The Big Five Theory - Elgin Community College



Developmental Psychology Chapter 17 Handout

Common Stereotypes about Aging: Late Adulthood (60/65+)

Mark Each as True or False

_____ 1. The majority of old people (65+) are senile.

_____ 2. The 5 senses weaken in old age.

_____ 3. The majority of old people have no interest in sex.

_____ 4. Lung capacity declines in old age.

_____ 5. Most elderly feel miserable most of the time.

_____ 6. Physical strength declines in the elderly.

_____ 7. Over 10% of elderly live in institutions (nursing homes, mental inst.)

_____ 8. Aged drivers have fewer accidents than those under 65.

_____ 9. Older workers are not as efficient as younger workers.

_____ 10. Over 75% of the aged are healthy enough to carry on normally.

_____ 11. Old people usually cannot adapt to change.

_____ 12. Old people take longer to learn something new.

_____ 13. It is almost impossible for the average old person to learn something new.

_____ 14. Older people have slower physical reactions.

_____ 15. Older people are pretty much alike

_____ 16. Most elderly report rarely being bored.

_____ 17. Most elderly are socially isolated.

_____ 18. Older workers have fewer accidents than younger workers

1. The majority of elderly adults take some medications, as many as 7.

2. Most common medications are:

3. Sleeping pills *Laxatives *Analgesics

4. Anti-hypertensives *Diuretics *Psychotropics

5. Cardiac medications *Antacids

6. Antibiotics *Cold remedies

7. Drugs metabolize more slowly as people age and kidney and liver functions decline

8. Hazards include

9. Toxic interactions *Improper dosages

Outdated drugs *Storage problems *Confusion

Stages of Alzheimer's

• General Forgetfulness – losing keys, eyeglasses, forgetting names

1. Forgetfulness More Intense and Prevalent – become repetitive, confused, unable to concentrate.

2. Dangerous Stage – getting lost, dressing inappropriately, forgetting to eat, forgetting to turn off the stove.

3. Totally Confused and Disoriented – doesn’t recognize spouse or family members. Can’t control body functions. Full-time care.

|Cataracts |A. changes in physical and cognitive functioning that are due to illness, health habits, and other individual |

| |differences, but which are not due to increased age itself and are not inevitable |

|Arthritis |B. due to genetic preprogramming, aging that involves universal, irreversible changes |

|Major depression |C. deterioration of eyesight from a thinning of the yellowish area of the eye located near the retina |

|Alzheimer's disease |D. pressure in the fluid of the eye increases, either because the fluid cannot drain properly or because too |

| |much fluid is produced |

|Environmental factors in memory |E. cloudy or opaque area on the lens of the eye that interferes with passing light |

|Adult-Onset Diabetes |F. includes serious memory loss accompanied by declines in other mental functioning |

|Biological factors in memory |G. high blood pressure |

|Glaucoma |H. intense sadness, pessimism, and hopelessness |

|Hypertension |I. a progressive brain disorder that produces loss of memory and confusion |

|Information processing deficits in |J. an inflammation of one or more joints |

|memory | |

|Secondary aging |K. ability to inhibit irrelevant information declines, speed declines, and the ability to pay attention and to |

| |organize tasks involving memory skills decline |

|Dementia |L. brain and body deterioration |

|Primary aging |M. High blood glucose that begins in adulthood |

|Age-related macular degeneration |N. prescription drugs that hinder memory, life changes in adulthood, and motivation |

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