DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Chapter 15 Perspectives on Adulthood Chapter 16 Physical Development

Adulthood: When Does It Begin?  Are you adults?  How do you know?  At what age does adolescence end and adulthood begin?  What age is old?  Am I old?  What defines old?

Changing Perceptions  Our ideas about age appropriate behaviors for adults needs to change  Physically active  Mentally fit  Sexual Active  These changes in adult norms are changing the way psychologists and society view adulthood and old age.

Defining Adulthood  Early Adulthood  20’s and 30’s  Middle Adulthood  ___________  ____________  60’s and 70’s

How Do We Define This Term  Socially  The definition comes from the perception of others  Physically  The point at which we reach our adult height and strength  Emotionally  ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________  Legally  18 years old to vote, smoke, go to jail  16 years old to drive  21 years old to drink

Developmental Tasks  20’s and 30’s Early Adulthood  Achieving autonomy  Molding identity  Developing emotional stability  Establish and solidify a career  Finding Intimacy  Establishing participation in social groups  ________________________  Becoming a parent and rearing children

Developmental Tasks  40’s and 50’s Middle Adulthood  Adjusting to physical changes  Finding satisfaction and success in their career  Assuming social and civic responsibilities  ___________________  Revitalize marriage  Assuming care of aging parents  Developing new social networks and leisure activities  Finding new meaning in life

Developmental Tasks  60’s and over Late Adulthood  Staying physically healthy and adjusting to limitations  Maintain adequate income and means of support  Adjusting to redefined work roles  __________________________  Maintaining identity and social status  Finding companionship and friendship  Establishing new family roles  Achieving integrity through acceptance of one’s life

Causes of Change and Transition  __________________  This model describes human development in terms of a sequence of age related biological, social, and emotional changes. Based on age related norms and events Puberty Menopause Some of these norms are socially defined Social clock When to marry When to retire etc

Causes of Change and Transition  ___________________  Says that development is not a result of a set plan or a schedule of crisis but it is a result of the time in people’s lives when important events take place. Idiosyncratic influences Unemployment Divorce Health emergencies Death These greatly influence change and transitions in life more so than normative influences

Physical Changes in Adulthood  Physical Development peaks in the mid 20’s  Studies of athletes identify athletic performance peaking in the ________ Have you noticed declines in your physical health and athletic performance? Are there double standards for men and women about aging, youthfulness and attractiveness?

Chronological Age vs Functional Age  Reaction Time  Remains constant through mid 20’s  Declines are evident after 20’s Estimates suggest a 17% increase from age 20 to 40 Note that athletes usually peak in their late twenties and see a decline in functioning in their 30’s and 40’s…..and so on.  Motor Ability, Coordination, and Dexterity  Most declines occur after the 30’s  Strength  Remains constant through the 30’s  Atrophy has been noted during late 30’s and greater declines are noted in the 50’s  Endurance  _____________________________________

Maintaining Fitness and Health  Some studies suggest _______of aging decline is preventable through regular exercise.  Fewer heart attacks  Reduction in diabetes rates  Improvements in mental functioning  Do you exercise?  How has it impacted your health?

Nutrition  Video “60 Minutes” Video  Diet  Metabolism  Increasing nutritional needs/ Deficiency  Obesity  Cholesterol  __________  ______________

Bodily Systems  Nervous System  Decline in gray matter  Greater declines later in adult life Slowed movements Declining senses  Cardiovascular System  ____________________ Hardening of arteries Systolic Blood Pressure- leaving the heart Diastolic Blood Pressure- returning to the heart  Angina  Myocardial Infarction

Heart Disease  In 2005, 652,091 people died of heart disease (50.5% of them women). This was 27.1% of all U.S. deaths. The age-adjusted death rate was 222 per 100,000 population. 1  Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives, blacks, Hispanics, and whites. For Asians and Pacific Islanders, cancer is the leading cause of death (accounting for 27.5% of all deaths), heart disease is a close second (25.0%). 2  Heart disease crude death rates per 100,000 population for the five largest U.S. racial/ethnic groups are as follows: Hispanics, 69.2; Asians and Pacific Islanders, 73; American Indians, 82.5; blacks, 189.8; and whites,  In 2005, the age-adjusted death rates for diseases of the heart was deaths per 100,000 for all Americans. The age-adjusted death rate for whites was 207.8, and for African Americans. Age adjusted rates are used to compare populations with differing age distributions. 2  By state, age-adjusted death rates per 100,000 for diseases of the heart ranged from (Minnesota) to (Mississippi) in

Homosexuality  Video 1 Video 1

Other Areas to Explore  Other physical declines  Gastrointestinal  Urinary  Skeletal/ Dental  Reproductive Health Menopause Sexual Dysfunction  Senses  Theories on Biological Aging