Emotional Functioning in Late Life
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Questions and Answers

How does a secure attachment style in caregivers influence their behavior?

  • They are more empathic toward the care recipient. (correct)
  • They may show less empathy towards care recipients.
  • They are more likely to display aggressive behavior.
  • They are less likely to provide support.

    • What is a common behavioral outcome for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease who have an insecure attachment style?

  • Paranoid delusions and anxiety. (correct)
  • Decreased social interactions.
  • Increased physical activity.
  • Improved cognitive functions.

    • Which of the following is classified as an adaptive defense mechanism?

  • Denial
  • Passive aggression
  • Sublimation (correct)
  • Projection

    • What effect does the age range from 20 to 47 have on defense mechanisms according to George Vaillant?

    <p>Increased use of adaptive defense mechanisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is positively associated with the use of adaptive defense mechanisms between ages 20 and 47?

    <p>Higher income at midlife.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do older adults typically recall autobiographical memories?

    <p>They tend to rate negative events as neutral or positive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which emotion regulation strategy is less commonly used by older adults compared to younger adults?

    <p>Situation modification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of the age-related positivity effect observed in older adults?

    <p>Avoidance of situations inducing negative emotions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of emotion regulation, how do older adults differ in their approach to interpersonal problems?

    <p>They focus on preserving harmony in relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of Gross's model of emotion regulation do older adults engage in more than younger adults?

    <p>Cognitive change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding older adults' emotional experiences?

    <p>They report a balanced view between positive and negative emotions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might older adults be more likely to use passive strategies for emotion regulation?

    <p>They prioritize avoiding conflict and stress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which emotional function is characterized by older adults attending less to negative information?

    <p>Positivity bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What pattern does research suggest for happiness across the lifespan?

    <p>U shaped curve with lowest points in middle age</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the experience of anger change as adults age?

    <p>Decreases during older adulthood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might older adults experience less negative emotion?

    <p>They focus more on positive stimuli</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group of older adults is likely to have the lowest happiness ratings?

    <p>Those with chronic illnesses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What trend is generally observed with psychological distress as individuals age?

    <p>Tends to decline or peak in middle age then decline</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is associated with the decline in the experience of negative emotions with age?

    <p>The age-related positivity effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which age group is the frequency of sadness reportedly stable?

    <p>All age groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor is directly linked to chronic illness in older adults impacting their emotional functioning?

    <p>Presence of multiple chronic conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What change in emotional experience occurs in older adulthood?

    <p>Decreased experience of negative emotions but stable intensity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What tendency do older adults exhibit towards emotional stimuli?

    <p>They focus more on happy faces and less on sad faces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the SST model suggest about older adults' perspectives on time?

    <p>They shift to prioritizing emotionally meaningful goals due to shorter time horizons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement reflects the strengths of older adults according to the SAVI model?

    <p>They develop a better understanding of avoiding negative situations over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential weakness of older adults as outlined in the SAVI model?

    <p>They have reduced physiological flexibility in coping with stress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the age-related positivity effect impact older adults' emotional experiences?

    <p>They are more likely to focus on positive stimuli and experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to recent studies, when is the stability of personality traits observed to be greatest?

    <p>During midlife, between the ages of 40 and 60.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is likely to happen to older adults when they encounter an upsetting situation?

    <p>They usually disengage quickly from the situation if it is negative.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the passage of time have on older adults' emotional functioning?

    <p>It enhances their understanding of maintaining contentment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can chronic illness lead to concerning older adults' emotional experiences?

    <p>Difficulties in recovering from emotional stress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception regarding older adults and emotional complexity?

    <p>Older adults experience less emotional complexity than younger adults.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primary shift in emotional focus is observed in older adults?

    <p>Increased prioritization of emotionally significant experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of coping strategy do older adults tend to avoid due to past experiences with its effectiveness?

    <p>Avoidance coping</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors is stable throughout personality development?

    <p>Dispositional traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is mean-level stability in personality traits?

    <p>Changes in the average personality trait scores over a group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what age does conscientiousness begin to level out according to mean-level stability findings?

    <p>Age 70</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which personality trait tends to increase with age?

