Psychology 203 Human Development

1. Psychology 203 Human Development Psychosocial Development in Late Adulthood (Chapter 18)

2. Big Five Traits Model N=neuroticism E=extraversion O=openness to experience A=agreeableness C=conscientiousness

3. Theory and ResearchStability of Personality Traits • Costa and McCrae research (1996) suggest only two traits may change • Increase in Agreeableness • Decrease in Extraversion • Hostile people will remain Hostile • Optimistic people will remain optimistic

4. Theory and ResearchStability of Personality Traits • Contrary beliefs

5. Ego Integrity versus despair • Erikson’s eighth and final stage of development a person either achieve a sense of integrity of the self or yield to despair • Integrity – Accepting the lives they have lived and accept death • Despair – Their lives cannot be relived.

6. Models of CopingAdaptive Defenses • Adaptive defenses may be unconscious or intuitive • Altruism • Humor • Suppression (keeping a stiff upper lip) • Anticipation (planning for the future) • Sublimation (turning lemons into lemonade) • Independent of IQ, education and social class

7. Models of CopingCognitive-Appraisal • Coping strategies on basis on perception and analysis of situation • Includes anything an individual thinks or does in trying to adapt o stress, regardless of how well it works • Coping is dynamic and evolving process • Requires continuous reappraisal between self and environment.

8. Models of CopingCognitive-Appraisal Model

9. Models of Coping Cognitive-AppraisalTwo Strategies • Problem – Focused: strategy directed toward eliminating, managing or improving a stressful situation • Emotion – Focused: strategy directed toward managing the emotional response to a stressful situation to lessen its physical or psychological impact (palliative coping)

10. Models of Coping Cognitive-AppraisalEmotion – Focused • Divert attention away from a problem • Give in to situation or problem • Deny that the problem exists

11. Religion and Well Being • Religion seems to play a supportive role • Social support • Encouragement of healthy lifestyle • Perception of a measure of control over life through prayer (positive emotional states • Reduction of stress • External control of misfortunes (faith in God) • Nonreligious people with secular values have similar supportive role

12. Successful or Optimal Aging • Disengagement Theory • Activity Theory • Continuity Theory • Role of Productivity • Selective Optimization with Compensation

13. Disengagement Theory • Successful aging is characterized by mutual withdrawal between the older person and society • Society stops providing useful roles for older adult

14. Activity Theory • Successful aging is dependent on persons ability to remain active. • Adult’s roles are major sources of satisfaction – The greater the loss of roles the less satisfied a person will be. • Retirement • Widowhood • Distance from children • infirmity

15. Continuity Theory • To age successfully people must maintain a balance of continuity and change in both the internal and external structures of their lives. • Continuation of a lifestyle. • Retired people are happiest pursuing work or leisure activities similar to those they have enjoyed in the past

16. Role of Productivity • Productive activity, either paid or unpaid is key to aging well. • 9 out of 10 agers engage in some form of productive activity • On average • One-third more housework • Twice as much yard work • Three times as much paid work • Four times as much volunteer work.

17. Selective Optimization with Compensation • Older adults can be: • More flexible in coping strategies • Emotion-focusing compensate for loss of control over certain areas of their lives • More selective about social contacts • Maintain contact with people who can best meet their current needs for emotional satisfaction. • Compensate for narrowing of possibilities in their lives

18. Work, Retirement, Leisure • * The concept of retirement became widespread during the early twentieth century • 1950 compulsory retirement was virtually outlawed in the US as a form of age discrimination • Most adults who can retire do retire

19. Work, Retirement, Leisure • Older workers are • More productive • Slower but more accurate • Dependable • Responsible • Frugal with time and materials

20. Work, Retirement, Leisure • * The size of a retiree's social support network is the most powerful predictor of satisfaction in retirement • Family-focused lifestyle • Low-cost activities around family, home and companions • Conversation • Watching television • Visiting with family and friends • Playing cards • Doing “what comes along”

21. Work, Retirement, Leisure • Balanced investment – retirement activity allocated among family, work, and leisure. • Serious leisure – requiring skill, attention and comment • Master a craft • Pursue an intense

22. Living Arrangements • Developing countries both elderly men and women typically live with adult children and grandchildren in multigenerational households. • Developed countries the minority of older adults living alone has increased greatly since 1960. (95.5% live in the community)

23. Living Arrangements • * The growth of elderly single-person households are because of   • increased old age benefits • reverse mortgage programs enable people to live at home longer • long-term care policies that discourage institutional living • Factors for not living alone • Personality • Cognitive abilities • Physical health • Depleted social network

24. Group Living Arrangements • Retirement hotel – remodeled to meet needs (switchboard, made service, message) • Retirement community (self-contained development) • Shared housing (shared informally by adult parents) • Accessory apartment or ECHO (elder cottage housing opportunity) independent units on the grounds of family members) • Congregated housing (private or government-subsidized rental apartment complexes or mobile homes) • Assisted-living facility (semi-independent living in one’s own room or apartment) • Foster-care home • Continuing care retirement community

25. Mistreatment of Elderly • Physical violence • Psychological abuse • Emotional abuse • Material exploitation • Neglect • Violating personal rights • Right to privacy • Make their own personal and health decisions

26. Social Contact • Social Convoy Theory • Changes in social contact • Coworkers and other casual friends drop away • * Retain a stable inner circle of social convoys • Close friends • Family members • Socioemotional selectivity theory • Become increasingly selective about the people they spend their time with

27. UN’s Principles of Older Persons • Independence • Access to adequate food, water, clothing and health care • Opportunity to work • Participate in determining when and what pace withdrawal from labor force • Access to appropriate educational and training programs • Able to reside at home for as long as possible

28. UN’s Principles of Older Persons • Participation • Remain integrated in society, participate actively in formation and implementation of policies that affect their well-being, share knowledge and skills with younger generation • Seek and develop opportunities for service to the community • Able to form movements or associations of older persons

29. UN’s Principles of Older Persons • Care • Should benefit from family and community care and protection in accordance with values • Have access to health care to help maintain or regain optimum level of physical, mental and emotional well-being • Able to utilize levels of institutional care providing protection, rehabilitation and social/mental stimulation in humane and secure environment • Able to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms including full respect for • Dignity • Beliefs • Needs • Privacy • Quality for their lives

30. UN’s Principles of Older Persons • Self-fulfillment • Able to pursue opportunities for the full development of their potential • Access to educational, cultural, spiritual, and recreational resources of society • Dignity • Able to live in dignity and security free of exploitation and physical/mental abuse • Treated fairly regardless of age, gender, racial/ethic background, disability or status, and valued for their economic contribution

31. Long-Term Marriage • Long-term marriage a new phenomenon • One in five marriage lasts fifty or more years • Conflict resolution skills are key to marital satisfaction • Long marriage tested by advancing age and physical ills • Divorce and remarriage is rare

32. Friendships • * Friends are important because they are chosen by the person • Soften the impact of stress on physical and metal health

33. Relationships with Adult Children • In US, social security and Medicare have lifted some responsibilities for the elderly from family members • Older parents become depressed if they have to ask for help from family because of strong value of independence