Middle Age Biosocial Development

Physical signs of middle age §Graying and thinning of hair, drying and wrinkling of skin. Change in body shape (more fat), loss in height, increased likelihood of being overweight §most of these changes have no significant health consequences, but this is dependent upon the individual’s attitude toward aging.

Hearing and vision §Some decline in hearing is due to environment, but most is related to sex (men are at risk), genetic tendencies and age §Men begin to show hearing loss at 30, women at 50. §Visual acuity shows great variation from one person to another across adulthood. It is influenced more by heredity factors than aging.

Hearing and Vision §Older adults are more likely to need corrective lenses for farsightedness and astigmatism §Depth perception, eye-muscle resilience, color sensitivity and adaptation to darkness also decline steadily with age §Middle aged adults seem to adjust to changes in vision without major difficulty

Hearing and Vision §Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness by age 70. It becomes increasingly common after 40.

Disease §Declines in immune system become apparent in middle age, when recovery from illness takes longer §Autoimmune Diseases: the immune system mistakes the person’s won body cells for foreign invaders and attacks them §The death rate among middle-aged adults has dropped dramatically over the past 50 years (esp. from heart disease and cancer)

Smoking §Smoking is a risk factor form many diseases, including cancer and heart disease, stroke and emphysema. §Smoking has been declining in most developing countries, it is rising in developing ones §All smoking diseases are dos and duration sensitive

Alcohol §Moderate use can decrease risk of heart disease due to an increase in HDL, which reduces cholesterol. §Alcohol abuse is responsible for 5% total mortality in U.S.

Alcohol §Heavy use is main cause of cirrhosis of liver §it puts stress on the heart and stomach and destroys brain cells §Hastens calcium loss associated with osteoporosis §risk factor for cancer

Nutrition §In middle age, it is strongly related to the onset and progress of heart disease and cancer §High-fat, low-fiber diet promotes the development of these §At least 40% of middle age adults are obese in America, a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and arthritis

Exercise §Adults who exercise have lower rates of serious illness and death that do sedentary individuals. Aerobic activity 30 minutes 3- 4 times/week recommended.

Intelligence §Is intelligence one or many things? §Consider: Spearman’s g, Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory, Robert Sternberg’s theory (analytic, creative, practical) §Is it innate and unchanging or multidirectional and plastic? §What is the relationship between intelligence and creativity?

Personality §The Big Five: extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness §Discuss/critique trait theory and the role of genes, culture, early child-rearing, and experiences and choices made in late adolescence and early adulthood, ecological niche § Discuss the possible explanations of Gender Convergence in middle adulthood