Middle Adulthood: Cognitive Development
QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD
During middle adulthood, individuals typically reach the peak of their influence and careers.
Much of our knowledge concerning the stability of intellectual performance has come about through the use of cognitive tests.
Basic tests of intelligence, coupled with the assessment of crystallized and fluid intelligence and longitudinal studies such as the Seattle Longitudinal Study, have yielded promising insights into the maintenance and decline of intelligence.
TERMS
Crystallized intelligence
Fluid intelligence
Normality
Stanford-Binet
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised
During the middle adulthood years, most men and women reach the peak of their influence in their careers, in their families, and in the community. At the same time, they may have established an intimate bond with a partner or taken steps to repair or resolve a troubled relationship. Physical changes during these years (increased risks of cardiac problems for men and breast cancer for women) lead to periods of self-evaluation, even self-doubt. Simultaneously, external pressures—career demands, family obligations, caring for aging parents—increase, causing many middle-aged adults to question their own ability.
THE INTELLIGENCE TESTING MOVEMENTIntelligence—that fascinating, yet enigmatic “something” that promised to discriminate the able from the less able—defied definition for many years. Some researchers nevertheless believed that perhaps it could be quantified. With the advent of the 20th century and the influx of immigrants to the United States, there appeared to be a need to devise some means of classifying individuals for education, for work, and ultimately for military service.
With the advent of the 20th century and the influx of immigrants to the United States, there appeared to be a need to devise some means of classifying individuals for education, for work, and ultimately for military service.Binet and Mental Tests
The story of Alfred Binet (1857-1911) and his search for the meaning and measurement of intelligence has been hailed as a major event in the history of psychology. Devising an instrument to measure intelligence meant that Binet had to begin with a preconceived notion of intelligence, which he believed consisted of three elements:
Devising an instrument to measure intelligence meant that Binet had to begin with a preconceived notion of intelligence, which he believed consisted of three elements.
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