Psychology Chapter 5 Adulthood

Adulthood Early adulthood: 20-40 years of age Reassessment, “age 30 transition” Marriage and Intimate relationships in the U.S. 90% of people get married The median age is 23-27 for men, and 21-25 for women -- about 2% are interracial, 90% of married couples are the same religion

Divorce: about half of the marriages in the U.S. end in divorce- 52% Divorced people have higher rates of physical and psych. Disorders Depression, Substance abuse

Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Early Adult Transition at age 17 age 22 to age 28 a young man is considered, both by himself and by society, to be entering the adult world between 28 and 30 are often a major transitional period Age Thirty Transition, during which the tentative commitments made in the first life structure are reexamined

33-year-old man now begins concentrating on what Levinson calls “making it” in the adult world 36 and 40, near the end of the Settling Down structure, there is a distinctive feeling of “becoming one’s own man.” - fully independent age 40, the era of early adulthood comes to an end and the Midlife Transition begins - “midlife crisis.” late 40s and the Entering Middle Adulthood structure, true adulthood can be achieved

a successful “Midlife Transition” is accompanied by the man’s becoming a mentor to a younger person Generativity : Erikson means the desire to use one’s wisdom to guide future generations Stagnation : Instead of looking forward, adults may choose to hang on to the past evidence does not support a midlife crisis for women. In fact, women may be facing difficulties earlier in adulthood

Middle adulthood 40-65 years of age Transition, 40-45 people’s perspectives change in a major way “last chance” to do certain things 2nd period of reassessment – “midlife crisis”

Empty nest syndrome: feelings of loss and emptiness when children leave home Many adults report that they are happier in their marriages For some it is a time of increased freedom

Late Adulthood Age 65 marks the beginning of late adulthood Programmed Theories: our cells only divide and repair themselves so many times Cellular Damage theories: cells malfunction as a result of damage, not heredity Rate of Living theory, Free radicals theory, Cross-linking theory, Wear and tear theory

Senile Dementia: occurs after age 65 Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning Alzheimer’s Disease: progressive form of mental deterioration Affects 10% of people over 65 Nearly half of those over 85

Death and Dying Gerontology: ageing and older people Thanatology: death and dying Elizabeth Kubler-Ross: 5 stages dying people pass Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

Critics of Kubler-Ross Camille Wortman: argues that Kübler-Ross’s stages may simply identify the five most common styles of dealing with death, with no need to progress through stages Edwin Shneidman: dying is unique to the individual person

In 1900 the average life span was less than 50 years, and most people died at home In 2010 Americans live on average to be 78 and they die in nursing homes and hospitals 3 biggest fears of Terminally Ill- Loss of mastery over themselves Separation from loved ones Being replaced by another

Euthanasia: Greek for easy death Mercy killings, legal in five (5) states: California, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Washington The Funeral Traditional way to acknowledge someone has died Seen as a way to say good-bye Bereavement: mourning over someone who has been taken away Sadness, loneliness, numbness, anger, and relief

Dealing with Grief John Bowlby established a framework for understanding how people tend to deal with grief, based on attachment first stage of grief is shock and numbness yearning and searching, the grieving person tends to withdraw from others, perhaps asking questions about life and death and yearning for the loved one that was lost disorientation and disorganization that many people consider true grieving person may become depressed and the loss of their loved one becomes especially real in their minds

reorganization and resolution stage : loved one finally gets over the isolating sadness of losing their loved one The more attached someone is to a loved one who dies, the more difficulty they may have grieving the loss of that person , especially true for spouses and children !