Final answer:
The answer to the schoolwork question is B) Skill Retention, indicating that skills used throughout life are generally maintained longer. Skill retention is supported by the stability of crystallized intelligence as we age and can be bolstered through continuous mental and physical activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question 'Skills a person has used over a lifetime are usually kept longer' is B) Skill Retention. This concept pertains to the fact that our crystallized intelligence, which includes knowledge, skills, and strategies we have acquired over a lifetime, tends to remain stable or even improve with age. This type of intelligence contrasts with fluid intelligence, which involves information processing, reasoning, and memory, and tends to decline in late adulthood. However, engaging in mentally and physically stimulating activities is shown to delay cognitive decline and the onset of conditions like mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
For adults to maintain their skills and continue their self-development, it is important to pursue activities such as continuing education courses, maintaining job-specific skills, and refining transferable skills. These habits not only help delay cognitive decline but also are advantageous in the job market, as they contribute to occupational success and personal growth.
Furthermore, activities such as attending conferences, joining associations, and participating in webinars are crucial for staying current with developments that impact one's job and sector. Such continuous learning opportunities align with the continuous development view which suggests that development is a gradual process of improving existing skills. Finally, cognitive learning remains essential for acquiring and manipulating information in the mind.