Psychology Early and Middle Adulthood – Flashcards
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Emerging adulthood key characteristics
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18-25 Extended role exploration Higher education
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Age of identity exploration
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Explore romantic and career choices
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Age of instability
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Change in jobs, romantic partners, and living arrangements
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Age of self-focus
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Exceptionally self focused as they are free to take mature decisions
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States of emerging childhood
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Age of identity exploration Age of instability Age of self-focus Age of feeling in between Age of possibilities
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Age of feeling in between
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Emerging adults are in transit mode Not achieved anything significant yet
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Age of possibilities
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Have the feeling that they have the opportunity to make dramatic changes in their lives
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Physical development in early adulthood
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Sensory sharpness Changes in cardiovascular, respiratory, and immune systems Fertility declines- less eggs Hair starts thinning and graying Visual acuity Skin becomes loose and wrinkly
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Diet and weight in early adulthood
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Women more likely to diet than men
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Causes of obesity
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Heredity Adaptive thermogenesis Negative emotions and binge eating
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Adaptive thermogenesis
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Process where body converts food energy to heat at a lower rate when a person eats less May sabotage weight loss
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Exercise in early adulthood
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30 minutes of physical activity 5+ days a week needed Breaking exercise into smaller segments is beneficial Reduces risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, lowers BP and cholesterol, osteoporosis, arthritis
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Substance use and abuse in early adulthood
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Increased consumption of alcohol- no supervision, more opportunities Believe that cigarettes, cocaine, and heroin are dangerous Increased marijuana use
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Stress and health in early adulthood
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1/3 Americans living with extreme stress Affects psychological and physical health, social, academic, and vocational lives Respond to stress in unhealthy ways- skipping meals, not sleeping, smoking
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Sexuality in early adulthood
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Surge of hormones and increased opportunity Same flood of hormones that affected them as adolescents
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Most prominent reason for early death in early and middle adulthood
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Accidents
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Most young adults put health on the back burner
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Not enough fruits and vegetables No physical activity Smoking, binge drinking Overweight
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Situational stressor
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Certain situation causes stress
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Chronic stressor
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Recurrent event that continually causes stress
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Stress management tips
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Identify stressors Take care of health Social support Mindfulness
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Chlamydia
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Most common STI in young adults Major cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which could lead to sterility
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Human papilloma virus (HPV)
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Major cause of genitals warts and cervical cancer 50% of men and women will contract HPV Preventative vaccine for women
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Genital warts
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Not visible on cervix or urethra
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Greatest risk of getting STIs
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Sec before 18 with multiple partners
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Dysmenorrhea
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Painful menstruation Pelvic cramps Initiated by prostaglandins Fluid retention may cause bloating
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Prostaglandins
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Hormones that cause muscles in the uterine wall to contract during labor
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Amenorrhea
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Absence of menstruation and sign of infertility
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Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
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Discomforting symptoms that affect women 4-6 days before having their periods
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Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
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Similar but more severe than PMS
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Premenstrual symptoms
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Psychological discomfort Muscular tensions, aches, pains
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Causes of menstrual problems
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Body's responses to changing levels of sex hormones Imbalances in neurotransmitters
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Treatment for menstrual problems
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Exercise and dietary control Hormone treatments and medications
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Rape
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Sex with a non-consenting person by the use of force or threat of force Most intimate crime of violence
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Acquaintance rape
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90% rapes committed by acquaintances Less likely to be reported
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Date rape
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Form of acquaintance rape Likely to occur when couple has too much to drink
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Rape statistics
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Women 16-24 twice or three times more likely Most states permit prosecution of husbands who rape wives 1 in 4 US women 2/3 not reported
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Attitudes toward rape
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Women say no when they mean yes Women dress in a way that encourages rape Women want to be overpowered and forced into sex by men Men brought up to be aggressive and devoid of feminine traits- aversive to tenderness and empathy
