Psychology 203 Human Development Physical and Cognitive Development In Middle Adulthood Chapter 15 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Middle Age A Cultural Construct Middle adulthood was least studied part of life span “Middle age” came into use 1900 because of lengthening of life expectancy Only present in industrial societies No consensus on specific biological or social events that mark beginning or end 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Part taken from Human Development 9e Middle Age Text book defines middle age in chronological terms (40-65 years) Meaning of middle age varies with Health Gender Ethnicity Socioeconomic status Cohort (group or followers) Culture 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Middle Age Physical Development “Use it or Lose it!” – research suggest that this is true The more middle age people do, the more they can do Physical changes are direct results of Biological aging Genetic makeup Behavioral factors Lifestyle factors 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sensory and Psychomotor Functioning Young adulthood – middle years Sensory and motor changes are small and gradual Age-related visual problems in five areas Near vision (reading moving sings) Sensitivity to light Visual search (locating a sign) Speed of processing visual information 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sensory and Psychomotor Functioning Lens of eye becomes progressively less flexible Ability to shift focus diminishes 40 and older need reading glasses (presby means “with age”) Bifocals and Trifocals glasses Hearing loss speeds up at age 50 and beyond 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sensory and Psychomotor Functioning Sensitivity decline in midlife Sensitivity to taste Sensitivity to smell Women tend to retain senses longer than men Lose sensitivity to touch after 45 Strength and coordination decline Loss of muscle fiber replaced by fat Some muscle strength by age 45 10-15% strength may be gone by 60 First weakening in back and leg muscles, then arm and shoulder (in age 60’s) Manual dexterity generally becomes less efficient after 30’s 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Structural and Systemic Changes Changes in appearance 50-60’s skin becomes less taut and smooth Hair becomes thinner do to slowed replacement rate (collagen molecules become rigid and elastin fibers more brittle Hair becomes greyer because of melanin decline Perspire less because number of sweat glands decreases Bone density decreases becoming more thin and brittle (women twice as rapidly then men) 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Structural and Systemic Changes Heart begins to pump more slowly and irregularly in mid 50’s By 65, may loose up to 40% of aerobic power Vital capacity (lung volume of air) diminish at age 40 (40% decline by age 70) 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sexuality and Reproductive Functioning Female Male Hormonal change Drop in estrogen and progesterone Drop in testosterone Symptoms Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinary dysfunction undetermined Sexual changes Less intense arousal, less frequent and quicker orgasms Loss of psychological arousal, less frequent erections, slower orgasms, longer recovery, increased risk of erectile dysfunctions Reproductive capacity Ends Continues; some decrease in fertility may occur 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sexuality and Reproductive Functioning Menopause Physical Vaginal Dryness Burning Itching Infections Urinary Dysfunction (tissue shrinkage) Hot flashes 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sexuality and Reproductive Functioning Psychological Irritability Nervousness Anxiety Depression Memory loss Not insanity 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sexuality and Reproductive Functioning Changes in Male Sexuality Physical Sudden drop in hormone production Weakness Lower sexual drive Erectile failure Memory loss Fatigue Reduced muscle and bone mass Reduced body hair Climacteric Depression Anxiety Irritability Insomnia No strong relationship between testosterone levels and sexual desire or performance 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sexuality and Reproductive Functioning Sexual Activity Diminish only slightly and gradually during 40 and 50’s Many find sexual relationship better Know their own sexual needs and desires better Sexual dysfunction is persistent disturbance in sexual desire or sexual response Lack of interest Painful intercourse Difficulty in arousal Premature orgasm or ejaculation Inability to reach climax Anxiety about sexual performace 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Physical Development Sexuality and Reproductive Functioning Appearance and Attractiveness 1.6 million had injections of Botox Wrinkles and graying hair imply “Over the hill” for woman “In the prime of life” for men Self-esteem suffers when people devalue their physical being 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Health Concerns Hypertension (chronically high blood pressure) Most common chronic condition 45-64 men Second most common (after arthritis) in women Leads to Heart attack Stroke Cognitive impairment 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Health Concerns Lifestyle diseases (table 15-2) Coronary heart disease Stroke Diabetes Breast cancer Long cancer Prostate cancer Colorectal cancer Melanoma (skin cancer) Osteoporosis Osteoarthritis 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Health Concerns Socioeconomic Status Lower socioeconomic status lower life expectancy Chronic disease Lower well-being Restricted access to health care 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Health Concerns Race/Ethnicity Hypertension 33% African American adults 25% white Americans 20% death African American 10% death white Americans Diabetes 10% African American Blindness Kidney failure Amputation of limbs Largest single underlying factor of African American’s health problem is POVERTY 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Health Concerns Women’s Health After Menopause Heart Disease – every ten years after menopause risk of heart disease X3 Bone Loss Estrogen helps blood absorb calcium from food Breast Cancer One in eight American women 95% survive for at least 5 years 50% can expect at least 15 years Hysterectomy 33% by age 60 May be overused Hormone Replacement Therapy 38% of postmenopausal American women Risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots Replace with Losing weight Stop smoking Lower