Psychology Of Aging Essays (Examples)

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Psychology of Age and Euthanasia
Aging is inevitable; it happens to all of us and as much as we wish we could, there is simply no way to stop or reverse the aging process. It is defined as the accumulation of changes in an organism or object over a period of time. Aging in humans refers to a multi-dimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some people age gracefully, while others do not fare as well.

Our society tends to view physical changes to our exterior appearance, in a negative light. As we get older, we notice small appearance changes over time. For some people that are a difficult adjustment because appearance plays a large role in our sense of identity. Some of the physical changes to occur when we get older include: sagging skin, frown lines, wrinkles, loss of hearing, vision deterioration and gray hair.

Some individuals attempt to combat aging….

Psychology of Aging
Aging of whole organisms is a complex process that can be defined as a progressive deterioration of physiological function, an intrinsic age-related process of loss of viability and increase in vulnerability. Many psycholological and physical changes in humans can be brought about by aging, it is the most normal and regular process that affect human beings either positively or negatively. The most important stage of aging can be felt in the transition period that is from middle to old age graying of hair, skin wrinkles, muscle weakening can be an indication of changes in age manifested by individuals as a measure of health and physical manifestations.

Most human beings identify with their bodies and aging of the body for instance naturally brings about the aging of mind accompanied by the decline of physical strength and at times psychological strength. In the end result the poor psychological health affects a….

Psychology of Aging: Vignette Analysis
Vignette one

When we talk of socio-cultural age, we mean those particular roles played by individuals as regards the members of the society and the culture they belong to. The evaluation of socio-cultural age is based on a number of habits and behaviors, like the type of dress, interpersonal style and language. Socio-cultural age is mostly important in our understanding of the different work and family roles we adopt. The right time for one to marry, when to have children, when to make career moves, when to retire, and all other such things are all influenced by what we take our socio-cultural age to be. Our self-esteem and all other aspects of our personality are determined by such decisions. Most stereotypes about aging depend on faulty assumptions surrounding socio-cultural age (Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Field, 2015). Jake and Nora are an African-American couple, who migrated from Nigeria to the….

Psychology of Aging
Trait: Personality traits refer to established or fairly constant characteristics which identify individual differences among people. For instance, if a person suffers from bipolar disorder, he/she might possess trait impulsivity -- a characteristic of personality influencing his/her response to events. This trait impulsivity varies marginally between normal and bipolar (depressive and manic) phases, or with time. Certain studies indicate that particular personality traits, such as trait anxiety or trait impulsivity, might be risk elements for the development of mood-related disorders in future (DiMaria, 2013).

Mood: Moods refer to transient ways of feeling or being. For instance, if an individual suffers from an acute case of depressive disorder, he/she might feel extremely miserable for many weeks in a row. This unhappy mood constitutes a transient mood state. In other words, it does not form part of the individual's personality structure. Therapy may help cure unhappiness. Therapists and research scholars have….

Suicide ates Among Geriatric Persons
The causes of death among the elderly are traditionally associated with the normal aging process or what would be called natural process, diseases associated with age and the debilitations it can cause. Yet, other factors also contribute to the cause of death an individual might succumb to, widowhood, retirement, forced relocation, and/or loneliness especially around the holidays. (Huyck Hoyer 1982) Still other studies are making it clear that murder and suicide rates are increasing dramatically among the elderly. (cf., Birren, Schaie, 1977) (Nussbaum, Pecchioni, obinson & Thompson, 2000, p. 294) Suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death among persons over the age of 65 in 1982. (iley, 1983, p. 144) Some strides have been made and between the years 1983 and 1998 suicide averaged as the fourteenth leading cause of death for persons over the age of 65, lower than the average for all ages….

Psychology of Aging
Compare and contrast current research on alternative stage theories of adulthood and personality development.

Child developmentalists traditionally categorized adult personality development into stage theories (Kagan, 2001). Sigmund Freud advocated the psychosexual stage, which held that personality is shaped early in life and generally resists change. Carl Jung proposed the opposite, in that personality develops in adulthood. Other theories surfaced in the 30s an the 40s in Europe and the U.S., such as Charlotte Buhler's, which called for empirical evaluations of theoretical predictions and Erik Erikson's similarly psychoanalytic stage theory, which asserts that a person develops through stages of human needs. Eventually, these early stage theories failed empirical tests. Critics of stage theories argued that personality does not evolve systematically in adulthood. Then came the Trait Theory in the 80s, which suggested that personality only changes slightly when a person reaches age 30 (Kagan, 2001).

The Trait Theory proposes that there….


Know the predominant features of each personality disorder = Such knowledge will help the therapist to identify assistance strategies ahead of time, which can be modified as necessary.

Know about the link between borderline personality disorder and suicide attempts = an awareness of this link will help the therapist to identify warning signs and provide assistance in a timely way.

Know that group therapy is useful for treatment of avoidant personality disorder = Knowing this avoids the intuitive tendency to reinforce the patient's avoidance.