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Sexual harassment
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Deliberate or repeated unwanted comments, gestures, or physical contact Trivialized at workplace Stressful as victim is ultimately doubted and blames Abuse of power more than sexual desire Employers are accountable if harassment creates a hostile or abusive work environment
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Improvements in cognitive development in early adulthood
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Retain verbal skills Increased vocabulary and general knowledge Crystallized intelligence Height of cognitive ability
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Declines in cognitive development in early adulthood
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Memory Problem solving speed and visual spatial skills Fluid intelligence
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Crystallized intelligence
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Ones intellectual achievements Left hemisphere Factual, language based Information and experience Social conventions Good decisions and judgements
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Fluid intelligence
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Ability to process mental information Not factual or language based Spatial orientation Right hemisphere
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Shaie's study in early adulthood
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Adolescents have varied knowledge of the sciences
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William Perry's theory of epistemic cognition
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Early adulthood Epistemic cognition Dualistic thinking
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Epistemic cognition
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Thought processes directed at considering how one arrives at beliefs, facts, and ideas
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Dualistic thinking
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Dividing the cognitive world into opposites
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Relativistic thinking
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Judgements made are not absolute, but have a religious or cultural context
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Labouvie-Vief's theory of pragmatic thought
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Pragmatic thought Cognitive affective complexity Young adulthood
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Pragmatic thought
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Decision making characterized by willingness to accept reality and compromise
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Cognitive affective complexity
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Mature form of thinking that permits people to harbor positive and negative feelings about their career choices and other matters Adults function best when they can accept reality
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Postformal thinking in young adults
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Well informed with specialized education and skills Less egocentric More relativistic, capable of making commitments in their relativistic world No scientific agreement if there is a stage past Piaget's formal operations
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College and cognitive development in young adults
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Varied experiences encouraged by colleges Men enter STEM fields even though women perform better at math Women prefer careers that do not require math skills Males score higher that women in the SAT
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Ways to benefit from diversity at college
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Recognized that your way of looking at the world is not universal Embrace opportunities to meet different people Initial reaction to a new culture may be defensive Understand what makes others traits valuable Listen to others concerns Immerse yourself in a different culture Commit to understand a given situation from a different point of view
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Career development in young adults
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Work provides extrinsic and intrinsic motives Extrinsic- pay, benefits, security Intrinsic- work ethic, self identity, self fulfillment, self worth, socialization, public roles
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Supers stages of career development
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Fantasy stage Tentative choice stage Realistic choice stage Maintenance stage Retirement stage
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Fantasy stage
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Involves childs unrealistic conception of self potential and of the world of work
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Tentative choice stage
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11-high school Choices band on interests, abilities, limitations, and glamour
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Realistic choice stage
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After 17 Weighs job requirements and rewards against interests, abilities, and values
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Maintenance stage
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Person settles into career role Loyal to employers reduces Vocational interests remain stable Mid-30s
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Retirement stage
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Leaves the workplace and becomes restless
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Separation for young adults
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Leave home at different ages- live at home longer to save money, leave home to join military or go to college College students often have a room at their parents home
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Boomerang generation
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Young adults Many working young adults live at home for financial reasons
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Individuation
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Young adults process of becoming an individual by integrating their own values and beliefs with those of their parents and society
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Individuation in men
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Separation and individuation key goals to personality development Fight for independence
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Individuation in women
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Social relationships become priority
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Intimacy vs. isolation
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Establishment of intimate relationships is the key crisis of early adulthood Erickson- difficult to commit to others until ego identity is achieved Young adults not fighting for intimate relationships face isolation and loneliness
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Daniel Levinsons seasons of life
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The dream Age 30 Later 30s Seem outdated- many women independent and single, men do not care what others think of status or living arrangement
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Life structure
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Underlying pattern of a person's life at a given stage Defined by relationships, career, race, religion, and economic status
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The dream
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Drive to become someone, to leave ones mark on history Tentative blueprint for young adult
