Type: conference-paper
Abstract: A fairly concise lifespan perspective is presented on what some would call normal cognitive aging.The currently most useful theoretical frameworks that include statements about cognitive development from young adulthood to advanced old age are outlined.Psychologists are reminded that they must never confuse age differences that may largely represent cohort differences associated with rapidly changing environmental circumstances, with age changes that occur within individuals over their life course.A distinction is next made between normal and pathological aging, as is characterized by very different aging trajectories that distinguish individuals who follow average trajectories, those who decline early, those who develop neuro-or psycho-pathologies, and those favored few "super-aged" who remain fully functional until shortly before their death.Because changes in intellectual competence represent a central topic in the psychology of aging, examples of substantive data for such changes are then presented through adulthood.Little cognitive decline not associated with pathological processes is found prior to the decade of the 60s, but some genetically and environmentally disadvantaged individuals show decline in the late 40s or early 50s.Age difference data and differential cohort paths are also presented for different abilities over the past 70 years.Finally, I refl ect on the topic of ageism in the psychology of aging and suggest that the major infl uence for much professional stereotyping of the elderly may be found in the assumption of universal cognitive decline and movement towards negative personality traits with increasing age.I show data that suggest such decline is not universal although larger proportions of older persons show decline for each successive decade after the 60s are reached.
Author: Schaie, K Warner
Institution: University of Washington
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7208202262