1. Adulthood and Aging
psychology

2. Young Adulthood From about 20-40 Starting a job Emotionally mature
Getting married
Having children
Independence

3. Divorce About 40-50% of couples get divorced
If you’ve had 1 divorce, you’re more likely to divorce again
Change in values: staying together and raising a family has become less important than personal fulfillment and happiness
Women’s economic independence
Declining influence of family and religion
Divorce laws have changed

4. Mid-life Crises More common in men than women
Reassessing life (did they accomplish their dreams, etc . . .)
Can be brought about by marital distress, extramarital affairs, change in jobs.
Not everyone experiences this, some thrive in their forties.

5. Old Age Aging process begins the moment we are born
Gradual loss of lean muscle tissue and bone mass
This contributes to diminished vision and hearing
Aging process can be slowed by proper nutrition and physical activity
By 80 the brain will have lost 7% of its peak weight
The brain loses neurons and some kinds of thinking can be slowed down
However, the older brain compensates by increasing its “crystalline intelligence”, the ability to solve problems by using previously acquired knowledge or experience

6. Illness and death 5 stages to dealing with terminal illness:
Denial
Anger at fate (God, doctors, etc.)
Bargaining (if I could just live until my son graduates )
Depression
Acceptance
Individual reactions vary
Advanced Directives are important

7. Illness and death Stages of the loss of a loved one:
Shock and numbness (during funeral planning, etc.)
Acute pangs of grief
A period of searching (still think of the person in the present)
Dreams or hallucinations of the loved one
Dying of a broken heart:
One study found that husbands had a 33% increase of death within the first 3 months of their wives death, most from coronary disease.