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Age 30 transition
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Reassessment of life
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Later 30s transition
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Settling down or planting roots Financial and emotional investment in home
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Attraction
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Psychological forces that draw people together
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Physical appearance in attraction
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Key factor for partners for dates, sex, and long term relationships
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Tallness and body weight in attraction
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Considered an asset and important for women Culturally determined
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Other factors in attraction
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Nonphysical- smiling Socially dominant men Man to have steady job
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Effect of evolutionary forces while making preferences
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Favor continuation of gender differences in preference for mates, provide reproductive advantages Cleanliness, good complexion, clear eyes, steady gait
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Attraction-similarity hypothesis
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People developed romantic relationships with others who are similar to themselves in attractiveness
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Reciprocity
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Returning compliments and admiration that one receives
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Romantic love
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Love fueled by passion and intimacy Transmitted through fairy tales
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Love as appraisal of arousal
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Stage of intense psychological arousal and cognitive appraisal of that arousal
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Perception of being in love
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State of intense arousal that is connected with an appropriate love object Cultural setting that idealizes romantic love Attribution of arousal to feeling of love for the person
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Jealousy of romantic love
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When others show sexual interest in their partners or when their partners show interest in another Causes feelings of insecurity and rejection, anxiety and loss of self esteem, feelings of mistrust Jealousy games played to get attention, test relationship, inflict pain, take revenge
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Loneliness in early adulthood
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Peer relationships replace family ties Teens notice others becoming more successful at making friends and earning the admiration of others Entrance to college Moving to new city to take advantage of job prospects Can be a result of poor relationships Lack of social skills, interest in other people, empathy
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Single life
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Remain single until early 20s- not met right person, financial instability, not ready to settle down Experience less stigma today- not social failures, single mothers Problems- lonely and want a steady relationship, women worry about physical safety Most singles well adjusted Practice serial monogamy Primary sexual partner and occasional flings
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Serial monogamy
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Series of exclusive sexual relationships
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Cohabitation also calked
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POSSLQ- people of opposite sex sharing living quarters Unmarried heterosexual couples living together
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Cohabitation
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Living together with a romantic partner without being married Most marriages proceeded by couples living together
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Reasons for cohabiting
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Alternative to living alone People have overcome traditional view of living together Economic advantages Strengthens marriage
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Relationship between cohabitation and divorce
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Commitment to personal independence Less commitment to marriage as an institution Low religiosity
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Marriage
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Common lifestyle among young adults Legitimizes sexual relations Provides institution in which children can be supported and socialized
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Monogamy
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Marriage between one person and another person
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Polygamy
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Person had more than one spouse and is permitted sexual access to each of them
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Arranged marriage
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Families of bride and groom arrange union of children
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Gay marriage and civil unions
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Marriage between two males or two females Registered or domestic partnerships and civil unions alternatives to marriage
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Ideal marriage partner
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Same neighborhood and social class Similar physical attractiveness, attitudes, background, interests
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Homogamy
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People marrying similar kind of people Age homogamy Reflects tendency to marry early
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Marital satisfaction
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Quality of marital relationship positively affects physical and psychological health Satisfaction with career positively correlated with marital satisfaction
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Parenthood
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Delayed until late 20s Choose to have children for personal happiness or wellbeing Remain stable and solid regarding sharing of tasks
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Parenthood in traditional societies
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Strengthen marital bonds Provide social security Assist with labor Maintain family lineage Secure property rights and inheritance Improve odds for reincarnation Care for one in old age
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Role overload
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Conflict and depression emerge when others have to return to work
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Dual earner families
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Mothers encounter more stress Mothers cut back or drop out of work due to problems balancing work and family
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Causes of divorce
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Adultery Economic independence for women High expectations from marriage Communication issues and lack of understanding
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Cost of divorce
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Reduces standard of living for both partners Focus on increasing income while raising children Difficulty paying alimony while establishing new lifestyle
