Credits and Sources xix Figures xix Tables xxi Integrated Themes in Aging and Older Adulthood xxiii Integrated Examples of the Diversity Theme xxiii Integrated Examples of the Environmental Influences on Aging Theme xxvi Integrated Examples of the Applications to Everyday Life Theme xxix Preface and Acknowledgments xxxiii 1 Introduction to Aging and Older Adulthood 1 The Study of Aging and Older Adulthood 3 History of the Scientific Study of Aging 3 Geriatrics and Gerontology 5 Why Was the Study of Aging Neglected? 5 Reasons for Studying Aging and Older Adulthood 6 Defining Age and Older Adulthood 7 Definitions of Age 8 What Is Older Adulthood? 10 Demographic Profile of Older Americans 14 Global Considerations and Demographic Transition 14 Number and Proportion of Older Adults 15 A Snapshot of the Older Population 18 Developmental Influences and Issues 23 Influences on Development 23 Issues in the Study of Aging 26 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 1.1: A NEW OUTLOOK ON OLD AGE 27 Theoretical Models 28 The Selective Optimization with Compensation Model of Aging 28 The Ecological Model of Aging 29 Questions to Consider 30 Key Points 31 Key Terms 32 2 Theory and Method in Studying Aging and Older Adulthood 33 Metatheoretical Approaches to the Study of Aging 35 The Mechanistic Metamodel 35 The Organismic Metamodel 36 The Contextual Metamodel 36 The Life-Span Developmental Perspective 37 Developmental Research 37 The Age Variable 38 Factors in Aging Research 39 Research Design 41 Measurement 46 Reliability 47 Validity 47 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 2.1: FOCUS ON MEASUREMENT 48 Sampling 49 Approaches to Conducting Aging Research 51 The Experimental Approach 51 The Quasi-Experimental Approach 52 Multifactor Designs 53 The Descriptive Approach 55 Ethics in Research on Human Aging 56 Revisiting the Selective Optimization with Compensation and Ecological Models 58 Questions to Consider 59 Key Points 59 Key Terms 60 3 Biological Aging and Health 61 The Meaning of Longevity 63 Life Expectancy 63 Life Span 65 The Biological Aging Process 68 Primary and Secondary Aging 68 Programmed Theories of Biological Aging 69 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 3.1: LONGEVITY: GENETIC MUTATIONS AND HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE 70 Stochastic Theories of Biological Aging 71 Caloric Restriction and Longevity 73 Individual Differences in Longevity 74 Nature and Nurture 75 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 3.2: GENDER CROSSOVER IN LATE OLDER ADULTHOOD 75 Can Social Scientists Predict Longevity? 79 Maximizing Longevity 81 Physical Changes and Disease 82 Body Systems 82 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 3.3: AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN, SELF-RELIANCE, AND HEALTH 85 Leading Causes of Mortality 94 Everyday Functioning and Health Care 95 Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living 95 Medication 96 Health Insurance 96 Revisiting the Selective Optimization with Compensation and Ecological Models 97 Questions to Consider 98 Key Points 98 Key Terms 99 4 Sensation, Perception, and Attention 100 Sensory Processes 102 Threshold and Sensitivity 102 Absolute Threshold 103 Signal Detection 103 Speed of Response 104 Reaction Time 104 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 4.1: REACTION TIME AND DRIVING 105 Age-Complexity Hypothesis 106 Stimulus Persistence Theory 106 Moderating Age-Related Slowing 107 The Senses: A Closer Look 108 Smell and Taste 108 Touch, Proprioception, and Pain 108 Vision 110 Hearing 113 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 4.2: TECHNOLOGY USE AMONG OLDER ADULTS 114 Attention 121 Theoretical Models 121 Attention Tasks 124 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 4.

