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Problem Solving in Old Age

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Encyclopedia of Geropsychology

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Keywords

Coping; Decision-making; Everyday problem solving; Problem solving; Collaborative cognition

Problem solving involves the recognition that there is a discrepancy between one’s current state and a desired end state as well as the strategies aimed at reducing this discrepancy (Marsiske and Margrett 2006).

At a very general level, problem solving represents the process by which an individual appraises and approaches problem (Marsiske and Margrett 2006). Problem solving thus involves various subcomponents including identifying specific characteristics of the problem at hand, making concrete plans, deciding on appropriate strategies, and engaging in behaviors that are aimed at reducing the discrepancy between current status and desired outcome (Marsiske and Margrett 2006). Hence, problem solving is a complex process that unfolds over time and that may have meaningful real-world implications.

There is a very large spectrum of problems that have been addressed in the adult...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Christiane A. Hoppmann & Pavel Kozik

Authors
  1. Christiane A. Hoppmann
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  2. Pavel Kozik
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Correspondence to Christiane A. Hoppmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

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Hoppmann, C.A., Kozik, P. (2016). Problem Solving in Old Age. In: Pachana, N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_206-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_206-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-080-3

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Problem Solving in Old Age
    Published:
    07 November 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_206-2

  2. Original

    Problem Solving
    Published:
    16 February 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_206-1

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