Developmental Psychology

Achieve Test Prep: Developmental Psychology

o Cancer risk is the same between genders (except for reproductive cancers which are higher in women) • Reproductive System: Women o Women generally reach menopause between ages 42-58 Menopause is the cessation of menstruation and a drop of estrogen o The time before menopause is termed perimenopause o Climacteric is the general term to describe a decrease in infertility with age o Symptoms of female climacteric are shorter, more irregular periods, hot flashes, and cold sweats o Hormone Replacement Theory (HRT) replaces lost hormones.

 May be beneficial for symptoms from lost hormones  May increase risk for breast cancer and other illnesses

o Reproductive System: Men

 No male menopause (biologically speaking)  Male climacteric involves lower testosterone production, a decline in infertility, and erectile difficulty.  Decrease of sperm production

Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood: During middle adulthood, information processing is maintained and enhanced by life experiences. In recent years, it was believed that information processing and intelligence peaked at twenty one years of age. It has been discovered that intelligence and processing information continue to increase, as was shown by increasing IQ test scores of thirty-six-year-olds. There are different types of intelligence: - Crystallized Intelligence: involves accumulated facts and information and lasts through middle adulthood - Fluid Intelligence: involves reasoning, decision making, memory, processing speed, and abstract thinking. This begins to decline around age thirty and is evidenced in slower reaction times and cognition - Practical Intelligence: involves defining behavior, conflict resolution capacity, and problem solving, which is a synthesized form of fluid and crystalized intelligence

Page 110 of 161

©2015

www.achievetestprep.com