An exploratory investigation of the personality correlates of aging using the Hand Test.

The Hand Test was administered to 27 older adults of both sexes (Mage = 66.56) to investigate possible changes in personality concomitant with normal aging. To control partially for such factors as cultural influences and intelligence differences a matched-pair design was used in which the test protocols of the older adults were matched with those of their children of the same sex (Mage = 36.44). Though the Hand Test has not been independently validated on older adults, results were consistent with past findings using projective techniques inasmuch as depletion and constriction of personality were noted. Criticisms of research on the clinical assessment of the elderly were discussed.

Note on preference for stimulus complexity across the life-span.

Preference for stimulus complexity across the life-span was investigated with 175 females ranging in age from 17 to 72 yr. of age. Preference for complexity appeared to be age-invariant and monotonic function. Relationships to previous findings are discussed.

Psychology of aging.

Psychology of aging is both part of life-span developmental psychology and gerontology. Courses in this area are becoming a key part of gerontological education curriculum. The development of psychology of aging courses needs to draw on a life-span perspective with its intervention orientation.

Self-evaluation, actual performance and preference across the life-span.

The relationship between self-evaluation and actual performance, and self-evaluation and preference was investigated with 175 females from seven distinct age groups (17 to 72 years). Participants were administered a complex reaction time task, after which they evaluated both their performance on, and preference for, the task using the Semantic Differential Technique. Results indicated that at all age levels individuals were inaccurate in evaluating their performance. Also, individuals' rated preference for the task was significantly related to how well they felt they performed on the task. Implications of results were discussed.

Age differences in relationships between crystallized and fluid intelligences and problem solving.

One hundred and sixty-two subjects at three age levels were tested to examine the relationship between crystallized (Gc) and fluid (Gf) abilities and three problem solving tasks varying in the abstractness concreteness of their stimuli and emphasis on past experience. It was predicted that the difference in correlations between crystallized and fluid abilities and each of these tasks would increase with increased age. The hypotheses were partially supported in the young and elderly groups of subjects. On tasks using concrete stimuli, emphasizing past experience, where no cross-sectional decline was observed, Gc (relative to Gf) accounted for an increasing proportion of variance in performance with increased age. On tasks using abstract stimuli, de-emphasizing past experience, where significant cross-sectional declines were obtained, Gf (relative to Gc) correlated more highly with performance. Contrary to previous research, relationships between Gf and Bc supported a reintegration of abilities in old age.

Career development: a life span issue.

One of the challenges for individuals pursuing a career throughout their life span is how to maintain a high level of professional competence. As the composition of the workforce changes, and new technologies are developed, workers are faced with changing job demands and pressures. A major issue for the 1990s is how long a worker's skills will remain current. With rapid technological changes, workers may find it necessary to update continually their knowledge, skills, and abilities or risk becoming obsolete. Factors such as individuals' motivation and attitudes and organizational climate can contribute to choices regarding career development. Current research on the factors that contribute to career development activities is reviewed, along with the impact of multiple career transitions throughout the life span. Interventions such as retraining and outplacement, which allow individuals in later life to continue work, change jobs, and further develop their careers, are also discussed.

Alternatives to age for assessing occupational performance capacity.

For the past four decades, the assessment of performance of older workers has commanded considerable discussion but limited systematic investigation from industrial gerontologists. Progress has not been substantial; only recently have they concerned themselves with the legal implications of various personnel assessment strategies. This report is thus a critical examination of the concept of functional age in both psychological and legal arenas. Criticisms of this approach as well as litigation that has arisen from the difficulty of measuring older worker performance via functional age strategies receive special attention. It is suggested that intrinsic attributes serve as the basis for determination of the competence of both older and younger workers.

A review of age changes in perceptual information processing ability with regard to driving.

Age related changes in the sensory modalities of hearing and vision, along with changes in the information processing abilities of selective attention, perceptual style, and perceptual-motor reaction time, were reviewed in the context of driving behavior. Literature reported, indicated age related changes in these abilities have relevance for the understanding of the driving behavior of the older adult.