Model Reaction Paper: Examining Baltes's Life-Span Theory in Detail

This reaction paper delves into Baltes's Life-Span Theory, exploring its core components: evolution selection, the need for culture, and the efficacy of culture. It provides a personal reflection on how the theory applies to the author's life, particularly in the context of aging, health, and cognitive skills. The author discusses the model of selective optimization with compensation, highlighting how choices and cultural resources are utilized to adapt to age-related changes. Modifications to the theory are suggested, emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle, ethical decision-making, regular exercise, and continuous education for improving one's lifespan. The essay concludes by underscoring the significance of accepting the aging process and leveraging cultural resources for a better quality of life. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study tools for students.

Running head: Model Reaction Paper 1
Model Reaction Paper
Baltes's Life-Span Theory
Mark Love
Western Kentucky University

MODEL REACTION PAPER 2
Baltes, Reese, & Lipsitt (1980) as well as Baltes, Staudinger, & Lindenberger (1998) developed
a theory called the Baltes Lifespan theory, which perceives development as change related on
age, in the capacity to adapt and an individual's ability to make changes based on positivity in
reaction to diversity. The theory gets outlined by three components which are; the efficacy of
culture, need for culture as well as evolution selection.
Firstly, the group of scholars defines evolution selection as the primary benefit of the human
genome that is directly proportional to the decrease in age. Evolution selection is reproductive
fitness where all the genes virtually laid out by natural selection appear early during the
reproductive years.
Secondly, the component of a need for culture described in that it increases as one gets old. In
chapter two of the book “The journey of adulthood” scholars describe them as cultural resources
which include cognitive skills, socialization strategies, physical structures, motivational
dispositions, written documents, economic systems, as well as medical and physical approach
(Bee & Bjorklund, 1996).These cultural components involve the key ingredients that get used as
aging occurs with the increase in age.
Thirdly, the efficacy of culture is the component or stage where cultural resources are in
continuation of usage, but they need a wise usage. Efficacy decreases as age increases. An
excellent example for this component is an ageing singer who still performs at the age of 60
years. In his performance, he will play fewer concerts as well as limit the time used in
performing each show to ensure that he performs best and as per the desired level by the
audience.

MODEL REACTION PAPER 3
The scholars offer a lifespan developmental theory that gets based on an architect model called
selective optimization with compensation (M.M. Baltes & Carstensen, 1996). The same gets
described by B. Baltes (1997) and scholars P.B. Baltes & M.M. Baltes (1990). According to
them, the selection includes making choices on specific goals that are suitable for an individual
and the institution.
The theory fits my life in a couple of ways. In the early days of my life, an evolutionary benefit
was the ability to eat healthy and unhealthy foods as well as maintaining healthy body weight.
The advantage of active metabolism directly decreased with the increase in age. It reached a
stage where I made use of cultural resources to combat my weight. Choosing healthy foods and
keeping an active lifestyle compensated for the reduced metabolic rate.
As my age increased, I could not maintain the expected discipline always to eat a healthy diet
and stay active while having a regular exercise routine. I found it the best time to evaluate my
cultural resource options. The assessment included partnering with an individual who had similar
challenges. It acted as a support system to keep track. With an increase in age, recovery
frameworks took longer, and physical ailments such as arthritis became part of my life.
Evaluating my cultural resources now requires me to take anti-inflammatory drugs. I even
associated the decline in health with an injury that occurred to my body at the age of twenties
during weight lifting. Healthy foods consumptions and exercise could not prevent me from the
middle age weights. Even with a reduction in the use of foods considered unhealthy choices
wasn't a solution.

MODEL REACTION PAPER 4
Cognitive skills are the area described to be of no good fit. I believe now the mental abilities
have continued to improve with the increase in age even without the need of cultural resources.
In my thinking, it is a result of my ambition to learn new things at a time when my age mates are
winding up their careers and looking towards their retirement. It also included the inability to
control the normal aging process. However, focusing on the efficacy of culture at my age can
provide an excellent and quality of life.
Optimization involves the acquisition, refinement a well as maintenance of sufficient resources.
Compensation is the functional response to a loss of some resources necessary in attaining the
aimed and selected goals. The acceptance of this theory is and avoiding denial is a key to being
successful. For them fit I my life, some modifications need action. Bearing in mind that genetics
has a role to play in my lifespan, methods exist to improve it. They add a subsection on under the
primary components labeled living as living a healthy lifestyle. Ethical decision making and
healthy diets have allowed me to rely less on supplements and prescription medication. Theo
other modification to the component is regular exercising. Exercises help in stress reduction, and
it produces endorphins which are hormones secreted in the body that trigger a positive feeling.
Continuing education is an addendum I have added to each component that would fit into my
life. I have sought to have the desire to learn new things throughout my life. Even if not in a
school setting, learning new skills keep my mind active.

MODEL REACTION PAPER 5
References List
Baltes, P. B. (1997). On the incomplete architecture of human ontogeny: Selection, optimization,
and compensation as foundation of developmental theory. American psychologist, 52(4),
366. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0031530
Baltes, P. B., Lindenberger, U., & Staudinger, U. M. (1998). Life-span theory in developmental
psychology. In Handbook of child psychology (pp. 1029-1143).Wiley. DOI:
10.1207/s15427617rhd0103_1
Bee, H. L., & Bjorklund, B. R. (1996). The journey of adulthood.