AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -“The research found that, contrary to common belief, old age does not mean a decline in happiness-older people are just as happy as younger people. Whilst many young people associate old age with doom and gloom, this is not the case.

Detailed explanation-2: -Contrary to the common belief that the age-happiness relationship is mountain shape (the middle aged being happier than children and the aged), it is really largely U shape, with the middle aged (at around mid 30’s or 40’s) least happy. The increase from around 60 to 70’s is particularly clear.

Detailed explanation-3: -The reality, as revealed by a new study, run jointly by National Geographic and the AARP, is that older people are a lot happier than most people think – including what their younger selves might have predicted.

Detailed explanation-4: -Older adults report higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of negative emotions than do young adults. Moreover, older adults have a higher feeling of well being than do younger adults. [This only holds true up to a point, with the very elderly experiencing declines in emotional and physical well-being].

Detailed explanation-5: -Aging is a gradual, continuous process of natural change that begins in early adulthood. During early middle age, many bodily functions begin to gradually decline. People do not become old or elderly at any specific age. Traditionally, age 65 has been designated as the beginning of old age.