Human Growth and Development / Unit 15 HGD 2130 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence in Late Life
The idea
In late adulthood fluid intelligence, novel reasoning, continues to decline, while crystallized intelligence, accumulated knowledge, increases or holds past sixty. The two do not trade off. In two large longitudinal studies by Tucker-Drob and colleagues, people who declined least in fluid ability gained most in crystallized ability, and those with the steepest fluid declines gained least or declined. The changes are coupled, and individual differences are large.
In practice
Two seventy-five-year-olds: one quick at puzzles and still adding words to her vocabulary, the other slower at both.
Where people slip
The misconception is that crystallized gains make up for fluid losses. The two change together rather than compensating. For the exam, know the classic pattern, fluid ability declining and crystallized ability holding or rising, and know that the two abilities are linked within individuals.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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