Developmental Psychology: Understanding the Lifespan

• Understanding aging improves quality of life.
• Studying aging informs public policies.
• Studying aging aids in addressing age-related health concerns.

Two Phases of the Lifespan (Developmental Psychology)

• Early phase (childhood & adolescence) includes rapid biological and cognitive development.
• Later phase (young adulthood to old age) consists of stability, decline, and adaptation.

Four Key Features of the Lifespan Perspective

• Multidirectionality consists of growth and decline occurring at different rates.
• Vocabulary increases and processing speed decreases can represent multidirectionality.
• Plasticity refers to cognitive abilities that can change with experience/training.
• Historical Context states development is shaped by cultural and historical factors.
• War and technological advances can represent historical context.
• Multiple Causation states that biological, psychological, sociocultural, and life-cycle forces shape aging.

Developmental Influences

• Normative Age-Graded events are common to a specific age group.
• Puberty and retirement are normative age-graded events.
• Normative History-Graded influences affect a generation.
• 9/11 and COVID-19 are normative history-graded influences.
• Non-Normative influences are unpredictable life events.
• Winning the lottery or early loss of a parent are non-normative events.

SOC Model (Selective Optimization with Compensation)

• Selection involves choosing essential goals.
• Focusing on family over work in old age is selection.
• Optimization improves performance through practice with memory exercises.
• Compensation involves adapting to loss by using a cane for mobility.

Factors Contributing to Aging Population

• Increased life expectancy due to medical advances
• Lower birth rates
• Improved living conditions

Types of Age

• Chronological age is the actual age in years.
• Perceived age is how old someone feels or looks.
• Psychological age refers to cognitive and emotional adaptability.
• Sociocultural age refers to social expectations tied to age.
• Primary aging is inevitable biological aging.
• Graying hair is an example of primary aging.
• Secondary aging is aging due to disease/lifestyle.
• Smoking effects are an example of secondary aging.
• Tertiary aging describes rapid decline before death.
• Sociocultural age & stereotypes describes expectations tied to developmental milestones contributing to ageism.

Research Concepts

• Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure.
• Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure.
• Representative Sampling refers to a sample reflecting the population's diversity.
• Experimental Research manipulates an independent variable (cause) to see its effect on a dependent variable (outcome).
• Confound refers to an uncontrolled variable affecting results.

Developmental Research Designs

• Cross-Sectional designs compare different age groups and are quick, but cohort effects are present.
• Longitudinal designs follow the same individuals over time, which is accurate, but expensive & time-consuming.
• Sequential designs combines both study designs to reduce biases.

Neural Plasticity

• Is the brain's ability to reorganize itself, even in old age.

Cognitive Aging

• Normative cognitive aging shows gradual decline in memory, with slower processing speed.
• Pathological cognitive aging includes dementia, Alzheimer's, and severe cognitive impairments.

Brain Structures & Functions

• Cerebral Cortex is responsible for higher thinking & perception.
• Amygdala is responsible for emotion processing.
• Corpus Callosum enables communication between hemispheres.
• Prefrontal Cortex handles decision-making & executive function.
• Hippocampus handles memory formation.
• Cerebellum handles motor control & balance.

Brain Aging & Cognitive Decline

• Shrinking of the prefrontal cortex & hippocampus affects memory & decision-making.
• White Matter Hyperintensities (brain lesions) are linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
• Declines in neurotransmitters (dopamine, acetylcholine) reduce cognitive function.

Compensation Models

• HAROLD: Both hemispheres compensate for cognitive decline.
• CRUNCH: Older adults recruit extra brain resources.
• STAC-R: Lifelong adaptability helps maintain function.

Positivity Effect

• Older adults focus more on positive emotions and experiences.

Theories of Aging

• Metabolic Theory suggests aging results from energy consumption & metabolism.
• Cellular Theories says cellular damage leads to aging.
• Genetic Programming Theory states aging is biologically programmed.

Epel & Blackburn (2004) Study

• Chronic stress shortens telomeres, thereby accelerating aging.

Physical Changes

• Weight gain in midlife, muscle loss, and reduced bone density occur.
• Osteoporosis is bone loss, more common in women.

Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis is wear & tear on joints.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder.

Explore the lifespan's phases: rapid development in childhood and adaptation in old age. Key features include multidirectionality, plasticity, historical context, and multiple causation. Understand aging to improve life quality and inform policies.