On the point, Lachman & James indicate that an emphasis in "middle age is on separating from one's family of origin (though still remaining in connection), becoming intimate with a partner, developing skills in work, and rearing children. The emphasis in later middle age is on facilitation of others and the responsible use of power." (Lachman & James, p. 21)
Functioning in Late Adulthood
Evaluate this question: Is new cognitive development possible during late adulthood?
How could you use your answer in the pursuit of your anticipated career (clinical psychologist) direction for yourself and for others?
Though the subject will generally be in a state of cognitive decline with the onset of later adulthood, there are ways to stimulate new cognitive development. From the perspective of a clinical psychologist, this development must be stimulated through a clearer understanding of how older adults reason and retrieve information. According to Gates (2006), this is done largely through deductive rather than inductive reasoning strategies and that this invokes the need for specific memory exercises such as mnemonics. Gates suggests that "improving memory requires making the effort to use good associations, such as the elaborative rehearsal, which means creating good associations that in turn, produce good retrieval cues and improve memory." (Gates, 1)
A strategy of this nature...
Crawford (2009) also reports that there is a positive gain from maintaining social and community-oriented activeness into one's late-adulthood. Here, Crawford indicates that "in many varieties of culture, elders fare best when they retain social status and opportunities for community participation." (Crawford, p. 4) for the clinical psychologist, this means encouraging an active and socially engaged lifestyle as a way of stimulating continued cognitive experience.
Works Cited:
Bastable, S.B. (2008). Nurse as Educator: Principles of Teaching and Learning for Nursing Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Cantu, E. (2010). Middle Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development. University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
Crawford, K. (2009). Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood. Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Gates, R.C. (2006). Late Adulthood-Cognitive Development. RCGates.com.
Lachman, M.E. & James, J.B. (1997). Multiple Paths of Midlife Development. University of Chicago Press.
Perrig-Chiello, P.; Jaeggi, S.M.; Buschkuehi, M.; Stahelin, H.B. & Perrig, W.J. (2008). Personality and health in middle age as predictors for well-being and health in old age. European Journal of Ageing, 6(1), 27-37.
