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Adulthood

Adulthood. Physical Changes. Culture bound ideas of old Eastern—respect for elderly—getting old accepted and welcomed Western—young is in—plastic surgery big business. All physical abilities essentially peak by our mid twenties Athletes generally first to notice. Physical Milestones.

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Adulthood

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  1. Adulthood

  2. Physical Changes • Culture bound ideas of old • Eastern—respect for elderly—getting old accepted and welcomed • Western—young is in—plastic surgery big business • All physical abilities essentially peak by our mid twenties • Athletes generally first to notice

  3. Physical Milestones • Menopause: the natural ending of a woman’s ability to reproduce. • There are physical symptoms led by a lack of estrogen. • What psychological effects can menopause have? • Men do not experience anything like menopause. • Gradual decline in production of sperm & testosterone level, speed of erection & ejaculation (erectile dysfunction) • Psychological effects?

  4. Life Expectancy • Life Expectancy keeps increasing- now about 75. • Women outlive men by about 4 years.

  5. Sensory Abilities

  6. Health • Bad news: is as we get older our immune system weakens, thus we become more susceptible to life threatening ailments (cancer). • Good News: because older build up a collection of antibodies through- out the years, they get minor colds less often.

  7. Age and Driving • The brain processes information at slower speeds.

  8. Alzheimer’s Disease • A progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, language and physical functioning. • Runs its course in 5 to 20 years. • Deterioration of neurons that produce the neurotransmitter…. Acetylcholine Estrogen supplements may stop the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.

  9. Cognitive Changes • We tend to remember events from our teens and twenties. • Difference between recognition and recall. Recognition remains stable. Recall declines with old age.

  10. Do old people get stupid? • Cross-sectional studies show decline. • Longitudinal Studies show consistency. What is the difference? Cross-sectional studies: study with people of different ages studied at the same time. Longitudinal Studies: same people studied and retested over a period of time.

  11. But there are different types of intelligence. • Crystallized intelligence: one’s accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age. • Fluid Intelligence: one’s ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood.

  12. Social Development of Adults • Social Clock • the culturally preferred timing of social events • marriage • parenthood • retirement • Social Clock • the culturally preferred timing of social events • marriage • parenthood • retirement

  13. Four Psychological Characteristics of Healthy, Happy Older People • Optimism, hope, and interest in the future • Gratitude and forgiveness; an ability to focus on what is good in life • Empathy; an ability to share the feelings of others and see the world through their eyes • Connection with others; an ability to reach out, to give and receive social support

  14. Happy Seniors Negative emotions are more common before age 50 than after. The frequency of positive feelings tends to increase from midlife on into old age.

  15. Happiness • Subjective Well-Being: Feelings of well-being occur when people are satisfied with their lives, have frequent positive emotions, and have relatively few negative emotions • Happier people tend to be • Married • Comfortable with their work • Extraverted • Religious • Generally optimistic and satisfied with their lives

  16. Death and Dying; Elizabeth Kubler-Ross • Ross was a thanatologist: One who studies emotional and behavioral reactions to death and dying • Ross described five basic reactions to death that occur, not necessarily in the following order or experienced by everyone Not in our text but important for the AP Exam

  17. Five Basic Reactions to Death (Kubler-Ross) • Denial and Isolation: Denying death’s reality and isolating oneself from information confirming that death will occur. “It’s a mistake; the doctors are wrong.” • Anger: Asking “why me?” Anger may then be projected onto the living • Bargaining: Terminally ill will bargain with God or with themselves. “If I can live longer I’ll be a better person.” • Depression: Feelings of futility, exhaustion and deep sadness • Acceptance: If death is not sudden, many will accept death calmly. Person is at peace finally with the concept of death

  18. Bereavement and Grief • Bereavement: Period of adjustment that follows death of loved one • Grief: Intense sorrow and distress following death of loved one • Shock: Emotional numbness experienced after death of loved one • Pangs of Grief: Intense and anguished yearning for one who has died • Resolution: Acceptance of loss and need to build a new life

  19. Attitudes Toward Death • Hospice: Medical facility or program that provides supportive care for terminally ill; goal is to improve person’s final days • Living Will: Written statement that a person does not wish to have his/her life artificially prolonged if terminally ill; a “Do Not Resuscitate” order to doctors • Euthanasia: mercy killing of the terminally ill • Doctor assisted suicide: Dr. Kevorkian—what do you think?

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