COGNITIVE CHANGES, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

COGNITIVE CHANGES

• Cognitive - the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses
• People are better at learning new skills and information in their mid-20s than they were in adolescence
• The ability to comprehend new material and to think flexibly improves with years of experience and age
• Although intelligence levels do not decline, speed reaction levels do decline as we age through the years
• In a study, participants were studied on their age peaks of multiple subjects. Most reached their peaks of creativity and productivity in their 40's and peaks of the humanities in their 60's.

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

• An individual's personality usually stays consistent
• In a study, adult participants showed views consistent to their early views
• People think they change dramatically as they get older, but the tests show otherwise
• For example, confident people usually stay confident throughout their life
• Personality only goes through a major change when something life-changing has occurred

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT (CONT.)

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• An individual's basic character is relatively stable over the years
• Despite stability of character, people do face many changes in their life & adjust accordingly
• Adults encounter new social tasks, just like adolescents, & they too must learn to cope/deal with problems

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (CONT.)

Activity: Discussion on Schoology
What is your personality like now? Do you think you will change as you get older or no? Have you ever gone through a situation that has impacted and changed you (for better and/or worse)?