Reflects the most important theoretical foundations and research directions concerning aging and older adulthood

This authoritative volume provides the latest insights into, and theoretical interpretation of, our understanding of the human aging process. Newly updated and revised, this edition of the well-established student textbook offers relatable scenarios that touch upon real-world issues faced by older adults and their families. The book explains how research studies attempt to answer questions of both theoretical and practical importance as they relate to aging and older adulthood, and it explains the hypotheses and findings of the studies in a manner that is comprehensible to readers of all levels of research experience.

Aging and Older Adulthood begins by describing the demographic characteristics of the older population, and follows with a chapter on theoretical models that apply to the study of adult development and aging, as well as approaches commonly taken to conduct research and ethical concerns involved in the study of this group. It then offers a series of chapters exploring biological aging, sensation perception and attention, memory, intellectual functioning, cognition and real-world problem-solving, personality and coping, social interaction and social ties, lifestyles and retirement, mental health and psychotherapy, and death and bereavement. The final chapter looks at aging in the future. Each chapter includes fully updated research findings, as well as new and expanded coverage of concepts and ideas in areas such as neuroscience, and diabetes.

• New edition of a highly respected text exploring our contemporary understanding of a broad range of topics related to older adulthood and the psychology of aging
• Offers thematic treatment of core issues including health, sensory perception, memory, intellect, social interactions, employment and retirement, and mental health
• Uses a dual lens of two models – the selective optimization with compensation model and the ecological model – to provide cohesiveness to the presentation of both theoretical and applied material
• Introduces each chapter with a relevant real-world scenario and refers back to it throughout the chapter
• Includes pedagogical feature boxes that reflect current understanding of contemporary issues in the field as well as key points and issues for further discussion

Aging and Older Adulthood, 4^th Edition is an excellent text for upper division undergraduate and graduate courses focusing on the older adulthood and aging, the psychology of aging, gerontological studies, and lifespan development.

JOAN T. ERBER, PHD, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Florida International University, where she was a recipient of a State University System Professorial Excellence Program award. Her research on aging and memory and how stereotypes influence our perceptions of older adults has been published in journals such as Psychology and Aging, Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, and Experimental Aging Research. In addition to Aging and Older Adulthood, she co-authored Great Myths of Aging (Wiley-Blackwell). Professor Erber is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the Association for Psychological Science (APS), and the American Psychological Association (APA). She is past President of APA Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging).

Preface and Acknowledgments xxi

1 Introduction to Aging and Older Adulthood 1

2 Theory and Method in Studying Aging and Older Adulthood 35

3 Biological Aging and Health 65

4 Sensation, Perception, and Attention 108

5 Memory 144

6 Intellectual Functioning 180

7 Cognition and Problem Solving in the Everyday World 217

8 Personality and Coping 257

9 Social Interaction and Social Ties 292

10 Employment, Retirement, and Living Arrangements 330

11 Mental Health, Psychopathology, and Therapy 368

12 Coping with Death, Dying, and Bereavement 405

13 Looking Ahead: Aging in the Future 429

Glossary 441

References 458

Index 498