Adulthood

Physical changes Aging=normal wear and tear of cells Present biological clock Physical peak between 18-30 Appearances change Hair loss Skin is dry and inelastic Wrinkles Shorter Senses 40’s difficulty seeing distant object Gradual or sudden loss of hearing Reaction time slows

Health problems Three most common causes of death Heart disease Cancer Corrhosis of the liver Causes of early morbidity Drug use Inadequate diet Effects of violence-society

Menopause Between ages of 45-50 Biological event in which a woman’s production of sex hormones is sharply reduced Stops ovulating, can’t conceive children Side effects exagerated

Marriage and divorce 40-60 percent of marriages end in divorce What makes marriages last How couples handle conflicts How often couples share intimate moments Happily married argue just as much but argue more constructively Unhealthy ways of conflict include ignoring, denying conflict, exaggerating issues

Cognitive changes People continue to expand vocaularies, think flexibly True if… Had higher education Live in a stimulating environment Work in an intellectually challenging environment Reach peak at 40’s science or the arts Reach peak at 60’s in history,, foreign languages

Social and personality development Individuals character is stable over time Personality is flexible Self haters, passive, confident

Levinson’s Theory of Male development Entering the adult world 22-28-not fully established as a man but no longer and adolescent Conflict between need to explore the options of adulthood and need to establish a stable life structure The Age-Thirty crisis-28-30 major transitional period Reconsider choices we made, must make changes now before its too late

Levinson continued Settling down-Made firm choices about life Carving out a niche BOOM phase- 36-40 Become fully independent The middle transition-40-45 Midlife transition begins Questions life “what have I accomplished?” Generativity-the desire, in middle age, to use ones accumulated wisdom to guide future generations. Stagnation-discontinuation of development and a desire to recapture the past

Levinson Continued Middle adulthood-late 40’s True adulthood achieved If finds satisfactory solutions to problems Balance between privacy and friends Didn’t find solutions Frsutration and unhappiness stagnation

Female Development Less conflict in midlife More personal freedom Reenter workforce, going back to college Time of opportunity Research does not support existence of midlife crisis in women

Females continued Empty nest syndrome Depression in midlife Last child leaving home Not necessarily traumatic Reorganize lives and take new interests Transition depends on marriage Depression in midlife Most common among middle aged women Sense of loss and personal worthlessness View themselves as child bears then useless

Old Age Fear of growing old…. Attitudes toward aging Decremental model of aging Idea that progressive physical and mental decline are inevitable with age Physical and mental decline is inevitable Ageism Prejudice or discrimination against the elderly Stereotypes They do nothing, poor health, live in poverty, senile

Changes in health Physical strength and senses decline 1%/year Good health carries on throughout life 40% of elderly have one chronic disease Heart disease Hypertension Diabetes Arthritis Causes of death Cancer Strokes Poor health care

Changes in Life Situations Transitions in late adulthood are negative Retirement, widowhood Depression Loss, life challenges, health Symptoms Weight changes, feelings of worthlessness, sadness, inability to concentrate, thoughts of death or suicide Causes Genetic, unhealthy lifestyle, poor nutrition, loneliness, stress

Adjusting to old age Loss of control over environment Self-image and quality of life suffers Physical and external circumstances Health, loss of a spouse

Changes in mental functioning Physical health, vision, hearing, coordination impact scores on intellectual tests Two types of intelligence Crystalized Ability o use accumulated knowledge in appropriate situations Fluid Solve abstract relational problems Fluid intelligence declines as nervous systems declines

Senile Dementia Senile Dementia Decreases in mental abilities experienced by some people in old age Alzheimers disease-most common form Condition that destroys a persons ability to think, remember, relate to others and care for themselves Neurological disease marked by deterioration of cognitive functioning. Early signs Forgetting, poor judgment, irritability, social withdrawal

Dying and death Adjusting to death Thanatology Study of dying and death 5 stages of psychological adjustment Denial Anger Bargaining Depression accept

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