DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGYChapter 15 Perspectives on AdulthoodChapter 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” 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, 235.5.2

  In 2005, the age-adjusted death rates for diseases of the heart was 211.1

deaths per 100,000 for all Americans. The age-adjusted death rate for whites was 207.8, and 271.3 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 141.1 (Minnesota) to 306.8 (Mississippi) in 2005.1

Homosexuality

Video 1

Other Areas to Explore

Other physical declines Gastrointestinal Urinary Skeletal/ Dental Reproductive Health

Menopause Sexual Dysfunction

Senses Theories on Biological Aging