L12 READING REFLECTIONS STUDY GUIDE

1. Discuss changes in vision caused by presbyopia and glaucoma. Who is at risk

for developing these conditions?

Those who are around 40 start the decline of vision, so 40+ usually get

presbyopia and glaucoma. With presbyopia, the lens loses its capacity to adjust

to objects at varying distances entirely. Glaucoma is a disease in which poor

fluid drainage leads to a buildup of pressure within the eye, damaging the optic

nerve.

2. Summarize individual differences in hearing loss. Why does men’s hearing

decline earlier and more rapidly than women’s hearing?

At about age 50 is when we can start seeing the decline in hearing. The inner

ear structures deteriorate due to natural cell death or reduced blood supply

caused by atherosclerosis. Processing of neural messages in the auditory cortex

also declines. Men's hearing declines earlier than women's hearing, because of

cigarette smoking, intense noise and chemical pollutants in some male-

dominated occupations and also high blood pressure and cerebrovascular

disease, or strokes that damage brain tissue.

3. What causes older adults to “shrink” in height and how can the progress be

slowed?

Mineral content declines, so the bones become more porous. They gradually

lose bone density that begins at about age 40 and accelerates in the fifties,

especially women. Due to the loos of bone strength, the disks in the spinal

column begin to collapse. To slow this process, include weight-bearing

 exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and avoid smoking and heavy

alcohol consumption.

4. During climacteric the production of estrogen drops.  Climacteric concludes

with menopause.  List physiological and emotional changes that result from

this loss of estrogen.  How does hormone therapy help?  What are the risks of

using hormone therapy?

Women tend to get hot flashes and night sweats, they are not as aroused as

they used to be. Hormone therapy can help by injecting estrogen or estrogen

and progesterone into the body. This can help with the discomforts of

menopause. The risks are: just using estrogen can cause cancer on the

endometrium.

5. List and describe the three main kinds of mutations that contribute to

cancer.  What is the difference between germline and somatic?

Oncogenes: cancer genes; that directly undergo abnormal cell duplication.

Tumor suppressor genes: fail to keep oncogenes from multiplying.

Stability genes: which normally keep genetic alterations to a minimum by

repairing subtle DNA mistakes that occur either during normal cell duplication

or as a result of environmental agents.

Germline: due to an inherited predisposition

 Somatic: occurring in a single cell, which then multiplies.

6. Differentiate between atherosclerosis, heart attack, arrhythmia and angina

pectoris.  What gender differences are there in cardiovascular disease?

Atherosclerosis: a buildup of plaque in his coronary arteries, which encircle the

indicators of cardiovascular disease.

Heart attack: blockage of normal blood supply to an area of the heart, usually

brought on by a blood clot in one or more plaque-filled coronary arteries.

Arrhythmia: irregular heartbeat

Angina pectoris: reveals an oxygen-deprived heart.

Males are naturally more prone to cardiovascular diseases.

7. Your friend recently lost her job due to a reduction in work force, and she is

experiencing a significant amount of stress.  What are some strategies you

can suggest to help her manage her stress?

Reevaluate the situation, focus on events you can control, view life as fluid,

consider alternatives, set reasonable goals for yourself, exercise regularly,

master relaxation techniques, use constructive approaches to anger reduction,

and seek social support.

8. Describe crystallized and fluid intelligence. How does aging affect each type

of intelligence?
 Crystallized Intelligence: refers to skills that depend on accumulated

knowledge and experience, good judgment, and mastery of social conventions -

abilities acquired because they are valued by the individual's culture.

Fluid Intelligence: depends more heavily on basic information-processing skills -

ability to detect relationships among visual stimuli, speed of analyzing

information, and capacity of working memory.

Many cross-sectional studies show that crystallized intelligence increases

steadily through middle-childhood, whereas fluid intelligence begins to decline

in the 20's.

9. Describe some ways that middle-aged and older adults can compensate for

age-related memory problems.

