15 and 16 – Flashcard

Developmentalists consider middle adulthood to span the years from 40 to 60 or 65.- The years between 60 to 65 serve as transition years into late adulthood.• Cognitive development is at its peak during middle adulthood.- Any lapse is oftentimes made up in expertise

• Interindividual variability- No two people age in the same way or at the same rate• Physiological aging- Changes in the body's integumentary system, senses, reaction time, and lung capacity• Changes in metabolism, muscle mass, strength, bone density, aerobic capacity, blood-sugar tolerance, and ability to regulate body temperature may be moderated or reversed through exercise and diet

• Changes in vision occur mid-30's•Presbyopia- Loss of elasticity in the lens that makes it harder to focus on, or accommodate to, nearby objects or fine print; result is middle adults may need reading glasse

Reaction time- Amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus- Increases with age beginning around age 25

Lung tissue stiffens with age- Diminishing capacity to expand, such that breathing capacity may decline by half between early adulthood and late adulthood- Regular exercise can offset this loss- First beginning to exercise in middle adulthood can expand breathing capacity beyond what it was earlier in life

Loss of muscle lessens strength- Change is gradual- Exercise can compensate by increasing the size of remaining muscle cells• Exercise will contribute to vigor, health, and a desirable body shape

Bones begin to lose density at around the age of 40.- As bones lose density, they become more brittle and prone to fracture• Bones in the spine, hip, thigh, and forearm lose the most density as we age

• Health of people aged 40-65 in developed nations is better than it has ever been.• Ways to increase health during middle adulthood- Regular medical checkups- Paying attention to diet- Exercising, avoiding smoking, drinking in moderation if at all- Regulating stress- Having supportive relationships

• Leading causes of death during middle adulthood are cancer, heart disease, and accidents• Screening for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and cancer of the colon and rectum is necessary during middle adulthood.• Recommended that African-American men get screened for prostate cancer at age 45• Women recommended to get mammograms at age 40• Screening for colorectal cancer recommended for both men and women at age 50; EKG at age 50 as we

• In many instances, cancer can be controlled or cured if caught early.• Cancer is a chronic, noncommunicable disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells.- Tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous)- Benign typically do not pose a threat to life- Malignant tumors invade and destroy surrounding tissue- Cancerous cells in malignant tumors can break away from primary tumor, travel through the bloodstream to form new tumors, called metastases • Internal factors - such as heredity, problems in the immune system, and hormonal factors can contribute to mutations in the DNA• External factors - Carcinogens- Include some viruses, chemical compounds in tobacco and elsewhere, and ultraviolet solar radiation• Incidence of cancer almost triples in the decade of 55 to 64 years of age as compared to the previous decade- Three-fourths of cancer occur in people age 55 and older African Americans have higher than average colon and rectal cancer death rates and incidence rates.• African Americans have twice the death rates from prostate cancer.• Incidence of cervical cancer highest in Latina American women• American Indian and Alaska natives have lowest survival from all cancers combined• Lack of health insurance contributes to late diagnosis Cigarette smoking and high-fat diet contribute to cancer• Second-hand smoke contributes to cancer deaths.• Treatment consists of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy- Limitation of treatment is anticancer drugs kill healthy tissue as well as diseased tissu

Heart disease - Second leading cause of death in middle adulthood- Leading cause of death in late adulthood• Heart disease is due to insufficient flow of blood to the heart- Most commonly results from arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)- Arteriosclerosis can impair circulation and increase the risk of a blood clot, choking off the flow of blood and resulting in a heart attack or stroke- Most common form called atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty deposits call plaque; arteries narrow) Age, race/ethnicity, and sex are risk factors.• No smoking, exercise, good diet, and in some cases medication can help minimize risks.• Getting blood pressure and cholesterol levels measured can help identify heart health issues.• On average, African Americans have higher risk of high blood pressure; may contribute to dying from heart disease due to hypertension

Immune system is the body's defense against infections and other sources of disease• Immune system combats disease by the production of white blood cells (leukocytes) and by inflammation

• Stress - Suppresses the immune system by stimulating the production of steroids, which decrease inflammation and interfere with the formation of antibodies resulting in more susceptibility to disease- Stress related to rapid progression of HIV infection to AIDS• Stress hormones associated with anger may contribute to heart attack.• High-strain work puts workers at the highest risk.• Stress may be linked to the increase in cancer incidence, higher cholesterol levels, and a greater risk of heart disease