Patients with which disorder are most likely to seek treatment on their own? Depression sufferers are most likely to seek treatment for their condition.

Problems in using the DSM-IV-TR to diagnose personality disorders = the main concern is that some guidelines are very specific. Some personality disorders may overlap or display atypical symptoms.

Chapter 14

Are boys or girls more likely to have a diagnosable psychological disorder? = Boys are more likely….

Psychology Development
Early Childhood

Medelein N. Moody, (2013). A Relational Aggression Intervention in Early Childhood. University of Nebraska. ProQuest LLC.

The paper was aimed at interrogating the relational aggression in early childhood and if there are interventions within the school setting that can act to reduce the aggression. This intervention is referred to as the Early Childhood Friendship Project and entailed taking stock of the changes in the behavior of the children as they undergo the study and the project. The preliminaries within the article indicates that there is usually a significant differences between the relational aggression between the boys and girls in school with the later recording a higher rate of aggression.

The study was conducted through a survey method and formal testing as the children went through the project and the teachers concerned recorded the results and any noticeable changes over time.

The results that were observed showed that there was a decrease….


Question: Explain the factors that cause or are associated with eating disorders, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and juvenile delinquency.

Answer: While these problems appear to be divergent, they are however linked together by a common factor and that is poor self-esteem. There is a close relationship between self-esteem elements that promote it, and the absence of some of the problems listed. The converse is also true that persons who have self-esteem issues are more prone to have an eating disorder, engage in risky sexual behavior, abuse substances, and be delinquent.

Self-esteem is essentially how the individual views himself or herself or values the self. Ideas of self-esteem are developed very early in childhood and as the individual matures, the sense of self may become damaged. Persons who have a damaged conception of themselves usually think that others see them as damaged when it is really how they see themselves. Even very beautiful….

Genes that are involved in the large families with a lot of individuals with ALS are sometimes called causative genes since they are usually sufficient to cause ALS devoid of any other genes or factors being involved. Genes involved in the smaller ALS families can either be susceptibility or causative genes (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), 2005).
There appears to be no clear cause in the majority of ALS cases and there is just one medication, riluzole, has been shown to modestly prolong survival. esearch has recognized some of the cellular processes that take place after disease onset, including mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, generation of free radicals, excitotoxicity, inflammation and apoptosis, but for most people the underlying cause is unknown. While ALS is measured to be a multifaceted genetic disorder in which multiple genes in amalgamation with environmental exposures merge to render a person susceptible, few genetic or environmental risks have….

Cognition and Aging
PAGES 10 WORDS 4217

Cognitive Aspects of the Aging Process
The purpose of this work is to define cognition and to explain the effects of aging on the brain in relation to memory, attention, metacognition, effects on languaging and the effects of aging on the executive function and finally cognitive function in very old age. This will be inclusive of primary cognitive diseases found in aging adults such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

Medical science continues to discover more about aging with each passing year. Cognitive effects of aging are one element that the aging individual must face as well as something that family and friends of the individual will cope with at some point. Cognition is defined as "the mental process of knowing, thinking, learning, and judging." (Online Medical Dictionary, 2005) Therefore the elderly experienced "cognitive dysfunction" is defined as "disturbance to the mental processes of knowing, thinking, learning and judging." Disturbances or dysfunctions of this….


Furthermore, as Baltes makes clear, there are some events that are generally going to impact people at various stages in their lives. For example, an East European Jew who survived World War II would probably have a historical influence that changed other age-expectations, which could impact other longevity factors. Time in a concentration camp, which would be normative for the Jewish cohort in that place and time period, would also likely impact the age of marriage, parenthood, and other culturally normative behaviors that might impact health and longevity in one's old age. While that might seem to be a dramatic example, the reality is that most generations are going to have cohorts impacted by at least one event of similar magnitude. For the practitioner working with geriatric clients, knowing the historical events that are most likely to have impacted the client and how those are likely to interact with the….

society we seem to place research on the brain in high regard. In what ways is this sentiment positive for science and the care of humans, and in what ways might this be negative? Does neuroscience always hold the "best" answers?
A way in which the focus on the brain is positive is that it is indeed true that the brain is really the "center of action" in a lot of ways. When it comes to the most intriguing, fascinating and important parts of the body, the two top really have to be the brain and the heart. The heart is the catalyst for things like circulation, oxygen flow and so forth. The brain, however, has many more important things behind it including the nervous system in general, memory and so forth (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2011; YouTube, 2015; YouTube, 2015).

However, ordaining the study of the mind as it currently exists….

Social Psychology
PAGES 7 WORDS 1921

Optimism and Pessimism Relates to Stress and Coping with Cancer
An increasing amount of research links negative and positive emotional states to wellness or ill health. The negative or pessimistic emotions seem to have a negative effect on the immune system and on general health. Pessimism has been shown to be unhealthy and have adverse effects on health, including increasing the risk of cancer and preventing recovery from the disease. On the other hand, positive or optimistic emotions have been shown to strengthen immune function and bring good health. (Gillman, 1989)

There is a wealth of research that suggests optimism has a positive association with better mental and physical health, as well as coping with stress. Pessimism has been linked to a higher risk of death before the age of 65, while positive emotions, like optimism, are linked to lowered production of the stress hormone cortisol, better immune function, and reduced….

