Adulthood and Aging By Vivian Vasquez

Topics 1.Social Clock 2.Early Adulthood Transitions 3.Physical Changes and Transitions 4.Diseases Related to Aging 5.Cognitive Changes and Transitions 6.Social Changes and Transitions 7. Dying and Death

Social Clock Social clock: culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement. – Example: yrs: get their license= “on time” 34 yrs: get their license, or haven’t yet= “off time”

Continued Social clocks have different settings in different cultures. Settings of a social clock can change within a culture too. – 10 yrs ago, the idea of settling down was different than what it is now.

Early Adulthood Transitions Transitions= “STRESS” You aren’t who you were 3 or 4 years ago. – Yet, our transitions to adulthood today will probably be less abrupt than it would have been a generation ago. Development psychologists have noticed that adolescents are easing more slowly into the self- sufficiency of true adulthood. New development stage: years – Called “emerging adulthood”

Continued “Emerging Adulthood” stage has 5 features: – Age of identity exploration – Age of instability – Age of self-focus – Age of feeling between – Age of possibilities

Physical Changes and Transitions A.Middle Adulthood and Physical Changes( yrs.) 1) Some cultures welcome the outward signs of growing older, believing that those who achieve advanced age deserve status and respect. Not in the U.S!!!!! 2) Menopause: when the menstrual cycle ends; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines. -does not make most women depresses or irrational -some do experience “hot flashes” as their bodies adjust to the decreased amount of estrogen in their hormonal systems, but study after study has found that menopause women are no more

Continued Males= testosterone and sperm levels dropB. “Mid-life Crisis”: the exception. They may or may not happen. – May be considered the stuff of jokes and stereotypes. Who knows? – It all depends. B. Later Adulthoods Physical Change Sight, smell, hearing, muscle strength, and stamina start to diminish in late adulthood and out bodies take longer to heal from injury.

Immune system weakens, but, by 65, you’ve built up antibodies to all viruses you’ve ever had; harder to catch cold. Aging>brain By age 80, brain= 5% less than right now. Remain physically and mentally active.

Disease Related to Aging A.Alzheimer’s disease - loss of memory, reasoning, language, and physical functioning. B. Senile Dementia -mental disintegration; accompanies alcoholism, tumor, stroke, aging, and, sometimes, Alzheimer’s -Dementia: be caused by anything that results in substantial loss of brain cells.

Cognitive Changes and Transitions A.Memory -people in 50s or older recall events from teen to early 20s -Our age group= best recall memory -Recognition: remains stable from ages B. Intelligence -Fluid intelligence: think SUDOKU -Crystallized intelligence: accumulated knowledge (increases)

Social Changes and Transitions A.College Majors and Work -Most first or second-year college students: change initial major -can’t accurately predict careers they will have later in life -change careers after entering the workforce -post college employment= different -quality of experience= happiness -What is happiness? *having work that is challenging, provides a sense of accomplishment, and fits interest. B. Love and Marriage -opposites DO NOT attract: it all depends love by any name is vital to a happy adulthood

It lasts longer and is more satisfying when marked by: – Intimate self disclosure – Shared emotional support – Similar interests 90% of population gets married at least once. Lasts longer if: members are over 20, have stable income, date a long time before marriage, and are well educated. Stable marriages: 5 to 1 positive to negative interactions

Children: – Empty-nest syndrome – Middle age women with children at home = lower happiness and less motherly satisfaction than those w/o children at home – “post launch honeymoon” C. A lifetime of well-being -Around 25 yrs., report feeling worthless, sad, or nervous than 70yrs -emotions: less extreme, more enduring later in life -Older people= CONTENTMENT

Dying and Death Reactions to death vary from culture to culture – Africa – Muslims – United States Death is the only guaranteed thing in life

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