• Most people in middle adulthood lead rich sex lives.• Gradual decline in the frequency of sex- Women aged 50-59 highest group not having sex• Most common problem of women is - lack of sexual desire and difficulty becoming sexually aroused• Most common problem of men is - erectile dysfunction• Incidence of problems increase with age

• Menopause- Cessation of menstruation- Normal process occurring between ages of 46 and 50- Lasts about 2 years- Can begin any time between 35 and 60 • Perimenopause- Beginning of menopause characterized by 3 to 11 months of amenorrhea (lack of menstruation)- Deficit in estrogen may result in hot flashes alternating with cold sweats• Climacteric (critical period)- Refers to gradual decline in the reproductive activity of the ovaries- Menstrual cycles become more erratic Some women feel sexually liberated following menopause due to separation of sex and reproduction• Menopausal women may have sleep issues.• Estrogen deficiency has psychological effects.- Long-term estrogen deficiency has been linked to brittleness and porosity of the bones• Osteoporosis- Bones break easily- May result in serious fractures, can be life threatening

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)- Effective for some women- Results of safety of use are inconclusive- Some women increase risk of breast cancer, strokes, and blood clots due to exposure to a combination of estrogen and progestin• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help with menopause

Sexual dysfunctions- Persistent or recurrent problems in becoming sexually aroused or reaching orgasm• Women report - more painful sex, lack of pleasure, inability to reach orgasm, and lack of desire• Men more likely to report - reaching orgasm too soon ("premature ejaculation"), which is more common in early adulthood- lack of interest in sex and erectile dysfunction (more common in men in middle adulthood)

Verbal ability maintains stability as we age.• Timed performance decreases as we age.

Intellectual development during middle adulthood demonstrates multidirectionality, interindividual variability, and plasticity.• Multidirectionality- Some aspects of intellectual functioning improves while others remain stable or decline.• Interindividual variability- People mature differently due to different cultural and social settings.• Plasticity- Intellectual abilities are not fixed but can be modified under certain conditions at almost any time in life.

Research conducted by Schaie (Charness & Schaie, 2003) indicates - intellectual functioning of the members of a society reflects the technology and social functioning of that society.- people in one cohort will perform better or worse in particular areas than people who are from a different age cohort

Crystallized intelligence- Cluster of knowledge and skills that depend on accumulated information and experience, awareness of social conventions, and the capacity to make good decisions and judgments- Includes specialized knowledge in a field- Increases with age• Fluid intelligence- Person's skills at processing information- Refers to the speed of processing or analyzing information, the ability to comprehend the relationships in visual stimuli- Decreases with age Conditions minimizing cognitive decline may include- remaining healthy- living in good conditions, such as decent housing- remaining intellectually active by reading, lifelong learning, and keeping up with current events- being open to new ideas and new styles of life- living with an intellectually stimulating partner- being satisfied with what one has achieved in middle adulthood or one's most productive years

Information processing can be measured in reaction time- The amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus- People in middle adulthood have greater reaction time • (Meaning slower) than young adults- Only a fraction of a second• Decline in speed may be due to changes in the integrity of the nervous system- Scientific research is inconclusive

Most researchers conclude that people in middle and late adulthood perform less well than young adults at - memorizing lists of words, numbers, or passages - rote rehearsal• Less able to keep information in working memory long enough to memorize it as we age• Less capable of screening out distractions as we try to focus on material as we age• Elaborative rehearsal suffers as well because we are less capable of classifying or categorizing quickly General knowledge is expanded during middle adulthood due to interest in new areas.• Procedural memory such as riding a bike or driving a car can be maintained for a lifetime

• Expertise and practical problem solving increases with age.- due to social, emotional, professional experience• Hiring a person in middle adulthood is beneficial.- due to their greater store of expertise and practical problem solving skills• Once again, there is interindividual variation

• Believed major psychological challenge of the middle years is generativity versus stagnation• Generativity- ability to generate or produce; based on instinctual drive toward procreativity (bearing and rearing children)- can consist of parenting one's own children, helping others with their children, being engaged in projects that will influence future generations• Stagnation- rejection of generativity drive can result in a life stripped of meaning and purpose

Midlife transition- The years from 40 to 45- Psychological shift into middle adulthood often accompanied by a crisis during which people fear they have more to look back upon than forward to• Midlife crisis- Time of dramatic self-doubt and anxiety during which people sense the passing of their youth and become preoccupied with concern about the imminence of their own mortality- May be imposed from external factors such as downsizing

Midlife usually identified around age 35 for women and age 40 for men; women reach it about five years earlier mostly due to reproductive awareness• Due to unrealized dreams and life losses, psychotherapy during this time should not be overlooked.• Midlife can be prime of life if the person has continued to develop in an area of expertise or interest- Little if any fluid intelligence lost and crystallized intelligence growing Middle-aged adults, especially professionals, are often earning more money than young adults.- Tend to be geographically and vocationally settled- Most have built systems of social support and may be involved in endearing romantic and social relationships as well as have children• Flip side of middle adulthood- The overwhelming responsibility of taking care of your own family, helping with your aging parents, and remaining in the workplace all at onc

Life-events approach - Focuses on the particular challenges that are likely to face people at this time of life rather than phases or stages• Stressful life events in middle adulthood- Death of a spouse, child, parent, or sibling- Changes in health- Caring for one's parents- Financial difficulties- Concern about one's appearance, weight, or aging-Moving- Change in employment; changes in relationships; changes in responsibilities at work • Many middle-aged women do not experience "empty nest syndrome". - Instead, they take advantage of their new time by being in the workplace and finding life satisfaction in other activities besides childrearing and homemaking• Supportive social network, positive attitude, and a sense of control help to mitigate the effects of stress and foster feelings of well-being among midlife adults

The "big five" personality traits tend to show stability over time.• Some trends of group personality changes over the years, but introverted tend to remain introverted, extroverted tend to remain extroverted• Neuroticism declines over time; agreeableness and conscientiousness increase over time; extraversion and openness to new experience decline slightly over time

• Women in their 40's scored higher on personality scales than women in their 20's. • Higher for women in their 60's in the areas of identity certainty, confident power, and concern about aging• Personal distress toward aging decreases with age, suggesting older women have become more settled

Only 45% of American workers are satisfied with their jobs.• Job satisfaction increases steadily throughout adulthood.- Increased expertise and income- Workers are more realistic in middle adulthood• Blue collar workers- Report feelings of alienation and dissatisfaction due to supervisors treating them disrespectfully especially when supervisor is younger than them• Women balance work and home but still feel effects of "glass ceiling"

• Most changes in careers occur during young adulthood due to responsibilities of middle adults' life.• Most career changes in middle adulthood are shifts into related fields.• Radical shifts in career can be successful.• Crisis such as divorce, conflict with a coworker, or getting fired may force the middle adult to take any job he/she can find

• Unemployed adults display lower physical and psychological well-being than their employed counterparts.• Unemployed middle-aged adults have lower well-being than unemployed young adults.• Unemployed middle-aged adults for whom work was more important, had fewer financial resources and social supports, and blamed themselves for the unemployment, fared the worst.• Older women will take lower-paying jobs as long as they like the work.

Parents are stressed when adolescents do not exert self-control and they have to direct them in multiple areas of their life.• Children who are young adults may still be financially reliant upon their parents. - Some still live at home• Parents balance between staying in touch with the young adult and interfering with their life choices.• Living at home as a young adult differs according to culture as well as location.• Married children present new family members (in-laws) who may or may not enrich their parents' lives

Grandparents have to choose between reckless interference or painful neglect.• Having grandchildren is viewed as a positive life event.• Grandparents spend a higher proportion of their time with their grandchildren in recreational and educational activities.• Grandchildren tend to spend more time with their grandmothers than with their grandfathers all the way through adolescence.• Grandchildren tend to be more involved with maternal grandparents than paternal grandparents. Grandparents tend to have resources such as trips available for grandchildren, but parents do the caretaking.• Grandparents have less influence on their grandchildren when they live with them.- Conflicts between adult children and grandparents ensue over parenting• Some grandparents end up the custodial parent to their grandchildren.- Changes the lifestyle of the middle adult and introduces emotional challenges as well as balancing issues

Most elderly parents live near one of their middle-aged children.• Most burden of taking care of the elderly parents falls on the middle-aged daughter• Sandwich generation refers to middle-aged daughter taking care of her own children and/or grandchildren as well as her aging parents• Middle-aged female may also be working, causing more stress; if lucky, she will have a sibling living nearby to help out

Most people in middle adulthood have at least one living sibling.• Nature of sibling relationships reflect the childhood relationship• Some sibling relationships get better as they take care of aging parents together.• On the other hand, sibling relationship may suffer if only one of the siblings is taking care of the elderly parent

• Adults in middle adulthood tend to have fewer friends.• Middle-aged adults place value on the friends they do have.• Their friends tend to mirror them in interests, activities, and years of mutual experiences.• Male friends tend to be more competitive and less likely to be intimate than female friends.• Loss of a friend is felt very deeply