Slowing the pace at which information is being presented or cuing the link

between new and previously stored information.

10. Central State College wants to provide supports for mature adults who are

returning to school. What strategies would you suggest?

Social support among partner, children, extended family and friends,

educational institution, and the workplace.

11. What is the psychological conflict of midlife, according to Erikson? Describe

outcomes associated with each.

This is generatively vs. Stagnation. Generativity involves reaching out to others

in ways that give to and guide the next generation.

 Stagnation is being self-centered and self-absorbed; this usually happens when

you accomplish all the major milestones in life.

12. According to Levinson, what four developmental tasks must middle-aged

adults confront in order to rebuild their life structure?

Young-old: we must forget some youthful activities and find joy and happiness

in aging.

Destruction-creation: we look back on all the wrong we have done and try to

make up for it by giving charitable gifts, creative products, volunteer service,

and mentoring young people.

Masculinity-femininity: we try to balance both the male a female

characteristics within us.

Engagement-separateness: there must be a balance between being separated

and connected to the external world.

13. What are possible selves, and why are they important in middle adulthood?

Possible selves: future oriented representations of what one hopes to become and
what one is afraid of becoming. They are the temporal dimension of self-concept -
what the individual is striving for and attempting to avoid. This is just as
important as explaining behavior, but as we age, we rely less on social
comparisons in judging our self-worth and more on temporal comparisons.

14. Name the “big five” personality traits, and give characteristics of individuals

who are high or low in each trait.

Neuroticism: Individuals who are high on this trait are worrying, temperamental, self-
pitying, self-conscious, emotional, and vulnerable. Those who are low are calm, even-
tempered, self-content, comfortable, unemotional, and hardy.

Extroversion: High- affectionate, talkative, active, fun-loving, and passionate. Low-

reserved, quiet, passive, sober, and emotionally unreactive.

Openness to experience: High- imaginative, creative, original, curious, and liberal.

Low- down to earth, uncreative, conventional, uncurious, and conservative.

Agreeableness: high- soft-hearted, trusting, generous, acquiescent, lenient, and good-

natured. Low- ruthless, suspicious, stingy, antagonistic, critical, and irritable.

Conscientiousness: high- hard-working, well-organized, punctual, ambitious, and

preserving. Low- negligent, lazy, disorganized, late, aimless, and non-persistent.

15. The middle adulthood phase of the family life cycle is referred to as

“launching children and moving on.”  Is this phase generally positive or

negative?  Why?  What new roles must adults adapt to in this phase?

This is a negative transition, because women who have devoted themselves

entirely to their children and for whom the end of active parenting can trigger

feelings of emptiness and regret. But, for most people, middle adulthood is a

liberating time, offering a sense of completion and opportunities to strengthen

social ties and rekindle interests.

16. Cite strategies that middle-aged parents can use to promote positive ties

with their adult children.

Emphasize positive communication.

Avoid unnecessary comments that are a holdover from childhood.

Accept the possibility that some cultural values and practices and aspect of

lifestyle will be modified in the next generation.

 When an adult child encounters difficulties, resist the urge to "fix" things.

Be clear about your own needs and preferences.

17. List and describe the four gratifications of being a grandparent.

Valued elder: being perceived as a wise, helpful person.

Immortality through descendants: leaving behind not just one but two

generations after death.

Reinvolvement with personal pass: being able to pass family history and values

to a new generation.

Indulgence: having fun with children without major child-rearing

responsibilities.

18. Brandon’s sister Ashley is working full-time and caring for their disabled

mother. Brandon is worried about Ashley and wants to help her, even though

he lives several hundred miles away. What are some things Brandon can do to

alleviate Ashley’s stress?

Give social support, encouragement, assistance when needed, and willingness to

listen.

19. Discuss difficulties that middle-aged adults face when they become

unemployed.
 They feel as if they have lost something of greater value. They show a sharper

decline in physical and mental health, and those over 40 usually stay jobless

longer, suffering substantial income loss.

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