Question

Now that Benita is in late adulthood, socioemotional selectivity theory predicts that she will

A) continue to actively make new friends.
B) spend most of her time with familiar friends.
C) become more socially withdrawn as she prepares for death.
D) emotionally invest in peripheral relationships.

Answer 1

According to socioemotional selectivity theory, Benita will focus her social interactions on familiar friends, forging closer bonds in late adulthood.

Step-by-step explanation:

Socioemotional selectivity theory predicts that as Benita enters late adulthood, she will spend most of her time with familiar friends. This theory, proposed by Carstensen in 1992, suggests that social circles may dwindle in number but the relationships that are maintained become closer. In contrast, the continuity theory posits that the elderly strive to maintain consistency in their lives, including social relationships, while exchange theory presents the idea that as the elderly become less able to exchange resources, their social circles may diminish unless they engage in resource management.

Answer 2

According to socioemotional selectivity theory, Benita is likely to spend most of her time with familiar friends in her late adulthood, as this theory highlights the importance of maintaining emotionally fulfilling relationships over seeking new friendships during this stage of life.

Step-by-step explanation:

Now that Benita is in late adulthood, socioemotional selectivity theory predicts that she will spend most of her time with familiar friends. This theory, proposed by Carstensen in 1992, suggests that as individuals age, they prune their social networks to maintain closer, more emotionally satisfying relationships, rather than seeking new friendships. This is an aspect of positive aging and is believed to result in social support and friendships that are as close, if not closer than in earlier years.

An additional relevant theory is the continuity theory, which posits that the elderly strive to maintain consistency in their lives by continuing to be active and involved, to uphold social stability. However, this might not apply to all elderly individuals, especially those affected by chronic conditions that may inhibit such activities.