FRHD 2060 UNIT 1: WHY STUDY ADULT
DEVELOPMENT & AGING. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
Why study aging? - ANS to discover how ageism relates to stereotypes of aging, understand
life-span perspective, consider the characteristics of the current/future older people in Canada
gerontology - ANS study of aging from maturity through old age
ageism - ANS discrimination based on age
2 life-span perspectives - ANS early phase (childhood/adolescence)
later phase (young adulthood, middle age, old age)
Paul Balter identified 4 key features - ANS 1. multidirectionality
2. plasticity
3. historical context
4. multiple causation
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, multidirectionality - ANS development involves both growth and decline, grow in one area -
lose in another at different rates
decline ex: memory, reaction time
growth ex: wisdom
plasticity - ANS belief that capacity is not fixed but can be learning/improved with practice
refrain from using time limit with older adults
not predetermined
historical context - ANS we develop within a particular set of circumstances determined by
the historical time in which we were born and the culture we grew up in
multiple causation - ANS how we develop results from a wide variety of forces
development is shared by biological, psychological, sociocultural and life-cycle forces
life-span development: Baltes argued... - ANS life-span development consists of dynamic
interaction between: growth, maintenance, loss regulation
older adults tend to focus on... - ANS what they are good at which can aid in balancing out
their loss regulation
4 main forces that shape development - ANS 1. biological (genetic/health)
2. psychological (cognitive, emotional)
3. sociocultural (culture, ethnic)
4. life-cycle forces (reflect differences in how the same event affect people at different times)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
DEVELOPMENT & AGING. EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
Why study aging? - ANS to discover how ageism relates to stereotypes of aging, understand
life-span perspective, consider the characteristics of the current/future older people in Canada
gerontology - ANS study of aging from maturity through old age
ageism - ANS discrimination based on age
2 life-span perspectives - ANS early phase (childhood/adolescence)
later phase (young adulthood, middle age, old age)
Paul Balter identified 4 key features - ANS 1. multidirectionality
2. plasticity
3. historical context
4. multiple causation
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, multidirectionality - ANS development involves both growth and decline, grow in one area -
lose in another at different rates
decline ex: memory, reaction time
growth ex: wisdom
plasticity - ANS belief that capacity is not fixed but can be learning/improved with practice
refrain from using time limit with older adults
not predetermined
historical context - ANS we develop within a particular set of circumstances determined by
the historical time in which we were born and the culture we grew up in
multiple causation - ANS how we develop results from a wide variety of forces
development is shared by biological, psychological, sociocultural and life-cycle forces
life-span development: Baltes argued... - ANS life-span development consists of dynamic
interaction between: growth, maintenance, loss regulation
older adults tend to focus on... - ANS what they are good at which can aid in balancing out
their loss regulation
4 main forces that shape development - ANS 1. biological (genetic/health)
2. psychological (cognitive, emotional)
3. sociocultural (culture, ethnic)
4. life-cycle forces (reflect differences in how the same event affect people at different times)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
