Deck 18: Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

According to Erikson, __________ occurs when aging adults feel they have made many wrong decisions, yet time is too short to find an alternate route to integrity.

A) mistrust
B) despair
C) stagnation
D) isolation

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Research suggests that as people grow older, __________.

A) ego differentiation increases and body transcendence decreases
B) both body transcendence and ego differentiation decrease
C) both body transcendence and ego transcendence increase
D) ego transcendence decreases and ego differentiation increases

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Contemporary older people in industrialized nations are largely __________.

A) focused on living in the past
B) biased toward negative emotions
C) present- and future-oriented
D) focused on the nearness of death

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Marlon, an extraverted 75-year-old, reminisces about his wife, who passed away when Marlon was 56. He enjoys reliving his relationship with his wife. Marlon engages in __________ reminiscence.

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

Question 5

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

Question 6

__________ reminiscence is linked to adjustment problems.

A) Life review
B) Self-focused
C) Other-focused
D) Knowledge-based

Question 7

Tessa tells stories about people and events from her past and shares associated thoughts and feelings. Tessa engages in __________.

A) rumination
B) the positivity effect
C) reminiscence
D) gerotranscendence

Question 8

When they cannot avoid negative experiences, older adults are especially effective at __________.

A) problem-focused evaluation
B) fault finding and blaming others
C) emotion-centered coping
D) ruminating about past disappointments

Question 9

As he approached his ninetieth year, Franco spent more time in quiet reflection. He had a heightened inner calm and contentment. According to Joan Erikson, Franco had reached __________.

A) the Third Age
B) affect optimization
C) gerotranscendence
D) body differentiation

Question 10

Neil, age 73, 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 differentiation
B) ego differentiation
C) body transcendence
D) ego transcendence

Question 11

Which statement is true about reminiscence?

A) The life review form of reminiscence is maladaptive for both younger and older adults.
B) Research reveals no age differences in total quantity of reminiscing.
C) Older adults who participate in counselor-led life review report increased depression.
D) The life review form of reminiscence occurs more often among younger than older adults.

Question 12

According to Robert Peck, __________ involves affirming self-worth through family, friendships, or community life for those who invested heavily in their careers.

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

Question 13

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

A) gerotranscendence
B) disengagement
C) body differentiation
D) reminiscence

Question 14

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 15

In a study that followed a sample of women diverse in SES throughout adulthood, __________ predicted ego integrity in late adulthood.

A) college graduation
B) midlife generativity
C) early retirement
D) adolescent identity foreclosure

Question 16

For young and old alike, reminiscence __________.

A) is ruminative
B) reinforces negative stereotypes
C) often occurs during times of life transition
D) is maladaptive and leads to depression

Question 17

According to Erikson, the final psychological conflict, __________, involves coming to terms with one's life.

A) intimacy versus isolation
B) generativity versus stagnation
C) ego integrity versus despair
D) ego identity versus role confusion

Question 18

Older adults who score high in openness to experience engage, at times, in __________ reminiscence, drawing on their past for effective problem-solving strategies.

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

Question 19

Seventy-year-old Isabel's life goals emphasized money and prestige. She is likely to __________.

A) fear the end of life
B) continue service to society
C) express acceptance of her own death
D) feel increased contentment in late life

Question 20

Emme selectively attends to and better recalls emotionally positive over negative information. Emme has the ability to maximize positive emotion and dampen negative emotion. This ability is known as __________.

A) gerotranscendence
B) reminiscence
C) ego transcendence
D) the positivity effect

Question 21

Marion, age 78, has come to terms with life despite its imperfections. She has become increasingly generous, acquiescent, and good-natured. Marion shows gains in __________.

A) neuroticism
B) agreeableness
C) extroversion
D) openness to experience

Question 22

__________ promotes longevity.

A) Providing financial support to others
B) Availability of social support
C) Acceptance of physical dependency
D) Providing physical care to others

Question 23

Researchers ask 85-year-old Gerald to respond to the question, "Who am I?" Gerald is likely to express __________.

A) an inconsistent self-definition
B) no hoped-for selves
C) more positive than negative self-evaluations
D) the same possible selves he had at age 65

Question 24

In some research, religious activity-not religious belief or membership in a congregation-was associated with __________ following negative life events.

