Adulthood and Old Age

Adulthood and Old AgeChapter 5PsychologySection 1: Adulthood

What is Adulthood?A period when opposite factors affect lives.Change and samenessSuccess and failureCrisis and stabilityJoy and sadnessA time when a person matures fully into what he or she is, or A time when life closes in and what was once possibility is now limitationHow each of us reacts depends on our preparations, circumstances, and general outlook on life.

Physical changesTheory our bodies age as a result of breakdown in our bodies cells.Aging is the result of normal wear and tear on our bodies.Theory our bodies age because our cells have preset biological clocks that limit the number of times cells can divide and multiply.As cells reach that limit, they begin to die, or the process of cell division occurs less accurately.

Young adults are at their physical peak between the ages of 18 and 30.Strongest, healthiest, quickest reflexes

Physical decline is slow and gradual.

What is lost physically my be replaced by experience.

In middle age, appearance changes.Hair grays, skin loses elasticityMuscle and fat break downWeight loss, become shorter, develop more wrinkles

The senses also change over time.Requires more and more stimulationEyes weaken, gradual loss of hearing, reaction time slows

Health problemsSome changes relate to the aging process.Some changes result from diseases and from simple disuse and abuse.How does a person look and feel younger?Eat sensibly and exerciseAvoid cigarettes, drugs, and alcoholNot subjected to severe emotional stress

Common Causes of Death in later adulthoodThree most common biological causes:Heart diseaseCancerCirrhosis of the liverOther psychological factors w/biological consequences:Drug abuse adolescence or early adulthoodInadequate dietViolence accidents, tendency to push physical limits, risk-taking

menopauseBetween 45-50, every woman experiences climacteric stage all physiological changesProduction of sex hormones drops sharply (menopause)Stops ovulating (producing eggs)Stops menstruating can no longer conceiveNo reduction in sex drive or enjoymentIrritability and depression appear to have an emotional rather than physical origin.

Are there really negative effects?One study shows the negative effects are exaggerated.Women also undergoing environmental changes in roles and relationshipsHalf of women interviewed said they felt better, more confident, calmer, and freer.Men dont go through biological changes equivalent to menopause. Number of sperm that a mans body produces declines gradually, but they can father children at advanced ages.Men go through psychological changes work, aging, etc

Marriage and divorce90% of adults will marry at some time.40%-60% end in divorceWhat makes a marriage last?How couples handle conflictsArgue more constructivelyListen to each otherFocus on solving the problemShow respect for the each others viewsHow often couples share intimate and happy momentsUnhealthy ways of dealing with conflictIgnoring or denying conflictExaggerating issuesHaving ugly verbal fights

Sexual behavior Is there sex after 40?Studies show that sexual activity does not automatically decline with age. No physiological reason for stopping sexual activity with advancing age.Most older people who have an available partner maintain quite vigorous sex lives.Those inactive site: boredom with a partner of long standing poor physical health acceptance of the stereotype of loss of sex drive with age

Cognitive changesMid-20s people reach their peak for:Learning new skills and informationSolving problems that require speed & coordinationShifting from one problem-solving strategy to anotherIntelligence tests measure this. Problem:Some measure speed not intelligence.Older adults reaction time is slower.The ability to comprehend new material and to think flexibly improves with years and experience.Research study of over 700 individuals:Scholarship, science, and the arts Reached peaks of creativity and productivity in 40sHumanities history, foreign lang., literatureReached peaks in their 60s

Social and personality developmentBasic character (style of adapting to situations) is relatively stable over the years.Confident young people = confident adultsSelf-haters remain self-hatingPassive individuals remain passivePersonality is flexible and capable of changing as an individual confronts new tasks.Learning the skills needed to cope with change seems to occur in stages for both adult males and females.

Levinsons Theory of male developmentIdentified important transition periods at ages 30, 40, 50, and 60 that last approx. 5 yrs.Entering the Adult WorldThe Age-Thirty CrisisSettling DownThe Midlife TransitionMiddle Adulthood

Entering the adult worldFrom about age 22 to age 28

Considered a novice adultnot fully established as a man but no longer an adolescent

Must attempt to resolve the conflict between: the need to explore the options of the adult worldthe need to establish a stable life structure

The age-thirty crisis Between age 28 and age 30Age 30 can truly be a turning point.Tentative commitments made in the first life structure are reexamined.Choices about life partner, career, life goals reopened (often in a painful way)Any parts of life that are unsatisfying or incomplete:must be attended to nowit will soon be too late to make major changes

SETTLING DOWNEarly 30s questioning and searching from the age-30 crisis begin to be resolvedSecond life structure developsFirm choices have been made about career, family, and relationshipsBegins actively carving out a niche in societyBetween ages 36-40, a distinctive BOOM phaseBecoming Ones Own ManTime to become fully independentStrives to attain the seniority and position in the world that he identified as his ultimate goal at the beginning of the settling down period.

The Midlife TransitionBetween 40 and 45, a man begins to ask questionsAbout the past as well as the futureWhat have I done with my life?Develops another life structure that will predominate middle adulthood.Generativity may occur (Erikson passing wisdom to guide future generations) by becoming a mentor to a younger man.Stagnation may occur Hanging on to the past (same sports or hobbies)Preoccupied with healthBitter about the direction his life has taken

Middle adulthoodLate 40s true adulthood can be achieved.Man who finds satisfactory solutions to his lifes crises reaches a period of stability.Understands and tolerates othersDisplays a sensitivity and concern for othersStrikes balance b/t need for friends and need for privacyNot so fortunate stagnationExtreme frustration and unhappinessFeels cut off from family/friends; future holds no promiseBy avoiding this life crisis, he is only inviting a later appearance at age 50 with a more crushing force.