cholesterol 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Health Concerns Osteoporosis seems to have a genetic basis * Recommended way to reduce the risk of osteoporosis is to eat foods high in calcium 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Emotional States, Personality and Stress Negative moods Suppress immune functioning Increasing susceptibility to illness Positive moods Increase immune functioning Decrease susceptibility to illness The more stressful the changes the greater the likelihood of illness within one to two years * Stressful events are less likely to lead to illness when the stressful event can be controlled by the person experiencing it 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Emotional States, Personality and Stress 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Emotional States, Personality and Stress * Whether or not an event causes stress may depend on  the reaction it produces Stress harms health indirectly Sleep less Smoke and drink more Eat poorly Pay little attention to their health More realistic in coping with stress Learned more effective strategies Accept what cannot be changed 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Emotional States, Personality and Stress Men who use adaptive defenses for 20-47 years see themselves having good physical health at 65 Stress management workshops Relaxation techniques Meditation Biofeedback 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Emotional States, Personality and Stress Job related stress High job satisfaction and control reduce stress casualties Social support helps coping with stress and a lack of social support correlates with heart disease Employees with high levels of skills and abilities are more resistant to stress Type A / Type B personalities Hardiness, self‑efficacy, and locus of control Self‑esteem, negative affectivity, type of occupation, and sex characteristics 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Emotional States, Personality and Stress Unemployment Greatest work-related stressor Headaches Stomach trouble High blood pressure Physical and metal illness Heart attack Stroke Anxiety Depression Marital and family problems 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Health Emotional States, Personality and Stress * When men who define their worth in terms of their ability to support their family lose their jobs they experience loss of identity loss of control of their lives loss of a sense of purpose decreased ability to structure their time   11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Cognitive Development Middle-aged prime of Cognitive Ability 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Cognitive Development Horn and Cattell Fluid intelligence (neurological status) Decline with age Perceiving relations Forming concepts Drawing inferences Crystallized intelligence (education and cultural experience) hold or improve with age Vocabulary General information Responses to social situations Social dilemmas 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Cognitive Development * Cognitive development in middle adulthood is usually related to acquiring specialized knowledge Cognitive ability in expertise continue and are independent of general intelligence Encapsulation “captures” fluid abilities (information processing) for expert problem solving Thinking is more flexible and adaptable 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Cognitive Development Integrative Thought Feature of postformal thought is integrative nature Integrate logic with intuition and emotion Integrate conflicting facts and ideas Integrate new information with known information Filter information through their life experiences and previous learning 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Part taken from Human Development 9e Creativity Exceptional talents are less born than made – require systematic training and practice Extraordinary creative achievements Deep highly organized knowledge of the subject Intrinsic motivation to work hard for the sake of the work Strong emotional attachment to the work Creativity develops over a lifetime in social context, not nurturing environments 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Part taken from Human Development 9e Creativity * Highly creative people characteristic self-starters strong sense of purpose and direction can juggle several ideas or projects at a time are not easily discouraged 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Creativity and Intelligence General intelligence has little relationship to creative performance Sternberg three aspects of intelligence may play a role Insightful – define a problem and see it in a new light Analytic – evaluate an idea and decide whether its worth pursuing Practical – selling an idea and getting accepted 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Part taken from Human Development 9e Creativity and Age Creative people’s last decade of a creative career typically produces only abut half as much as during the late 30’s or early 40’s Age curve varies depending on field Poets, mathematicians and theoretical physicists late 20’s early 30’s Research psychologists peak around 40 Novelist, historians and philosophers late 40’s or 50’s 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Part taken from Human Development 9e Work and Education Age-differentiated – roles based on age Traditional life structure in industrialized societies Holdover from a time when life was shorter and social institutions less diverse Age-integrated – roles open to adults of all ages 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Occupational Patterns Ginzberg two career paths Stable Stay with a single vocation Workaholics – last ditch effort to reach financial security * Mellowed – come to terms with their level of achievement Shifting Multiple occupational choices Try to achieve a better match between what they can do want and expect from work what they are getting out of it 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Work versus Retirement 80% for 40-59 years work 61% for 60-69 years work full time 36% part time 50 year olds work for financial reasons 60 year olds work for intrinsic value Enjoyment of work Remain productive Feeling valued Respected 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e

Part taken from Human Development 9e Mature Learners 45% of middle-aged people participated in continuing or adult education Training to update knowledge and skills New occupations Many adults simply enjoy learning 11/05/2005 Part taken from Human Development 9e