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Triangular love theory
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Sternberg
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Liking (triangle)
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Intimacy only True friendships without passion or long term commitment
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Companionate love (triangle)
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Intimacy and commitment Long term committed friendship Marriage where passion has faded
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Empty love (triangle)
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Commitment alone Commitment to remain together without intimacy or passion
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Fatuous love (triangle)
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Passion and commitment Commitment based on passion but without time for intimacy to develop Shallow relationship such as a courtship
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Infatuation (triangle)
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Passion only Passionate, obsessive love
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Romantic love (triangle)
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Intimacy and passion Physically and emotionally attracted without commitment Summer romance
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Consummate life
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Intimacy and passion and commitment Complete love Ideal difficult to obtain
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John Gottman
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Four horseman of the apocalypse
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Criticism (gottman)
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Attacking partners personality and character Always, never, why are you so
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Four horsemen of the apocalypse
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Criticism Contempt Defensiveness Stonewalling
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Contempt (gottman)
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Attacking partners sense of self with intention to insult/abuse the, Name calling, hostile humor, body language Most destructive and indicative of a failing relationship
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Defensiveness (gottman)
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Seeing self as victim Warding odd attack Excuses Cross complaining- meeting partners complaint with complaint of your own Yes, but... Whining, it's not fair Repeating self without listening
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Stonewalling (gottman)
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Withdrawing from relationship to avoid conflict Disapproval, separation Stony silence Muttering, changing subject, removing self physically
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Repair (gottman)
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Recognizing what they did was wrong
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Men in disagreements
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Adrenaline when attacked Surge of hormones Attack or shut down Women do not have these surge of emotions
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Why young people choose celibacy
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Religion Focus of work Avoid STIs
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Middle adulthood ages
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40-60
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Transition into late adulthood
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60-65
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Cognitive development at peak during
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Middle adulthood
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Interindividual variability
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No two people age in the same way or at the same rate
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Physiological aging
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Changes in body's integumentary system, senses, reaction time, lung capacity
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Gray hair occurs due to decrease in
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Melanin
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Skin becomes elastic due to less production of
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Proteins Less keratinocytes
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Presbyopia
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Loss of elasticity in the lens that makes it harder to focus on, or accommodate to, nearby objects or fine print
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Reaction time
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Amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus Increases with age
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Lung capacity
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Lung tissue stiffens with age Diminishes capacity to expand
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Lean body mass and body fat in middle audlthood
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Fat replaces lean body mass
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Muscle strength
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Loss of muscle lessens strength Exercise helps in increasing size of remaining muscle cells
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Metabolism
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Rate at which the body processes or burns food to produce energy
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Basal metabolic rate
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Declines as one ages
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Bone density
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Gradual loss Become more brittle and prone to fracture
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Aerobic capacity
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Cardiovascular system becomes less efficient Declines as less oxygen is taken into lungs and heart pumps less blood
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Blood sugar tolerance
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Tissues become less capable of taking up glucose from bloodstream Loses sensitivity to insulin Rise in blood sugar level
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Overall health of middle adults
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Excellent
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Tips to improve health in middle adulthood
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Regular medical checkups Dietary control Exercise, avoid smoking, drink in moderation Regulate stress Supportive relationships
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Leading causes of death in middle adulthood
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Cancer Heart disease Accidents
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Cancer
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Chronic, noncommunicable disease Uncontrolled growth of cells DNA changes and cell divides indefinitely
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Tumors
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Excess tissue resulting from cancerous growth
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Benign
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Noncancerous Do not pose a threat to life
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Malignant
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Cancerous Tumor invades and destroys surrounding tissue
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Internal factors of cancer