A) declines in distress
B) declines in optimism
C) increases in distress
D) increases in pessimism

Question 25

Which statement is true about social contact among older adults?

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

Question 26

Which statement is true about suicide in late adulthood?

A) More older women than older men take their own lives.
B) Failed suicides are much rarer in old age than in adolescence.
C) Overreporting of suicides is more common in old age than in earlier life.
D) Ethnic minority older adults have higher suicide rates than the white majority.

Question 27

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 __________ script.

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

Question 28

The chances of suicide are elevated when a sick older person __________.

A) is socially isolated
B) lives with family members
C) uses emotion-centered coping
D) has personal control over daily life

Question 29

Which older adult is more likely to be involved in both organized and informal religious activities?

A) Andres, a high-SES European American
B) Melanie, a middle-SES European American
C) Merlene, a high-SES African American
D) Jarrod, a low-SES African American

Question 30

More than __________, __________ predict(s) depressive symptoms.

A) mental health problems; physical disabilities
B) perceived mental health problems; actual dependency
C) actual physical limitations; perceived negative physical health
D) perceived physical limitations; actual negative physical health

Question 31

Evidence indicates that among religious older people, __________ contributes substantially to higher self-esteem, optimism, and life satisfaction.

A) belief in fate
B) belief in God's powers
C) religious activity, not belief,
D) decreased social engagement

Question 32

Charise, age 74, is involved in organized religion. Longitudinal research suggests that Charise will __________ than her agemates who do not participate in organized or informal religion.

A) be less generative
B) reminisce less
C) live longer
D) experience greater death anxiety

Question 33

August stops by his mother April's house every week. If April has no trouble with tasks like making coffee or unloading the dishwasher, then August withdraws. August's behavior toward April illustrates the __________ script.

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

Question 34

The autobiographical selves of older adults are more likely than those of younger adults to emphasize __________.

A) conflicting themes
B) coherence and consistency
C) idealism and wishes
D) negative self-evaluations

Question 35

Ida is mostly self-reliant. She experiences no difficulty with daily activities. Ida probably views social contact as __________.

A) demeaning
B) unpleasant
C) a necessary chore
D) highly satisfying

Question 36

Risk for depression rises as physical disability leads to

A) more contact with caregivers
B) increased social isolation
C) greater reliance on cognitive abilities
D) mental health interventions

Question 37

Older __________ more often say that __________.

A) men; their social relations are a source of stress
B) women; they depend on others for caregiving
C) men; their social relations are a cause of depression
D) women; others depend on them for emotional support

Question 38

The late-life increase in religiosity is __________.

A) universal
B) usually modest
C) a Western phenomenon
D) inevitable

Question 39

Older adults who are high in __________ tend to cope poorly with stressful events and are at risk for health problems.

A) neuroticism
B) agreeableness
C) extroversion
D) openness to experience

Question 40

Which statement is true about sex differences in religious involvement and spirituality in late adulthood?

A) Women are more likely than men to engage in religious activities.
B) Men are more likely than women to say that religion is very important to them.
C) Men and women are equally likely to turn to religion for social support.
D) Men are more likely than women to engage in a personal quest for connectedness with a higher power.

Question 41

Older adults emphasize the __________ function of interaction.

A) information-seeking
B) emotion-regulating
C) self-affirmation
D) networking

Question 42

__________ is associated with a positive outlook in older adults with disabilities.

A) Perceived social support
B) The amount of formal support actually received
C) The amount of help family and friends provide
D) The sheer quantity of social contact

Question 43

Camila's health is declining. Her son Santiago asked her to move in with him, but Camila refused. __________ theory helps explain Camila's desire to live where many of her memorable life events took place.

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

Question 44

In the United States, about 4 percent of aging adults __________.

A) age in place
B) relocate to other communities
C) relocate within the same town or city
D) stay in the neighborhoods where they spent their adult lives

Question 45

Lela, age 81, has lived in her own apartment since her husband died six years ago. Lately, she has been having difficulty with tasks of daily living. Lela's family and friends want to help. For social support to foster her well-being, __________.