1: CELL PHONES AND STREET CROSSING 125 Revisiting the Selective Optimization with Compensation and Ecological Models 129 Questions to Consider 130 Key Points 130 Key Terms 131 5 Memory 132 The Developmental Study of Memory and Age 134 Concerns About Memory and Aging 134 The Information Processing Model 134 The Sensory Store 135 The Short-Term Store 135 The Long-Term Store 137 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 5.1: FALSE MEMORY 140 Noncontent Attributes of Episodic Memory 140 Stages of Processing in Episodic Memory 142 Remote Memory 146 Factual Information 146 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 5.1: THE REMINISCENCE BUMP 147 Autobiographical Information 147 Memory in Everyday Life 147 Prospective Memory 148 Implicit Memory 149 Memory Training 150 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 5.2: MEMORY CUES AND SHOPPING 152 Discourse Memory 152 Knowledge and Beliefs About Memory 154 Metamemory 154 Memory Self-Efficacy 155 Memory Self-Evaluation 156 Stereotypes About Memory and Aging 157 Attributions for Memory Failure 159 Individual Diff erences Among Older Adults 159 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 5.3: AEROBIC EXERCISE, HIPPOCAMPAL BRAIN VOLUME, AND SPATIAL MEMORY 160 Education and Lifestyle 160 Health 161 Revisiting the Selective Optimization with Compensation and Ecological Models 162 Questions to Consider 162 Key Points 163 Key Terms 164 6 Intellectual Functioning 165 Views of Intelligence 167 How Many Intelligences Are There? 167 Sternberg '' s Components of Intelligence 167 Intelligence and the Aging Process 168 The Psychometric Approach to Intelligence 170 Brief History of the Test Movement 170 Psychometric Tests and Aging Research 171 Intelligence Quotient (IQ) 174 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 6.1: THE FLYNN EFFECT 175 Cultural Diversity 175 Does Intelligence Decline with Age? 176 Positive and Negative Cohort Trends 178 The Classic Aging Pattern 179 The Life-Span Developmental Perspective 180 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 6.1: THE DEDIFFERENTIATION HYPOTHESIS 180 Maximizing Intellectual Functioning in Older Adulthood 181 Testing the Limits 181 Intervention 181 Compensation 182 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 6.2: THE ACTIVE PROJECT 182 Unexercised Versus Optimally Exercised Abilities 183 Individual Diff erences Among Older Adult Test Takers 183 Factors Related to Maintenance of Intellectual Functioning 183 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 6.

2: COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AND NEUROBIOLOGY: THE ROLE OF WHITE MATTER HYPERINTENSITIES (WMH) 184 Mental Activity and Intellectual Functioning 185 Everyday Intelligence and Competence 188 Psychometric Tests and Ecological Validity 188 Conceptions of Intelligence Across the Adult Life Span 189 Cognitive Competence and Psychometric Scores 190 Encapsulation 191 Competence in Daily Life 191 Revisiting the Selective Optimization with Compensation and Ecological Models 195 Questions to Consider 196 Key Points 196 Key Terms 198 7 Cognition and Problem Solving in the Everyday World 199 Stages of Cognitive Development 201 Schaie '' s Stage Model of Cognitive/Intellectual Development 201 Biographical Sketch Box 7.1: Author Harry Bernstein 203 Postformal Thought 204 Wisdom 205 What Is Wisdom? 205 Age and Wisdom 208 Real-World Intelligence and Problem Solving 210 Practical Intelligence 210 Creative Intelligence 211 Solving Interpersonal Problems 214 Decision Making 214 Decision Making in a Health Context 215 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 7.1: FRAMING EFFECTS IN MEDICAL DECISIONS 218 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 7.2: YOUNG AND OLDER ADULTS'' PREFERENCE FOR CHOICE 219 Decision Making in a Consumer Context 220 Decision Making in a Legal Context 221 Social Cognition 222 Impression Formation 222 Causal Attributions 223 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 7.1: TRAIT DIAGNOSTICITY 224 Moral Reasoning 226 Collaboration in Reasoning and Problem Solving 228 Emotion and Cognition 229 Revisiting the Selective Optimization with Compensation and Ecological Models 231 Questions to Consider 232 Key Points 232 Key Terms 233 8 Personality and Coping 234 Studying Personality in Aging and Older Adulthood 236 Approaches to Investigating Personality 236 Personality Over the Adult Years 236 How Is Personality Measured? 237 Self-Report Questionnaires 237 Projective Techniques 238 Behavioral Observation 238 Normative Models of Personality 239 Stage Models 239 Personality Dimensions and Traits 245 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 8.1: PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SURVIVAL 247 Lay Views of Personality 249 Individual Differences in Coping and Adjustment 253 Self-Concept 253 UNDERSTANDING AGING BOX 8.2: AGE AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING 254 APPLYING RESEARCH BOX 8.1: POSSIBLE SELVES AND DAILY ACTIVITIES 257 Personal Control 258 Revisiting the Selective Optimization with Compensation and Ecological Models 262 Questions to Consider 263 Key Points 263 Key Terms 264 9 Social Interaction and Social Ties 265 Social Interaction in Older Adulthood 267<.