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Heredity Immune system problems Hormonal factors
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External factors of cancer
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Carcinogens Viruses Tobacco UV radiation High fat diets Stress and depression
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Higher than average colorectal cancer incidence and death rates
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African Americans
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Sociocultural causes of cancer
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Socioeconomic status Access to health care
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Heart disease
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Insufficient flow of blood to heart Commonly results from arteriosclerosis Impairs circulation and increases risk of blood clot
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Arteriosclerosis
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Hardening of the arteries
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Atherosclerosis
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Buildup of fatty deposits called plaque
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Signs of a heart attack
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Intense, prolonged chest pain Shortness of breath Heavy perspiration Prolonged pain in the abdomen Fainting or weakness Anxiety and fear
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Immune system
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Body's defense against infections and other sources of disease
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Leukocyte
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White blood cell Combats disease by production of white blood cells and inflammation Recognize antigens by shape
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Stress and the immune system
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Short term stress may boost functioning of the immune system Long term stress suppresses it- makes individuals vulnerable to infections Stress hormones constrict blood to heart
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Sexuality in middle adulthood
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Gradual decline
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Most common problem in sex for women in middle adulthood
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Lack of sexual desire and difficulty in becoming aroused
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Most common problem on sex for men in middle adulthood
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Erectile dysfunction
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Menopause
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Cessation of menstruation 45-50 and lasts for 2 years
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Perimenopause
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Beginning of menopause characterized by amenorrhea
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Amenorrhea
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Lack of menstruation
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Climacteric
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Gradual decline in reproductive capacity of ovaries 45-69 Menstrual cycles are erratic
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Estrogen deficiency
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Causes night sweats and hot flashes or cold sweats Reflects vasomotor stability Dizziness, headaches, joint pain, tingling, burning or itching skin, heart palpate irons Long term deficiency can lead to osteoporosis Impairs cognitive functioning
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Hormone replacement therapy
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Synthetic estrogen and progesterone Reduces hot flashes and other symptoms Increases risk of breast cancer, strokes, and blood clots Progestin and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) prevent hot flashes
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Sexual dysfunction
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Problems becoming aroused or reaching orgasm More common in women Erectile problems- blood of flow through penis, clogged or narrow arteries Reduction in hormone levels Less vaginal lubrication Vaginal walls become thin, sex is painful
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Multidirectionality
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Some aspects of functioning improve while others remain stable or decline
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Plasticity
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Intellectual abilities are not fixed, but can be modified
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Cohort effects in middle adults
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Adults born recently intellectually superior to ones born earlier Younger cohorts exposed to better educational system
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Methods to measure information processing
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Reaction time Perceptual speed
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Decline in processing speed reflects changes in the
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Nervous system
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Memory in middle adulthoodn
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Not as good as memorizing lists or rote rehearsal Less capable of keeping information in working memory long enough to memorize it Screening out distractions Classification or categorization due to elaborative rehearsal
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Creativity in middle adulthood
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Height of creativity
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Mature learners
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Highly motivated Find subjects interesting Women with greatest demands from family and work are mostly likely to return to school
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Generativity vs. stagnation
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Ability to generate or produce based on instinctual drive toward procreativity, enchanted self esteem and meaning of life Rejection of generativity drive can result in a life stripped of meaning and purpose, neuroticism
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Midlife transition
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Psychological transition People begin to believe they have more to look back upon than forward to
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Midlife crisis
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Time of dramatic self doubt and anxiety during which people sense the passing of their youth and existence
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Stressful life events in middle adulthood
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Death of spouse, child, parent, sibling Changes in health Caring for ones parent Financial difficulties Concern about appearance, weight, against Moving employment, relationships, responsibilities
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Empty nest syndrome
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Feeling of loneliness or loss of purpose that parents experience when the youngest child leaves home
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Big five personality traits
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Show stability over time Extraversion Agreeableness Conscientiousness Neuroticism Openness to experience
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Personality themes among college educated women
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Older women scored higher Identity certainty, confident power, and concern about aging higher for older women Personal distress toward aging decreases with age
