Assessed adults (N=88) on tasks operationally defining short-term memory structural limitations and process abilities. Although a number of minor chronological age-related differences were noted between monaural and dichotic word list performances, the findings indicated both structural capacity and organizational strategy deficiencies over…

Examines standards used by the elderly to evaluate their abilities in terms of social comparison and temporal comparison. Proposes that temporal comparison standards are used more often, reversing a tendency found earlier in life. Reviews social, cognitive, and physical reasons for the shift. (JAC)

The Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (KMAQ) measures laypersons' knowledge of memory changes in adulthood for research or educational purposes. Half of the questions pertain to normal memory aging and the other half cover pathological memory deficits due to non-normative factors, such as adult dementia. In this study, we compared memory…

Construct validity and longitudinal stability evidence for three cluster dimensions of personality identified as Anxiety, Extraversion, and Openness is examined in a sample of adult males. Correlations with Allport-Vernon-Lindsay Value scales, Cornell Medical Index scores, Eysenck E and N scales, and factors from the SVIB are presented. (Author)

The time judgments of the older participants were significantly and systematically determined by a metronome rate. Results are consistent with the notion of increased field-dependence among older persons and suggest that their greater social conformity and their inability to ignore irrelevant stimuli might also be explicable. (Author)

Analyzed the effect of age on elderly tornado victims' (N=62) responses to stress effects. Compared to younger victims (N=240), the elderly did not suffer disproportionate material losses, but were more likely to be injured and have a death in the household. Elderly victims had a lower incidene of emotional and family problems. (Author/JAC)

Studied sex role self-concept and convergence of sex roles in later life. Young, middle-aged, and older adults rated themselves on Bem Sex Role Inventory items, describing themselves at age 20, 45, and 70. Both men and women evidenced high masculine self descriptions related to middle age. (Author/JAC)

Objectives of this study were to explore factorial dimensionality of 42 attitudinal items designed to measure attitudes concerning old people, and to compare these factor structures in two groups. Respondents were divided into a younger group (370 participants aged 30-65) and an older group (337 participants aged 70-75). (Author)

Examined the development of belief discrepancy reasoning, or how people evaluate disagreeing others, with 44 college and elderly respondents. Results showed the elderly were significantly lower in belief discrepancy reasoning and higher in dogmatism than the college sample. The elderly sample did not evidence intolerance, but rather relativism.…

Examines changes in attitudinal support for the women's liberation movement from 1972-1976. Attitudes in all age groups became more favorable, but shifts were greater among the older members of the panel. The findings provide no support for the notions that attitudes become more conservative with aging. (Author)

A suicide potential scale is constructed that fits the Guttman scale criteria. The mean suicide potential scores of various age groups support the cohort model with the exception of individuals 75 and older, where it appears that maturation factors play an important role in explaining suicidal behavior. (Author)

Surveyed 928 older Bostonians and found a negative correlation between age and alcohol consumption among older adults. Retrospective data suggest that there are cohort or generational patterns of drinking behavior by older adults. Survey provides no insight into the historical factors which account for the differences in alcohol use. (Author/JAC)

Administered six cognitive tasks to 115 men aged 50-93. Obtained two factors. The nonverbal performance factor was significantly predicted by age while the verbal factor was significantly predicted by education. The results suggest that verbal and nonverbal abilities may be determined by different antecedents. (Author)

The mythicizing of significant figures, evidenced in reminiscence among the elderly, can be interpreted as an adaptational response that is different from making sense out of one's life. Later in life the past becomes unique, and in the myth becoming the reality, one's life becomes justified. (Author)

Investigated the influence of methodological variables on the performance of older adults. Contrary to expectation, communication performances with non-peers required less time and fewer utterances than with peers. The more distracting home setting required more attention cues to maintain partner attention than the laboratory setting. (Author/JAC)