developmental psychology

Student Name

Developmental Psych

Assignment #2

Date Due

***NOTE: This example is from a similar, but different assignment. It is meant as an example of what I

am basically expecting of you. Make sure you are addressing the questions in your prompt, instead of

merely copying from this particular sample. If you have questions, please ask!***

Item #1 – Mental Stimulation (use it or lose it)

1) People in late adulthood should make sure to stay mentally stimulated.

2) Although always beneficial, it is particularly important for those in late adulthood (65+) to

continue to be mentally stimulated.

3) Elders who do not continue to stimulate their minds show a loss of cognitive skills as they

progress through Late Adulthood (Santrock – p.352). Although we should expect some degree

of loss as a normal part of aging, not staying mentally active can accelerate that loss, having an

adverse effect on our overall functionality. Research shows that not staying mentally stimulated

leads to atrophy of our neural connections, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (Santrock –

p.353). So one huge advantage is that our cognitive skills will show much less of a decline.

Another huge advantage is that those who stay mentally active actually live longer. Multiple

studies have shown that those who engage in activities like reading, writing, puzzles and other

similar behaviors live significantly longer than those who do not (Santrock – p.352).

4) This can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. One of the great things about this particular

item, is that there is not just one, specific way of achieving this. The key is to keep your mind

active, to “use it or lose it.” So, the key is to *use* your mind! The textbook specifically

mentions eight activities: reading, writing, crossword puzzles, card/board games, group

discussions, playing music, and attending lectures or concerts (Santrock – p.352). The internet

in particular has made it easy to engage in almost all of these activities. There are plenty of free

games available on the internet, there are free online courses for a variety of topics, lots of

discussion boards for conversation, etc. The key of course, is actually *doing* something, which

boils down to personal motivation. On the bright side, for pretty much anything you have an

interest in, there is a book you can read about it, someone to talk to about it, something you can

learn… all of which keep your mind stimulated.

5) Doing this assignment reminded me of my Grandma, who lived to be 97 and had a sharp mind

the entire time. She would read the newspaper every morning, cover to cover, and would

always make sure to do her favorite puzzles on the puzzle page. Her favorite was the “can you

spot the difference” puzzle, where they would show two pictures and there were subtle

differences between the two. She would always try the crossword puzzle (even if she didn’t

finish it) and also enjoyed the word search. She was always up for a game of scrabble, and

between her kids and grandkids and friends, not a day would go by that she wasn’t visiting and

talking to someone. I always admired that even in her late 90s she had a sharp wit, and until I

took this class it never really occurred to me that it wasn’t just good luck, it was also her

behavior that helped keep her that way. I certainly plan on doing the same as I get older!

Item #2 – Volunteering

1) Elders should make an effort to volunteer.

2) People in adolescence (11 – 20) through late adulthood (65+) can benefit from volunteering.

3) One benefit of the elderly volunteering is that it helps our communities and everyone living in

our communities. Having people volunteer at places like shelters, schools, and libraries helps

those places function and stay open for everyone else. But volunteering is also beneficial for

those who are actually doing the volunteering, especially for older adults (Santrock – p.369).

There are a wide variety of benefits for elderly who volunteer, including being less frail,

increased feelings of well-being, better physical health and were even less likely to die!

(Santrock – p.369-370).

4) To implement this, elders should find a location to volunteer at and start volunteering. The

internet has a variety of listings, churches often organize volunteer work, and most communities

will have a local newsletter or paper that can list potential volunteering locations. One of the

great things about volunteering is that there are so many options available, if you love animals

you can volunteer at an animal shelter, if you love books you can volunteer at a library, etc. This

is probably one of the reasons that volunteering can be so beneficial, it’s not just keeping you

active, it’s letting you engage in something you actually enjoy!

5) I used to volunteer at an animal shelter, and I absolutely loved it. However, with school and

work I feel like I just don’t have the time to volunteer right now. But based on my positive

experiences, and everything we’ve discussed in class, I fully intend to when I do have time and

especially when I’m in late adulthood.

Item #3 – Exercise

1) Older adults should exercise regularly.

2) Exercise is beneficial across the entire life-span.

3) There are many benefits to exercise, particularly in late adulthood (65+). First and foremost,

exercise helps people to be physically fit, and a recent study showed that those who are less fit

are more than twice as likely to die than those who are considered even moderately fit

(Santrock – p.346). People who exercise are less likely to die, and live significantly longer lives

than those who do not. Exercise can help minimize many of the losses we experience in late

adulthood, including strength, flexibility, injury, lung capacity, cardiovascular health and bone

strength (Santrock – p. 345-346). Additionally, exercise is not just physically beneficial but

cognitively. Research shows elders who exercise regularly have superior information processing

skills than those who do not (Santrock – p.346). We also know that exercise benefits our mental

health as well, and those who exercise experience less anxiety and depression (Santrock –

p.275).

4) To implement this, older adults need to start exercising. This is likely easier said than done

however, because while elders might have more free time in which to exercise, their bodies are

frailer than when they were younger. This means certain activities and exercises may not be

available to older adults, especially if they have not been regularly exercising. However, elders

can sign up for classes like yoga, water aerobics and weight training at a local gym or community

center. Many hobbies or leisure activities also include physical exercise, such as gardening or

sports (like golf or bowling) and of course there is perhaps the easiest exercise of all: walking.

This can include walking around your neighborhood, at a local track, or many shopping malls

open their doors early for elders to walk out of the sun/rain/weather.

5) My Grandma grew up working on a farm, and loved to garden. She worked in her own yard,

doing her own yard work and gardening all the way into her 90’s, getting a lot of exercise while

doing so. This absolutely helped her stay fit and to live a long and fulfilling life, plus she got to

eat fresh fruit and vegetables! This showed me that even if you don’t have a gym membership,

and even if you don’t engage in exercise where you have to count your reps/sets, you can still

stay physically active and enjoy the same benefits.

REFERENCES

Santrock, J.W. (2011). Essentials of Life-Span Development (2nd Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill.