1. Adulthood and Old Age
Maturing and Aging

2. Cognitive Moment
What types of changes do you expect to occur as you get older?
On your “Stages of Lifespan Development” come up with one word that describes each age range.
What stereotypes are held about older generations?

3. 21 UP
While watching this video write down behavioral changes that have occurred over this longitudinal study as related to the way they think and the way they act.
What other significant differences do you notice?

4. Objective
Discuss the physical changes that occur between adulthood and old age.

5. Physical Changes A time when opposite affects lives
Theory 1: break down of cells
Normal wear and tear
Theory 2: preset biological clocks
Physical peak at ages 18-30
Middle Age = hair turns gray, thins out, wrinkles
Old Age = shorter, more wrinkles

6. Physical Changes Health problems associated with aging, disease
Three of the most common causes of death in late adulthood (50-60)
Heart disease, cancer and cirrhosis
Menopause – decrease in sex hormones

7. Physical Changes Most difficult to deal with is the change in roles
Marriage and Divorce – handle conflicts, sharing happy moments
Sexual Behavior – no change in activity

8. 28 UP
While watching this video write down behavioral changes that have occurred over this longitudinal study as related to the way they think and the way they act.
What other significant differences do you notice?

9. Assignment: Marriage – What’s It Good For (Article)
Answer all nine questions that relate to this article.

10. Review
How do you change physically as you age?

11. Cognitive/Social/ Personality Development
Adulthood and Old Age
Cognitive/Social/
Personality
Development

12. Video
APB Video Series #18 – Maturing and Aging

13. Objective
Describe the social and emotional changes that occur during adulthood.

14. Cognitive Changes Intelligence does not change, continuing to learn
Comprehending new materials, thinking flexibly
Cognitive peaks of creativity and productivity in 40s

15. Social and Personal Development
Daniel Levinson’s Theory of Male Development
22-28: seen as a novice
28-30: commitments reexamined
BOOM Phase: fully independent
Midlife: questioning the past and the future

16. Social and Personal Development
Generativity: using wisdom to guide the future
Stagnation: lost desire to recapture the past
Middle Adulthood: stability, tolerates others
Female Development – experiences freedom, fewer demands
Empty Nest syndrome – last child leaving

17. “All the Worlds a Stage”
After reading this poem, “All the Worlds a Stage” examine the stages that are mentioned in the poem and compare them to Levinson’s theory of development as well as other theories that we have discussed in development.
Freud’s Psychosexual Development Theory, Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory, Erik Erikson’s Personality Development Theory, Lawrence Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory
Explain on the back which part of the poem goes with the respective theory and why it does.

18. Assignment
Interview an adult who is more than 50 years old. Ask this person to describe himself or herself physically, socially, intellectually, and emotionally at the ages of 20, 30, 40 and 50.
Create questions that would provide this information.
Ask which age was his or her favorite and why.

19. Adulthood and Old Age
Late Adulthood

20. Objectives
Identify changes that occur in health and life situations during old age.
Summarize how people physically, mentally and socially adjust to old age.

21. Attitudes Towards Aging
Gerontology = study of aging
Most ideas based on decremental model of aging
Progressive physical/mental decline is inevitable
Prejudice about elderly shows ignorance, ageism
Assume that they have poor health
Misconceptions: inflexible, senile
Sexual activity does not change beyond adulthood
Best predictor of future behavior is past behavior
Societal factors discourage sexual expression

22. Changes in Health & Life Situation
Over 65 good health, depends on youth
Most prevalent chronic diseases (elderly)
Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis
Major causes of death among elderly
Heart disease, cancer and strokes
Transitions for younger people are positive
Transitions for older people are negative

23. Adulthood and Old Age
Dying and Death

24. Changes in Mental Functioning
Intellectual ability does not change much
John Horn proposes two types of intelligences
Crystallized intelligence: using knowledge and learning in appropriate situations
Fluid intelligence: solve abstract problems
Diseases faced by the elderly
Senile dementia: memory loss, forgetfulness, decline in ability to think
Alzheimer’s disease: most common form, destroys ability to think; no cure

25. Adjusting to Death Elisabeth Kubler-Ross theory of reaction to death
Denial: most common reaction “Can’t be happening to me”
Anger: “Why me”, alienation
Bargaining: change of attitude, bargain with fate
Depression: aware of the losses
Acception: struggle is over
Hospices
People are often afraid to talk about death
Most people live until 75
Movement to restore dignity
Designed to make surroundings pleasant

26. Assignment
Read over “Living in the Moment” and create a “Bucket List” of things you hope to accomplish in your life.
Next, summarize the ways that death is perceived in other cultures (back).

27. The Last Lecture - Video
Watch the video as Randy Pausch presents his last lecture to a large audience of his colleagues, students, friends and family.
Reflect on the dreams you have in your life and what you hope to accomplish.

28. Young at Heart
While viewing Young at Heart see how this group of elderly men and women work together to deal with the loss of friends.

29. Review Activity: Timeline
You will need to include the theories presented in class including Erik Erikson, Daniel Levinson, John Horn, Jean Piaget, Sigmund Freud, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
Since these theories have points that occur throughout development, correctly label on the timeline where part of their theory fits.
Ex: Levinson’s BOOM Phase occurs between the ages of
Place all theories discussed in the proper order.

30. Essay Questions
Do you think development is the result of heredity, experience and learning or both? Why?
Do you think an individual with an androgynous gender role is healthier than one with a traditional gender role? Explain your answer.
Do you think that Kubler-Ross’ stages of dying apply to other types of losses (such as sports or a romantic breakup)? Explain.