What term describes the accumulated knowledge and verbal skills that tend to increase with age?

The term that describes the accumulated knowledge and verbal skills that tend to increase with age is crystallized intelligence. This concept encompasses the ability to utilize learned information, vocabulary, and experience in various cognitive tasks, demonstrating that intelligence is not solely dependent on raw processing speed or problem-solving skills, which are more closely associated with fluid intelligence. As individuals age, they typically accumulate more knowledge and experience, enhancing their performance on tasks that require familiarity with concepts, language, and cultural norms.

In contrast, fluid intelligence refers to the ability to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge, and often peaks in early adulthood before gradually declining. Dementia is a cognitive decline resulting from various brain disorders, significantly impacting memory and other cognitive abilities, rather than describing a normal increase in knowledge. Egocentrism is a term primarily associated with developmental psychology, particularly regarding a child’s inability to understand perspectives other than their own, and does not pertain to accumulated knowledge in adulthood.