Adolescence

What Happens?

Historically viewed as a time of stress Rebelliousness, emotional upheaval

In reality: No greater psychological problems than in adulthood

But… its true that there is More depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicide than in childhood

Facts:

Emotional moodiness does increase Linked to negative events More moody that children or

adults Teens are happiest with

friends Least happy in adult

structured events Moods level off by 10th

grade

Body Growth

Growth Spurts Females:

Starts by age 10 Ends by age 16

Males: Starts by 12.5 Ends by 17.5

Middle Childhood

Lasts from 7 to 11 years of age Characterized by slow physical growth Important cognitive changes occur Conservation and reversibility

▪ Child decenters – allows conservation problems to be solved; learns some matter changes shape but not volume

Middle Childhood

Emotional and social development Child enters with close ties to parents Peer relationships become increasingly

important▪ Friendships more important, last longer▪ Cliques or groups formed, mostly same sex▪ Terms boyfriend and girlfriend have little

meaning at this stage

Adolescent Development

Adolescence Physical changes of puberty Adolescent growth spurt Heightened sexual and romantic interest Peers become more important than

parents Cognitively – capable of abstract

reasoning▪ Ponders abstract issues like justice or equality

No clear cut end to adolescence in society

Cognitive development Formal operations stage entered▪ Ability to use abstract concepts▪ Shift to stage varies among individuals; some

never reach this stage, others reach it in early adulthood

Piaget’s classic experiment with weights

C D

A B

7-yr-old4-yr-old

10 kg

5 kg

8 kg

5 kg

5 kg

2 kg

5 kg

14-yr-old10-yr-old

Piaget’s Balance Test - task: make the weight times the distance equal on both sides of center

Adolescent egocentrism Imaginary audience – everyone is

watching Personal fable – belief that s/he is unique Hypocrisy – okay for one to do it but not

another Pseudostupidity – use of oversimplified

logicSocial development

Time of drifting or breaking away from family

Emotional development G. Stanley Hall – time of storm and

stress Most adolescents are happy, well-

adjusted Areas of problems▪ Parent-child conflicts▪ Mood changes - self-conscious, awkward,

lonely, ignored▪ Risky behavior - aggression, unprotected sex,

suicide, use of substances or alcohol

Adulthood

Young adulthood through older adulthood Developmental changes continue

throughout adulthood: not a single phase of life

Taking on adult responsibilities in work and social relationships

Challenges: love, work, play continue changing

Physical development Growth and strength in early adulthood,

then slow process of decline afterwards▪ Speed and endurance▪ Vision and ability to see in weak lighting▪ Hearing and detection of tones▪ Taste – intact until later in life; men tend to

lose hearing and taste earlier than women Decline affected by health and lifestyles

Cognitive development Continues throughout adulthood; some

abilities improve while others decline▪ Fluid intelligence peaks in 20s, declines

therafter ▪ Crystallized intelligence improves until 30s;

then declines slowly afterwards ▪ Overall, individual rates vary depending on

lifestyle and health

Emotional and social development Many aspects of personality are fairly

stable over time, and changes are predictable▪ On average, adults become ▪ less anxious and emotional, socially outgoing, and

creative

▪ People become more dependable, agreeable, and accepting of life’s hardships▪ Gender differences lessen over time

Emotional and social development Much disagreement about when and

how changes occur during aging – differences between stages of infant/child development and adult development▪ Not all adults go through every stage▪ Order of stages can vary for individuals▪ Timing of stages not controlled by biological

maturation

Stages of Adult Life

Early adulthood Erikson▪ Intimacy versus isolation (17 to 45 years)

Levinson - Early adulthood has three stages▪ Entry into early adulthood (17-28)▪ Age 30 transition (28-33)▪ Culmination of early adulthood (to age 40)

Challenges of career, marriage, and parenthood

Middle Adulthood

Erikson – Generativity versus stagnation (40-65

years)▪ Taking stock of what one has, who s/he is▪ Some are happy, some are disappointed▪ Generativity – reaching out, not self-centered

Middle Adulthood

Levinson – four brief stages Midlife transition (early 40s) Entry to middle adulthood stage (45 to

50) Age 50 transition Culmination of middle adulthood

Climactic – Female sexual ability to reproduce

declines Not all adult development timed by

social clock rather than biological clock

Later Adulthood

Levinson – four brief stages Midlife transition (early 40s) Entry to middle adulthood stage (45 to

50) Age 50 transition Culmination of middle adulthood

Climactic – Female sexual ability to reproduce

declines Not all adult development timed by

social clock rather than biological clock

Causes of Aging

Biological – human body deteriorates Psychological

Happy or unhappy aging Social activity and slowed intellectual

decline or disengagement and isolation Maintain healthy or unhealthy lifestyle Optimism linked to happier, healthier,

longer life

Death and Dying: The Final Stage

Kübler-Ross – five stages Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance