A Review of Aging and Cognitive Processes

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Abstract
An overview of the literature of aging and cognitive processes is presented, with emphasis on the areas of psychometric measurement of intelligence, qualitative interpretations of adult thinking, and the speed and timing of behavior. It is argued that the study of psychometric intelligence has gone through four distinct phases, reflecting an expanding data base and an evolving theoretical orientation and methodology. Contemporary research on aging and intelligence continues to be undertaken from at least three of the four perspectives. Qualitative and quantitative approaches to cognition have both provided evidence for increased integration in the thinking of older people, although the two approaches have different conceptualizations of integration. There is extensive evidence to support the contention that the speed of behavior slows with age, and the slowing affects efficiency of behavior rather than simply causing the response to occur more slowly. Cognition in aging includes great diversity, ranging from senility to wisdom.