners are more likely to pursue suicide as a cause of death when a person is old.

Question 54

The suicide rate is highest among

A)teens.
B)young adults.
C)middle-aged males.
D)people age 75 and older.

Question 55

In late adulthood,__________ reduces stress,thereby promoting physical health and psychological well-being.

A)social support
B)financial support
C)dependency
D)providing care to others

Question 56

Which of the following is true about continuity in the lives of older adults?

A)Even after a change,people usually make choices that extend the previous direction of their lives,engaging in new activities but often with familiar domains.
B)Most aging adults strive to maintain continuity between their past and anticipated future,which means that elders' lives are usually static.
C)Research on the daily lives of older adults finds evidence of a low to moderate degree of continuity in everyday pursuits and relationships.
D)Following a major life change in late adulthood,such as retirement or widowhood,people usually choose to engage in new activities in unfamiliar domains.

Question 57

Which of the following is true about older adults' disengagement from social ties?

A)Elders disengage from unsatisfying contacts but maintain satisfying ones.
B)Older adults disengage from all social contacts as their opportunities for engagement decline.
C)Elders actually increase the number of social contacts over the years.
D)Elderly women are more likely than men to disengage from close friends and family.

Question 58

Elder suicide has declined during the past 50 years as a result of

A)increased prevention efforts sponsored by the AARP.
B)increased cohabitation among older adults.
C)improved medical care and increased economic security among elders.
D)more negative cultural attitudes toward elder suicide.

Question 59

According to ___________ theory,social interaction extends lifelong selection processes.Physical and psychological aspects of aging lead to changes in the functions of social interaction.

A)disengagement
B)activity
C)continuity
D)socioemotional selectivity

Question 60

Which of the following is true about formal support for elders?

A)Formal support spares elders from feeling overly dependent in their close relationships.
B)Ethnic minority elders more readily accept formal assistance than members of the majority culture.
C)African-American seniors say they rely more on their church than on their families for assistance.
D)Formal support often results in psychological distress because many older adults value independence.

Question 61

Marital satisfaction is at its peak

A)in early adulthood.
B)in middle adulthood.
C)from early to middle adulthood.
D)from middle to late adulthood.

Question 62

Which statement about late-life marital discord is correct?

A)Having close,high-quality friendships profoundly reduces the negative impact of marital discord on adjustment.
B)Men tend to expend more energy trying to work on a troubled relationship.
C)Women often protect themselves from the energy drain of a troubling relationship by avoiding discussion.
D)When marital dissatisfaction exists,it often takes a greater toll on women than on men.

Question 63

Men show more physical and mental health problems than women following the death of a spouse because men

A)have greater financial worries.
B)are also mourning the loss of their career.
C)have a large number of emotionally satisfying ties outside of marriage.
D)tend to rely on their wives for social connectedness and coping with stress.

Question 64

The greatest problem for recently widowed elders is

A)fear of crime.
B)financial instability.
C)profound loneliness.
D)declining health.

Question 65

Life-care communities

A)are federally subsidized units for low-income elders.
B)offer a range of housing alternatives,from independent or congregate housing to full nursing home care.
C)are limited to ten or fewer residents,who live in private bedroom-bathroom suites that surround a communal space.
D)provide a hospital-like setting with extreme restrictions on autonomy and social integration.

Question 66

Harry lives in a complex that provides a variety of support services,including meals in a common dining room,along with watchful oversight of residents with physical and mental disabilities.Harry lives in

A)congregate housing.
B)a retirement village.
C)a federal subsidized apartment.
D)a life-care community.

Question 67

One reason social withdrawal is so common in nursing home settings is that

A)residents do not have control over their contacts.
B)attendants do not provide enough assistance.
C)there are few available social partners.
D)elders prefer the company of family members over residents.

Question 68

Sex differences in the experience of widowhood contribute to

A)women's higher remarriage rate.
B)men's higher remarriage rate.
C)men's higher poverty rate.
D)women's higher risk of mortality.

Question 69

About _______ percent of older Americans have remained unmarried and childless throughout their lives.

A)5
B)8
C)10
D)12

Question 70

Compared with younger adults,elders who divorce

A)find it easier to separate their identity from that of their former spouse.
B)suffer less from a sense of personal failure.
C)and remarry enter more stable relationships.
D)are less likely to spend their remaining years living alone.

Question 71

The elder living arrangement with the most extreme restriction on autonomy is

A)a private home.
B)a nursing home.
C)congregate housing.
D)a life-care community.

Question 72

Resilient widowed elders

A)still have more lasting problems than younger widowed adults.
B)try to preserve social relationships that were important before the spouse's death.
C)rely on others to handle tasks of daily living.
D)usually have reserved personalities and are used to being alone.

Question 73

Couples who divorce in late adulthood constitute ________ percent of all divorces in any given year.

A)less than 1
B)2
C)3
D)5

Question 74

Which of the following is true about late-life marriages?

A)With an increase in health and longevity,divorce and remarriage are now common in U.S.elders.
B)Perceptions of fairness in the relationship increase as men participate more in household tasks.
C)Compared to younger couples,there is less emphasis on regulating emotion.
D)Compared to younger couples,elderly couples disagree more often.

Question 75

The _____________ is an influential model of changes in our social networks as we move through life.

A)kinkeeper role
B)social clock
C)social convoy
D)personal entourage

Question 76

Today more elders who enter a new relationship choose

A)cohabitation.
B)remarriage.
C)younger partners.
D)long-term engagements.

Question 77

Which of the following is true about gay and lesbian elders?

A)Few report happy,highly fulfilling relationships in late adulthood.
B)They face unique challenges because of continuing prejudice and lack of societal recognition of their partnerships.
C)Compared with homosexual elders who live alone,homosexual partners rate their physical and mental health less favorably.
D)A lifetime of coping with an oppressive social environment may have weakened homosexuals' skill at dealing with late-life changes.

Question 78

Poverty among lone elderly women is deeper in the United States than in other Western nations because

A)U)S.women live longer than women in other Western nations.
B)women in other Western nations start out wealthier.
C)widowed women in the United States are more likely to live in federally subsidized residential units.
D)of less generous government-sponsored income and health benefits.

Question 79

Gerta's health is declining.Her son Don asks her to move in with him,but Gerta refuses.__________ theory helps explain Gerta's desire to live where many of her memorable life events took place.

A)Disengagement
B)Activity
C)Continuity
D)Socioemotional selectivity

Question 80

Ethel,age 65,and Raymond,age 72,cohabit.If they are typical of cohabiting elders,which of the following is probably true?

A)They have plans to marry.
B)They have concerns about the negative financial consequences of marriage.
C)They are willing to give up their independence in order to be together.
D)They have conventional values.