Leaning does not only imply facts, but continual and fluid evolution of the brain. This is the identical process that the brain takes when improving itself and reducing aging. If the brain continues to receive stimuli and appropriate chemicals for energy, then it follows tat there will be increased brain function and activity. If the voltage, just as in a battery, becomes stronger, then activity increases. As the brain is continually stimulated, more building materials are produced that allow information to become part of our experience. Interestingly, the variety and frequency of certain exercise programs, in fact, "teach" the body at different rates. Using different intensities of movement, concerns of overeating, weight regulation, quality of life, and especially depression are mitigated (Douglas, 2009).
Finally, the healthcare and other market modifiers will need to change and evolve as the population ages. The global baby bust will change financial markets, investing, products,….

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5 Pages
Research Paper

Death and Dying  (general)

Psychology of Aging and Euthanasia

Words: 1610
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Research Paper

Psychology of Age and Euthanasia Aging is inevitable; it happens to all of us and as much as we wish we could, there is simply no way to stop or…

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7 Pages
Research Paper

Death and Dying  (general)

Analyzing the Psychology of Aging

Words: 2200
Length: 7 Pages
Type: Research Paper

Psychology of Aging Aging of whole organisms is a complex process that can be defined as a progressive deterioration of physiological function, an intrinsic age-related process of loss of viability…

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6 Pages

Psychology

Analyzing Psychology of Aging Trends

Words: 2428
Length: 6 Pages
Type:

Psychology of Aging: Vignette Analysis Vignette one When we talk of socio-cultural age, we mean those particular roles played by individuals as regards the members of the society and the culture…

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5 Pages

Psychology

Analyzing Psychology of Aging Trends

Words: 1786
Length: 5 Pages
Type:

Psychology of Aging Trait: Personality traits refer to established or fairly constant characteristics which identify individual differences among people. For instance, if a person suffers from bipolar disorder, he/she might…

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10 Pages
Term Paper

Psychology

Aging Critical Issue in Aging

Words: 3649
Length: 10 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Suicide ates Among Geriatric Persons The causes of death among the elderly are traditionally associated with the normal aging process or what would be called natural process, diseases associated with…

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10 Pages
Research Paper

Aging

The Many Aspects and Angles of Aging

Words: 2458
Length: 10 Pages
Type: Research Paper

Psychology of Aging Compare and contrast current research on alternative stage theories of adulthood and personality development. Child developmentalists traditionally categorized adult personality development into stage theories (Kagan, 2001). Sigmund Freud…

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2 Pages
Research Paper

Psychology

Psychology Definitions Psychosis Loss

Words: 580
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Research Paper

Know the predominant features of each personality disorder = Such knowledge will help the therapist to identify assistance strategies ahead of time, which can be modified as necessary. Know about…

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3 Pages
Essay

Children

Psychology Development Early Childhood Medelein N Moody

Words: 986
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Essay

Psychology Development Early Childhood Medelein N. Moody, (2013). A Relational Aggression Intervention in Early Childhood. University of Nebraska. ProQuest LLC. The paper was aimed at interrogating the relational aggression in early childhood…

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2 Pages
Essay

Children

Psychology Identify and Describe Piaget's

Words: 975
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Essay

Question: Explain the factors that cause or are associated with eating disorders, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and juvenile delinquency. Answer: While these problems appear to be divergent, they are however…

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2 Pages
Essay

Disease

Psychology Neuropathological Disorders Amyotrophic Lateral

Words: 697
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Essay

Genes that are involved in the large families with a lot of individuals with ALS are sometimes called causative genes since they are usually sufficient to cause ALS…

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10 Pages
Term Paper

Psychology

Cognition and Aging

Words: 4217
Length: 10 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Cognitive Aspects of the Aging Process The purpose of this work is to define cognition and to explain the effects of aging on the brain in relation to memory, attention,…

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5 Pages
Essay

Death and Dying  (general)

Secondary Aging Many People Think

Words: 1688
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Furthermore, as Baltes makes clear, there are some events that are generally going to impact people at various stages in their lives. For example, an East European Jew who…

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5 Pages

Psychology

Fact Versus Reality With Aging

Words: 1771
Length: 5 Pages
Type:

society we seem to place research on the brain in high regard. In what ways is this sentiment positive for science and the care of humans, and in…

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image
7 Pages
Term Paper

Psychology

Social Psychology

Words: 1921
Length: 7 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Optimism and Pessimism Relates to Stress and Coping with Cancer An increasing amount of research links negative and positive emotional states to wellness or ill health. The negative or…

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6 Pages
Essay

Death and Dying  (general)

Healthy Aging for Some Time

Words: 2094
Length: 6 Pages
Type: Essay

Leaning does not only imply facts, but continual and fluid evolution of the brain. This is the identical process that the brain takes when improving itself and reducing…

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