BigStockPhoto.com Female developmentMidlife for women Facing fewer demands in their traditional task as mothersGreater personal freedomReentering the workforceGoing back to collegeStarting new careersTime of opportunityEvidence generally does not support the existence of a midlife crisis for most women

The empty nest syndromeSignificant event in many womens lives is the departure from home of the last child.

Experienced differently.Need not be traumaticStable marriage makes a difference (emotional support)Widowed or divorced more difficult transition

Depression in midlifeMost common among middle-aged women.During early years, she may derive a sense of personal worth from roles as daughter, wife, lover, mother, and wage earner.As these relationships change: may begin to experience a sense of loss and/or personal worthlessness.If she defined herself as a childbearer, may feel useless.Some welcome this time of life.Career self-esteem, focus on marriage instead of kids

Section 2: Old Age The fear of growing old is probably one of the most common fears in our society.Surrounded by negative connotations of oldBirthday cards over the hillAds urge us to trade in older products for newer onesEncourage older workers to retire, so they can be replaced with younger onesComedians joke about it

Attitudes toward agingDecremental model of agingProgressive physical and mental decline is inevitable with age (attitude of many)Chronological age is what makes one oldPrevalence of this view can be explained in part by ignorance and a lack of contact with the oldResult is a climate of prejudice against the oldAgeism refers to this prejudiceFeeds on myth rather than fact

Stereotypes of the elderlyThey all suffer from poor health, live in poverty, and are frequent victims of crime.

They withdraw from life and sit around doing nothing.

They are inflexible or senile.Affects only 10% of the aged.Usually results from some disease.

Changes in healthPhysical strength and the senses decline about 1% a year through adulthood.Good health in adolescence and adulthood carries over into old age.About 40% of the elderly have at least one chronic disease (permanent disability).heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritisMajor causes of death among the oldheart disease, cancer, and strokes

Health care for the elderlyThe quality of health care for the elderly remains inferior to that of the general pop.Lower socioeconomic class doesnt take care of themselves or seek medical help.Some doctors may prefer to have younger patients with acute diseases than older patients with chronic diseases that cannot be cured.Some doctors hold stereotypical views of the aged, and misdiagnose or treat incorrectly.As more and more people get older, there is a need for a general overhaul of health care.Changes in life situationChanges for the young are positive changes in late adulthood are often negative and can create isolation.Most devastating loss of spouse.50% of women/20% of men widowed by age 65.By age of 80, 1/3 of men, and 7 out of 10 women are alone.Symptoms of depression are common in older adults.Some older adults continue to learn and develop skills more than ever before.

Changes n sexual activityMajority of people over age of 65 continue to be interested in sex.Healthy partners enjoy sexual activity into their 70s and 80s.Best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.Why do some not engage in sexual activity?Poor health or death of a spouseSocietal attitudes that discourage itConsidered silly, improper, and even morally wrongBecause they are supposed to give it up at that ageChildren and family find the idea ridiculous and disgusting

Adjusting to old ageWhen older people unable to maintain what they value most, quality of life suffers dramatically:Good healthRecognition in the communityVisits from family and friendsPrivacyLeisure and work activitiesThose who experience a loss of control often develop a negative self-concept.Assertive individuals cope better than passive ones.To help the old adjust, society must make some basic changesAARP speaks out and lobbies on social issuesPopulation over 65 is growingmust take elderly pop into considerationAttitudes are slowly changing eventually old age will be considered the culmination of life, not the termination.

Changes in mental functioningFluid intelligenceThe ability to solve abstract, rational problems and to generate new hypothesesNot tied to education and gradually increases in development as the nervous system matures.As people age and their nervous systems decline, so does their fluid intelligence.Older people may not be as good at problems that require them to combine and generate new ideas.A decline in the nervous system affects reaction time, visual motor flexibility, and memory.Crystallized IntelligenceThe ability to use accumulated knowledge and learning in appropriate situations.This ability increases with age and experience.

Senile dementiaA collective term that describes conditions characterized by: memory loss forgetfulnessdisorientation of time and place a decline in the ability to thinkimpaired attentionaltered personalitydifficulties in relating to others

Has many causes some treatable, some not

Most common form of senile dementiaGradual deterioration of cognitive functioningAbout 4 million have this diseaseProblems associated with it are the 4th leading cause of death among U.S. adultsSymptoms in early stages:Frequent forgettingPoor judgmentIncreased irritabilitySocial withdrawalEventually lose ability to comprehend simple questions and to recognize family or friends.Rarely die from the disease, but weakened conditions leave them vulnerable.Causes complex and not completely understoodGenetic susceptibility plays a role; also life eventsNo cure

Alzheimers diseaseNormal Brain Alzheimer Brain

Section 3: death and dyingDeath is not just biological it becomes entangled with social customs.Cultural attitudes toward deathCare of the dyingPlace of deathEfforts to quicken or slow down the processDisposal of the deadMourning customsRole of the family

Adjusting to deathThanatology The study of death and dyingElisabeth Kubler-Ross 5 Stages of DyingDenial (it cant be happening to me)Might refuse to seek medical attentionAnger (why me?)May alienate themselves no one can relieve the angerBargaining (attempt to bargain with God/fate)Make promises to God (relatively short span)Depression (about the losses to come)Allow people to express their sadnessAcceptance (struggle is over sense of calm)May become detached emotionally to make it easier

hospicesIn 1900 average life span less than 50 and died at home.Today, average is 75 and die in nursing homes or in hospitals hooked up to machines.Alternative is hospicePlace where terminally ill people go to dieUse tranquilizers and other drugs to relieve painDo not use machines to try to prolong lifeSet up more like home than a hospitalCare is given by family members as much as possibleAllowed to go home to die if they chooseHome-based hospice is becoming more popular, with visiting nurses, etc. going to the home for care.