УНИВЕРСАЛЬНЫЕ И СПЕЦИФИЧЕСКИЕ ЧЕРТЫ ВЕРБАЛЬНОГО ПОВЕДЕНИЯ РЕСПОНДЕНТОВ ПОЗДНЕЙ ЗРЕЛОСТИ (НА МАТЕРИАЛЕ СТИМУЛА «ИГРИВОСТЬ»)

The article is focused on the results of psycho-linguistic test which aim was to reveal common and specific features in the verbal behavior of old age respondents while studying the stimuli “playfulness” as relevant lexeme in the linguistic consciousness of the residents of Ukraine speaking Russian fluently.  Common features in the verbal behaviour of the respondents reflected in the lexemes  “cheerfulness”,  “kitten”, “coquetry”, “children”, “joy”, “joke”. Specific features in the verbal behaviour of the respondents reflected in the lexemes “flirting”, “sex”, “woman”, “activity”. They are easily explained by the psychophysiological peculiarities of this age, i.e. decreased sexual 
activity and further desexualization. The analysis of single reactions has provided the basis for the description of a new psycholinguistic meaning playfulness – “adaptation”.