Reference no: EM132848599

Developmental theorists have come to differing conclusions when exploring whether intelligence declines gradually in adulthood (Feldman, 2014). Nonetheless, Feldman (2014) continued, "despite the gradual declines in particular cognitive abilities during middle adulthood, it is during this part of the life span that people come to hold some of the most important and powerful positions in society" (p. 500). Taking into account the lecture (and research) that addresses cross-sectional studies, longitudinal studies, continual competencies, selective optimization, expertise, and various kinds of intelligences and cognitive abilities (Feldman, 2014, pp. 498-503), consider and answer these questions/prompts:

Question 1: Do you think that intelligence gradually declines during adulthood? Why do you think this is so?

Question 2: How do you define success? Why do you define success in this way?

Question 3: Who do you deem to be successful in their middle age?

Question 4: Why do you consider this person successful?

Question 5: What personal characteristics do you think has made this person successful?

Question 6: Do you consider this successful person an expert at something in particular? If so, what?

Question 7: What personal characteristics do you think makes this person an expert?

Question 8: Does this successful person display any of the intelligences described in this chapter? Which ones? Describe how these intelligences are displayed by this person.

Question 9: Does this successful person's characteristics fall within one or more of the categories that Salthouse (1990) described as the four reasons for the discrepancy in gradual decline during adulthood? Which one(s) and how so?