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Developmental Psychology

The document reflects on interviews conducted with two women aged 67 and 78, exploring their life experiences, cognitive changes, social aspects, emotional experiences, and perspectives on aging. It highlights the differences in their aging processes, particularly in responsibilities, cognitive health, social interactions, and emotional resilience. The reflection emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle and social engagement in promoting well-being as one ages.

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3 views

Developmental Psychology

The document reflects on interviews conducted with two women aged 67 and 78, exploring their life experiences, cognitive changes, social aspects, emotional experiences, and perspectives on aging. It highlights the differences in their aging processes, particularly in responsibilities, cognitive health, social interactions, and emotional resilience. The reflection emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle and social engagement in promoting well-being as one ages.

Uploaded by

210204
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Life Experiences

1. What are some pivotal moments in your life that you believe have influenced your values or
beliefs?

2. How have your roles and responsibilities shifted through various life stages, particularly in late
adulthood?

3. Can you share an experience from your past that taught you a valuable lesson that you still carry
with you today?

4. Have you made any significant lifestyle changes in late adulthood, and what prompted those
changes?

5. In what ways do you believe your life experiences have prepared you for the challenges of aging?

Cognitive Changes

1. What specific cognitive changes have you noticed as you’ve aged, if any?

2. How do you stay mentally engaged and stimulated in your daily life?

3. Have you adopted any techniques or tools to help manage changes in your memory or thinking
abilities?

4. Are there particular activities or hobbies that you find help maintain or improve your cognitive
functions?

5. How do you differentiate between normal age-related changes in cognition and more concerning
memory issues?

Social Aspects

1. What types of social activities do you look forward to, and how do they impact your overall well-
being?

2. In what ways have your friendships evolved as you’ve aged, and how do you maintain those
connections?

3. Have you sought out any new social groups or communities in late adulthood? What factors
influenced your decision?

4. How important is family support to you at this stage in life, and how do you nurture those
relationships?

5. Are there any social challenges you face as you age, and how do you address them?

Emotional Experiences
1. How do you process and cope with feelings of grief or loss, particularly with regard to loved
ones?

2. What activities or practices do you engage in to promote emotional well-being and resilience?

3. Can you describe a particularly challenging emotional experience in late adulthood and how you
navigated it?

4. How has your understanding of happiness or contentment shifted as you've aged?

5. What role does mindfulness or reflection play in your daily emotional health?

Perspectives on Aging

1. What do you believe are the most significant misconceptions about aging that you’d like to
address?

2. How has your perspective on aging changed throughout your life, and what influenced that
transformation?

3. What wisdom or insights have you gained from your experiences that younger generations might
find valuable?

4. How do you view the concept of growing older as a process, and what strategies do you
recommend for embracing it?

5. In your opinion, what are the keys to not just growing old, but growing older well?

The interview is conducted using the aforementioned questions. I would begin my


reflection by briefly discussing my interview. I conducted interviews with two individuals of
varying ages. One is 78 years old, and the other is 67. Even though their ages fall within the
spectrum for "old age," I noted that they each have differences.
The final stage of our life is the old age. As the lifespan development states that
development is a lifelong process. Which means that from conception to death, there is
development happening. This stage is a period of maintaining well being and life satisfaction
which I agree as I witnessed in the interview conducted by me.
The interview questions are divided into five categories which really helped me a lot in
reflecting as I classify and differentiate the changes they noticed as being in a late adulthood. In
this reflection, I would also summarize and reflect on each category and differentiate the changes
with the two individuals of varying ages.

Thus, their life experiences come first. According to the interview, both woman with
different age stated that the majority of her experiences were memorable and valuable, and they
shaped who they are now. Regarding tasks and responsibilities, the 78-year-old woman has
significantly changed her duties. Unlike when she was younger, she no longer has any roles or
obligations. The 67-year-old woman I interviewed with during our discussion did not experience
any shifts because she was still responsible for her grandchild.
The 78-year-old woman had a significant loss of memory in cognitive changes, whereas
the 67-year-old woman did not actually have a drop in memory. She is still able to recall things.
The 67-year-old woman still has acquaintances, but they are dwindling as she ages. She
values friends who are sincere with her and still finds time to hang out with them on social media
and at dinner. The 78-year-old woman finds it difficult to continue her social life and has lost
many of her acquaintances because they have all passed away or are ill. She finds it challenging
to interact with her friends since she lacks social media skills.
The 78-year-old widow is emotionally unstable; she always breaks down in tears when
she thinks of her husband and son, who died a year ago. The 67-year-old woman engages in
behaviors such as being open and communicating her feelings to her friends and family in order
to foster emotional resilience and well-being. She added that she works out frequently to support
her emotional well-being. Last year, she also lost a sister, but she was able to control her feelings.
In terms of physical changes, the 78-year-old woman's strength and mobility have
decreased. Both suffer from illnesses including weak immunity and high blood pressure.
The various ways that aging impacts people are highlighted in this reflection,
underscoring the significance of taking into account personal experiences and variances in the
aging process. As I witnessed, there are significant difference on the age range of the old age.
Based on my interview, I believe that one of the factors influencing their aging is their lifestyle. I
recall the 78-year-old saying that she never exercised or led a healthy lifestyle in her younger
years. However, I think that everyone is going to experience a reduction in their socioemotional,
cognitive, and physical health. I came to see that young individuals who lead healthy lifestyles
can make a contribution once they get older. They became more robust and better able to manage
the cognitive, physical, and socioemotional difficulties that come with aging.
Regarding the many theories of successful aging, I can state that the 67-year-old woman I
inquired about led a lifestyle that was described by the socioemotional selectivity theory, activity
theory, and selective optimization with compensation. Activity theory states that in order to age
well, a person needs to be active. The 67-year-old woman stated that she participates in Zumba
as an exercise routine to stay active and engaged with her friends and neighborhood. According
to the socioemotional selectivity theory, older adults are more likely to be selective in their social
interactions, and the SOC model places an emphasis on fewer, more significant activities to
preserve energy and involvement. As previously stated, the 67-year-old woman saves her energy
for things that are more significant to her, such as her family, friends, and herself. She added that
she only had a small number of true friends who put her emotional needs first.
Thus, I draw the conclusion that we must prioritize our health and take care of ourselves
while we are still young. By reducing the negative effects of aging and encouraging a higher
quality of life in later years, this can benefit us as we age.

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