    <p>Emotional stability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which age range is characterized by the highest stability of personality traits according to meta-analysis?

    <p>Ages 50 to 70</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does rank-order stability refer to in personality studies?

    <p>Consistency in an individual's personality scores across time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What change in emotional stability is observed from young adulthood to old age?

    <p>Increases, decreases, then increases again</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of adaptation is characterized by individual variability and involves personal values and goals?

    <p>Characteristic adaptations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common trend observed in social vitality as one ages?

    <p>It tends to decrease</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Emotional Functioning in Late Life

    • Older adults tend to reinterpret autobiographical memories positively, often recalling fewer negative events or rating them neutrally.
    • Research indicates that older adults may not exhibit a positivity bias but rather evaluate positive and negative information equally.
    • Emotion regulation strategies differ, with older adults favoring passive approaches like avoidance.
    • Older adults excel at choosing effective methods for interpersonal problem-solving, prioritizing harmony in relationships.

    Gross's Process Model of Emotion Regulation

    • Older adults utilize various strategies including:
      • Situation Selection: Avoidance of negative emotional triggers.
      • Attentional Deployment: Increased focus on positive stimuli due to an age-related positivity effect.
      • Cognitive Change: Engagement in positive reframing of experiences.

    Age and Happiness

    • Contrary to prior assumptions, happiness follows a U-shaped curve, peaking in youth and older age, while dipping during middle age.
    • This trend applies to both genders and across different cultural contexts.

    Emotional Experiences Across the Lifespan

    • Stability in sadness frequency is observed throughout life, while anger peaks in young adulthood and diminishes in older age.
    • Both frequency and intensity of negative emotions decline with age, contributing to overall emotional well-being.

    Chronic Illness and Emotional Well-Being

    • Older adults with chronic illnesses report lower happiness levels, particularly those with strokes or multiple health issues.
    • Incidence of depression tends to decrease with age, with psychological distress often decreasing from young adulthood to the 60s or peaking in midlife before declining.
    • Older adults demonstrate a reduced experience of negative emotions, influenced by their focus on positive information and memory recall patterns.
    • Eye-tracking studies illustrate that older adults tend to look more at happy faces while avoiding sad ones.

    Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST)

    • Time perspective shifts from open-ended in youth to limited in older age, prompting older adults to prioritize relationships and emotionally meaningful experiences.

    Strength and Vulnerability Integration (SAVI) Model

    • Strengths:

      • Focus on meaningful emotional goals due to limited time perspective.
      • Enhanced ability to disengage from negativity and maintain contentment.

    • Weaknesses:

      • Physiological challenges in recovering from stress due to reduced flexibility in cardiovascular and neuroendocrine systems.

    Personality Development Across Lifespan

    • Personality traits exhibit the most stability during midlife (ages 40-60), while younger and older adults may show less stability due to differing coping strategies.
    • Older adults tend to manage stress proactively to prevent emotionally taxing situations.

    Longitudinal Studies Insights

    • Mean-Level Stability:

      • Conscientiousness peaks at around age 70, while emotional stability and agreeableness tend to rise with age.
      • Social vitality, however, declines over time.

    • Rank-Order Stability:

      • Greatest stability of traits occurs between ages 50 and 70, showing an inverted U-shape in stability throughout the life span.

    Attachment Styles in Older Adulthood

    • Secure attachment among caregivers leads to greater empathy.
    • Insecure attachment in older adults with Alzheimer’s can result in paranoia and anxiety, along with challenging behaviors.

    Defense Mechanisms in Aging

    • Age correlates with increased use of adaptive defense mechanisms while decreasing reliance on immature ones.

    • Adaptive Defense Mechanisms:

      • Include altruism, suppression, sublimation, anticipation, and humor.

    • Immature Defense Mechanisms:

      • Include projection, passive aggression, acting out, and denial.

    • Higher use of adaptive mechanisms during ages 20-47 is linked to better midlife income, psychosocial adjustments, social support, and overall life satisfaction.

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    Description

    This quiz explores the emotional functioning and regulation strategies of older adults. It addresses how age influences the perception of memories, emotion regulation methods, and the effects on happiness and relationships. Test your understanding of these critical topics in gerontology.

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