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Early Adulthood. Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D. How do we study adults versus children?. Increases and improvements = children Losses of function and decline = adults. Physical aging – some examples. Primary aging versus secondary aging. Gerontological balance sheet – Alan Welford (1993).
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Early Adulthood Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.
How do we study adults versus children? • Increases and improvements = children • Losses of function and decline = adults. • Physical aging – some examples. • Primary aging versus secondary aging. • Gerontological balance sheet – Alan Welford (1993).
Reproductive Capacity • How does that change with aging? • McFalls (1990) • Issues • Fertility issues with men
Immune System functioning • Two key organs: thymus gland and bone marrow • Create 2 types of cells, B cells and T cells • T cells = internal threats • B cells = external threats • Changes in the thymus gland • Primary or secondary aging?
Widowed adults • Problems with immune system functioning • Chronic stress
Normal aging or cumulative stress? • Immune system • Physical health and disease • Chronic problems • The role of education • Social class differences: James et. al. (1992)
Differences in mental health rates • New roles • Cognitive functioning • IQ issue: Werner Schaie and the Seattle Longitudinal Study (1996) • Cattell and Horn’s: • Crystallized intelligence • Fluid intelligence • Memory functioning
Depression • Women versus Men • Rotter: differences between internal and external locus of control orientations • Martin Seligman: Learned Helplessness theory • Learned Optimism
Sense of control and health • Study: Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer (1977): mortality rates of nursing home residents.
Erik Erikson: finding a partner • The importance of intimacy • South (1991) 2000 unmarried adults. What are they looking for? • The role of attachment. • Cindy Hazan and Philip Shaver (1987) • Sample of 600 adults • secure / avoidant / anxious or ambivalent
Love • Sternberg (1987) • Intimacy • Passion • commitment
Marriage • Ted Huston (1994) • 168 couples in their first marriage • What changes in marriage? • What makes a good marriage? • The role of conflict • Should we live together first? Research on cohabitation. Bumpass et. al. • Homosexual partnerships.