Psychological aspects of ageing

Abstract

This paper examines the psychological aspects of ageing. In particular, it focuses on two experimental psychology phenomena – the speed of performance and intellectual performance – in order to understand how these two aspects of functioning interrelate and change with normal ageing. This helps to provide useful insights into psychological adaptation across the lifespan, and helps to identify opportunities for constructive intervention. The focus is on: slowing down with age, the trade-offs made in speed and accuracy, ageing and intellectual performance (particularly the use of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, WAIS), intellectual skills in relation to mortality and ‘terminal decline’ and factors associated with maintaining intellectual functioning in later life. Finally, since the centenarian population has increased at a rate of approximately 7% a year throughout the economically developed world since 1960, it briefly considers the need for a new generation of longitudinal studies in order to throw considerable light on the developments occurring in extreme old age.