A) it should be informal rather than formal
B) Lela must take personal control of it
C) it should follow the dependency-support script
D) it should follow the independence-ignore script

Question 46

Which aging American is most likely to be poverty-stricken?

A) Shani, a widowed woman
B) Dion, a married man
C) Mariana, a married woman
D) Frank, a widower

Question 47

Which older adult is likely to fare better in terms of health and income?

A) Rex, who lives in a rural area
B) Tomoko, who lives in a small town
C) Audrea, who lives in a rural area
D) Ciera, who lives in an urban area

Question 48

Older adults who feel socially integrated into a residential community setting are __________.

A) at high risk for loneliness
B) more likely to experience declining health
C) more likely to consider it their home
D) at high risk for anxiety and depression

Question 49

Overwhelmingly, aging adults in Western nations __________.

A) relocate to live closer to children
B) move to more temperate climates
C) remain living in or near their old home
D) relocate to pursue leisure interests

Question 50

Which adult child is likely to feel an especially strong obligation to care for an aging parent?

A) Hugo, who is of French descent
B) Chloe, who is of Irish descent
C) Anna, who is of Polish descent
D) George, who is of English descent

Question 51

With age, ships in the social convoy __________.

A) increase in number
B) increase in size
C) exchange places
D) decrease in importance

Question 52

Harry lives in a complex that provides a variety of support services, including meals in a common dining room, recreational activities, and transportation assistance, but does not offer nursing care. Harry lives in a(n) __________.

A) independent living community
B) nursing home
C) federally subsidized apartment
D) life-care community

Question 53

Striving for continuity is essential for attaining Erikson's sense of __________, which depends on preserving a sense of personal history.

A) intimacy
B) ego identity
C) ego integrity
D) initiative

Question 54

Forrest lives in a Green House-style nursing home. Compared with a traditional nursing home resident, Forrest will probably __________.

A) experience a quicker physical decline
B) report a substantially better quality of life
C) interact less often with other residents
D) have less control over his daily schedule

Question 55

Shenita, a retired drama teacher, spends a lot of her time volunteering at a local community theater. She also enjoys weekend trips to see plays with her former colleagues. Shenita's activities are consistent with the __________ theory of aging.

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

Question 56

As Salvatore grows older, he feels closer to his siblings and more connected with his spouse. At 85, his contact with acquaintances has diminished and he is left with a few very close relationships. He is not terribly interested in forming any new social ties. Salvatore's behavior is consistent with __________ theory.

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

Question 57

Which statement is true about formal support for older adults?

A) Formal support spares older adults from feeling overly dependent in their close relationships.
B) Ethnic minority older adults more readily accept formal assistance than members of the majority culture.
C) African-American older adults say they rely more on their church than on their families for assistance.
D) Formal support results in psychological distress because older adults do not like to accept help from strangers.

Question 58

Harriet can handle dressing, shopping, and food preparation by herself. However, Harriet allows her daughter Ada to assist with these activities, leaving Harriet more stamina for gardening. Harriet is managing her aging by __________.

A) becoming overly dependent on Ada
B) readily accepting formal support from Ada
C) giving up personal control of her social support
D) freeing up energy for endeavors that are personally satisfying

Question 59

Life-care communities __________.

A) are federally subsidized apartment units for low-income aging adults
B) offer a range of housing alternatives, from independent living to full nursing home care
C) are limited to 10 or fewer residents, who live in private bedroom-bathroom suites
D) provide a hospital-like setting with extreme restrictions on autonomy and social integration

Question 60

The primary reason more older adults 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 61

Compared with younger adults, older adults 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) seldom express regret over leaving an unhappy marriage
D) are less likely to spend their remaining years living alone

Question 62

__________ are key in never-married older women's lives.

A) Other-sex friendships
B) Romantic relationships
C) Same-sex friendships
D) Hobbies and financial support

Question 63

Which older adult is most likely to receive sibling support when his health declines?

A) Eddie, who is married with two children
B) Harrison, who is childless and never married
C) Abram, who is married with no children
D) Rufus, who is divorced with four children

Question 64

Divorce among people age 65 and older has __________ over the past three decades.

A) decreased significantly
B) stayed steady
C) doubled
D) quadrupled

Question 65

Women's __________ may lead them to feel less need to remarry following the death of a spouse.

A) kinkeeper role
B) financial independence
C) elevated risk of mortality
D) gender-role expectations

Question 66

Which statement is true about lesbian and gay partnerships in late adulthood?

A) Unlike heterosexual couples, few report happy, highly fulfilling relationships in late adulthood.
B) Compared with same-sex couples not in a legally recognized relationship, sexual minority couples who are married are advantaged in physical and psychological well-being.
C) Unlike their heterosexual counterparts, sexual minority older couples rate their physical and mental health less favorably than their single lesbian and gay agemates.
D) A lifetime of coping with an oppressive social environment may have weakened lesbian and gay couples' skills at managing late-life physical and cognitive changes.

Question 67

Ethel, age 65, and Raymond, age 72, cohabit. If they are typical of cohabiting older adults, which statement is most likely true?

A) They have plans to marry at some point in the future.
B) They are as satisfied with their partnered lives as are their married counterparts.
C) They are less likely than cohabiting younger adults to have a stable relationship.
D) They are more likely than older adults who remarry to have settled for one another.

Question 68

Both men and women describe closer bonds with __________ than with __________.

A) same-sex siblings; other-sex siblings
B) sisters; brothers
C) other-sex siblings; same-sex siblings
D) brothers; sisters

Question 69

When marital dissatisfaction exists in later life, __________.

A) high-quality friendships can reduce its negative impact on well-being
B) men more often try to work on the troubling relationship
C) it often takes a greater toll on women than on men
D) women are more likely to protect themselves by withdrawing

Question 70

Which statement is true about late-life friendships?

A) Friendships decrease in importance in late adulthood.
B) Older adults report more favorable experiences with friends than with family members.
C) Late-life friendships rely little on spontaneity, openness, mutual caring, or common interests.
D) In late adulthood, friends rarely share pleasurable leisure activities.

Question 71

Which older adult is more likely to show physical and mental health problems following the death of a spouse?

A) Albert, whose wife's death was unexpected
B) Novella, whose husband's death was unexpected
C) Delphia, whose husband died after a long terminal illness
D) Bryant, whose wife died after a long terminal illness

Question 72

Typically, aging siblings __________.

A) do not communicate regularly
B) live more than 100 miles from each other
C) visit at least several times a year
D) provide one another with direct assistance

Question 73

With age, older adults report that the friends they feel the closest to __________.

A) live in the same community
B) are members of the other sex
C) live far away
D) are much younger in years

Question 74

Never-married, childless men are more likely than women to __________.

A) maintain good physical health
B) have favorable mental health
C) feel lonely and depressed
D) maintain a healthy lifestyle

Question 75

Overall, never-married older people report a level of well-being equivalent to that of __________ aging adults.

A) recently divorced
B) married
C) chronically ill
D) recently widowed

Question 76

Which statement is true about widowhood?

A) In the United States, 34 percent of men age 65 and older are widowed, compared with just 12 percent of women.
B) Widowhood rates have risen over the past several decades as divorce among aging adults have also risen.
C) Ethnic minorities with high rates of poverty and chronic disease are more likely to be widowed.
D) Aging adults have more lasting problems than younger individuals who are widowed.

Question 77

Compared with younger people, older adults report fewer __________ friends.

A) long-standing
B) same-sex
C) other-sex
D) intergenerational

Question 78

David's wife, Esther, recently died. If David is like most recently widowed older adults, his greatest problem is most likely __________.

A) profound loneliness
B) financial instability
C) anxiousness
D) declining health

Question 79

__________ and __________ are basic to meaningful friendships in late adulthood.

A) Proximity; shared vocation
B) Mutual dependency; proximity
C) Intimacy; companionship
D) Mutual dependency; shared ethnicity

Question 80

Which statement is true about marriage in late adulthood?

A) Marital satisfaction decreases from middle to late adulthood, when it is at its low point.
B) As in early and middle adulthood, paths of late-life marital satisfaction are diverse.
C) Late-life marriages are linked to higher rates of chronic illness and disability and decreased longevity.
D) Compared with younger couples, aging couples disagree more often and rate their relationship as lower in quality.