Compared Sibling Thematic Apperception Test scores of 30 men and 30 women, divided equally between stages of child-rearing and empty nest, who had same-sex, closely-spaced sibling, to examine sibling relationships during adulthood. Results showed no differences in affiliation or conflict theme frequencies between two life stages. Separation themes…

Examined age differences in memory in 12 younger and 12 older adults who kept diaries of memory failures and use of memory aids. Results suggested that older adults experience more memory failures and are more upset, but deal with this problem by increased use of memory aids. (JAC)

Used visual search technique on three adult age groups to assess adult age differences in visual information extraction. For all age groups, search for structural targets embedded in prose was faster than for phonemic or semantic targets. With targets embedded in prose, oldest group required more time to detect targets. (AL)

Examined the internal consistency and construct validity of an expanded version of the Inventory of Psychosocial Development (E-IPD), which included the generativity and ego integrity scales creatd by Boylin et al. Total E-IPD scores from 79 adults were found to have high internal consistency, but many individual stage scales did not. (Author)

Explored the relationships between chronological age, year of measurement, cohort membership, education, and perception of horizontal peerships versus vertical different status associations in 1,428 adults in a 1957 study and a replication in 1976. Data from a thematic apperception procedure showed significant age changes in interpersonal…

Compared sex role characteristics and related personality traits in four age groups of women. In general, younger women were least like the traditional feminine sex role stereotype; they were more willing to ascribe masculine sex role characteristics to themselves. Older women adhered most strongly to conventional feminine traits. (JAC)

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…

The study was aimed at characterizing the exact algebraic structure of the love schema in order to trace possible changes in the conceptualization of love throughout the adult life cycle, notably as regards the weight attributed to the three components of love: passion, intimacy, and commitment. The methodological framework was the Functional…

Presented series of biographical passages to young and older adults to examine how semantic memory store of previously acquired knowledge affects ability to retain textual information. Older adults had difficulty in delayed, but not in immediate, recognition condition. Suggests that as older adults' episodic memory deteriorated, they could not…

Explored the roles chronological age and gender play in subjective time experience (STE). Found STE to vary widely among individuals, some being "accurate,""retarded," or "advanced." Suggests males were more retarded in STE, and chronological age plays a key role in transitions in STE. (Author/RC)

Examined role of age and education in adult moral reasoning. Interviewed 195 adults between ages of 19 and 82 using standard Kohlberg moral dilemmas. Subjects' education levels ranged from 3 to 25 years. Found no overall significant effect for age, no significant effect for gender, and significant effect for education. (Author/NB)

Examines a variety of personal qualities usually found in creative people. Discusses many theories of creativity representing a variety of intellectual traditions, most of which predict aging decrements of some sort. Suggests that the creativity decline may vary, or that creativity may change rather than decline with age, with differing stylistic…

Studied white and blue-collar men and women using a questionnaire seeking designation of the most suitable ages for various role transitions and age-related attributes. Comparisons with 1950s findings indicated loosening of the norms, but with continuing adherence to a prescriptive timetable and with persistent socioeconomic differences. Results…

Age-related change in manifest dream content was assessed in dreams recalled from REM sleep by (N=58) men aged (27-64), and in dreams recalled from sleep at home. Evidence indicated a small age-related decline in dream distortion and family-related content. (Author)

Focuses on the relationship between social environment and the older individual. By utilizing the Social Breakdown Syndrome a cycle of events is defined by the Geriatric Sexuality Breakdown Syndrome, in which an older individual is initially predisposed to diminished sexual activity to the end point of self-identification as nonsexual. (Author)