Adulthood & Old Age (Ch 5)

Physical Changes 20’s = maximum efficiency Late 30’s & 40’s = reduction in activity & ability (decrease in strength, lung cap., eyesight) 50’s & 60’s = further decreases & gradual bone loss 70’s + = further decrease in strength, bone density, heart and lung output

Menopause in women 45-50 Marriage: why some divorce… No physiological reason for reduced sexual activity with advanced age Leading causes of death: Heart disease, cancer, & cirrhosis of the liver

Cognitive abilities Average mental peak in the 40’s Those involved in the humanities avg peak was in the 60’s IQ tests penalized for lack of speed Knowledge & vocabulary continue to grow

Social & Personality Development

Daniel Levinson… Identified important transition areas for men 1 - Entering the Adult World Novice adult, conflict of past & present 2 – Age-Thirty Crisis (28-30) Reexamining life choices, change needed

3 – Settling Down (36-40) “becoming one’s own man” (BOOM) 4 – Midlife Transition (40-45) Questions past and future Erikson’s generativity v stagnation 5 – Middle Adulthood (late 40’s) Satisfactory solutions to crises creates stability or stagnation & unhappiness

Female Development Mostly focused on mid-life “Empty Nest” syndrome Unhappiness New sense of freedom, interests, & activities Midlife Depression Sense of loss, personal worthlessness Can be triggered by Menopause

Old Age

Attitudes towards aging… Ageism: prejudice towards the old Misconceptions Inflexible, senile, … Most based on decremental model of aging Progressive physical and mental decline is inevitable Chronological age = “old”

Health Physical & mental abilities decline approx. 1% per year Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis Causes of death: heart disease, cancer, strokes Lower $$ - don’t take care of themselves or seek care Stereotypes lead to misdiagnoses

Life changes… Retirement, widowers, loss of friends Continue to learn & develop skills Sexual activity dependent upon past, not age Poor health, death of spouse, past behavior

Adjusting to old age… Self image associated with control & independence (negative) Assertive personalities trend more positive AARP (Amer. Assoc of Retired Persons) Lobbyist for elderly Rights, current issues, and community benefits

Mental Functioning John Horn’s 2 types of intelligence Crystallized intelligence Ability to use accumulated knowledge & learning in appropriate situations Fluid intelligence Ability to solve abstract relational problems & generate new hypotheses

Senile Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease Characterized by memory loss, forgetfulness, disorientation of time and place, impaired attention, altered personality, decline in ability to think Alzheimer’s Disease Form of senile dementia, 4th leading cause of death Poor judgment, irritability, social withdrawal

Dying & Death

Thanatology study of death and dying Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ 5 stages of dying Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

Hospice care Location where terminally ill people go to die Drugs used to ease pain and discomfort Also done through homecare for elderly and terminally ill