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Job satisfaction in middle adulthood
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Increases steadily due to increased expertise and income
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Glass ceiling
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Women Might be sought out in hiring process, but find it hard to advance in organization
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Career changes in middle adulthood
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Crisis such as divorce, conflict, or getting fired may force middle adult to take any job he can find
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Unemployment in middle adulthood
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Display lower physical and psychological well being Older women likely to take lower paying jobs
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Evolving parent-child relationships in middle adulthood
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Parents stressed when adolescents do not exert self control and need directions Children who are dependent stay at home for long intervals Parents balance between staying in touch with young adult and interfering with life choices Children move out after marriage
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Grandparenting
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Choose between reckless interference or painful neglect Viewed as a positive life event Spend higher proportion of time with grandchildren Grandchildren spend more time with grandmothers, maternal grandparents Advantage- have fun and leave hard work to parents Grandparents living with single parents exert strong influence over grandchildren
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Middle aged children with aging parents
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Most elderly parents live near one of middle aged children Relationships become more close Burden of taking care of elderly parents falls on daughter
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Sandwich generation
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Middle aged children taking care of their children and grandchildren as well as aging parents
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Siblings in middle adulthood
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Nature of relationship reflects childhood relationship Sisters have more intimate relationships Some relationships get better as they take care of aging parents together, suffers if only one sibling is taking care of parent
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Friends in middle adulthood
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Have fewer friends- place value on friends they do have Male friends more competitive and less intimate with friends Men more likely not to have friends Social isolation leads to poorer physical and psychological health
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Personality themes among college educated women
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Older women scored higher Identity certainty, confident power, and concern about aging higher for older women Personal distress toward aging decreases with age
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Job satisfaction in middle adulthood
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Increases steadily due to increased expertise and income
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Glass ceiling
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Women Might be sought out in hiring process, but find it hard to advance in organization
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Career changes in middle adulthood
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Crisis such as divorce, conflict, or getting fired may force middle adult to take any job he can find
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Unemployment in middle adulthood
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Display lower physical and psychological well being Older women likely to take lower paying jobs
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Evolving parent-child relationships in middle adulthood
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Parents stressed when adolescents do not exert self control and need directions Children who are dependent stay at home for long intervals Parents balance between staying in touch with young adult and interfering with life choices Children move out after marriage
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Grandparenting
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Choose between reckless interference or painful neglect Viewed as a positive life event Spend higher proportion of time with grandchildren Grandchildren spend more time with grandmothers, maternal grandparents Advantage- have fun and leave hard work to parents Grandparents living with single parents exert strong influence over grandchildren
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Middle aged children with aging parents
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Most elderly parents live near one of middle aged children Relationships become more close Burden of taking care of elderly parents falls on daughter
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Sandwich generation
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Middle aged children taking care of their children and grandchildren as well as aging parents
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Siblings in middle adulthood
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Nature of relationship reflects childhood relationship Sisters have more intimate relationships Some relationships get better as they take care of aging parents together, suffers if only one sibling is taking care of parent
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Friends in middle adulthood
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Have fewer friends- place value on friends they do have Male friends more competitive and less intimate with friends Men more likely not to have friends Social isolation leads to poorer physical and psychological health
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Which of the following are developmental tasks of early adulthood identified by Havighurst?
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Getting started in occupation Selecting and courting a mate learning to live contentedly with partner starting family and becoming parent assuming responsibilities are managing household civic responsibilities congenial social group
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Body-mass index (BMI)
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based on height and weight 25-29= overweight 30+ =obese
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In 2011, the leading causes of death of males and females of all ages in the United States were
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heart disease
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Van Hiel and colleagues (2006) found that those research participants who had the highest level of what Erikson would call generativity scored significantly higher in the personal variable of:
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conscientiousness
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At what age are women who become pregnant first advised to check for chromosomal abnormalities in their fetus?
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35
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Becker (2006) suggests that psychotherapy:
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many people who did not need psychotherapy seek it in middle adulthood
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More than _____ of middle-aged adults in developed nations have at least one parent living.
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half
