Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic of Schaie’s Responsibility Stage?
During Schaie’s Executive Stage, individuals tend to think about:
What is crystallized intelligence?
Accumulation of skills, information, and abilities that can be applied to problem-solving situations.
What characterizes fluid intelligence?
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In middle adulthood, perceptual speed increases for complex, novel tasks.
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Why might individuals in middle adulthood still hold positions of power despite declines in some mental abilities?
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What is the Glass Ceiling?
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Why does the Glass Ceiling exist? It is due to __________, prejudice, and bias.
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What factors contribute to the existence of the Glass Ceiling other than bias?
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What is the process of developing expertise?
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Study Notes
Schaie’s Middle Adulthood Stages
- Responsibility Stage: Focus on fulfilling the emotional and physical needs of spouses and children.
- Executive Stage: Involves a broader perspective, emphasizing global issues and causes beyond oneself, including religious, social, and political engagement.
Cognitive Changes in Middle Adulthood
- Crystallized Intelligence: Increases due to the accumulation of knowledge and skills relevant for problem solving.
- Fluid Intelligence: Declines include reduced information processing capabilities and memory, requiring more time to complete tasks.
Mental Abilities in Middle Adulthood
- Many individuals reach peak performance in various cognitive abilities during middle adulthood.
- Perceptual speed decreases, particularly for complex tasks; regular practice can mitigate decline.
- Declines in working memory, multitasking abilities, and use of memory strategies are common.
- Increased reliance on metacognitive strategies enhances problem-solving skills.
Competence in Middle Adulthood
- Despite cognitive declines, many middle-aged individuals hold significant power and influence.
- Possible explanations include:
- IQ tests may not measure job-related skills effectively.
- Successful middle-aged individuals may differ from peers.
- Acquired skills can be more crucial than raw competence for career advancement.
- Selective Optimization refers to focusing mental energy on developing specific skills through specialization.
Developing Expertise
- Expertise is characterized by above-average skills and knowledge in a particular area, built through practice and exposure.
- Key benefits of expertise include improved intuition, faster information processing, stronger neural connections, and more effective problem-solving strategies.
Vocational Development in Middle Adulthood
- Glass Ceiling: Represents the invisible barrier that prevents minorities and women from ascending to powerful positions, not based on skill deficits.
- Contributing factors to the Glass Ceiling include biases, stereotypes, difficulties in recruitment and mentoring, unequal standards, and maternity issues.
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Description
Explore Schaie's stages of cognitive development in middle adulthood through flashcards. This quiz focuses on the Responsibility and Executive stages, highlighting the emotional and social responsibilities encountered during this life phase.