1. Adulthood

2. Adulthood Early Adulthood – 20 – 35 years
Middle Adulthood – 36 – 64 years
Late Adulthood – 65 years and older

3. Early Adulthood
Physical peak in the 20s – faster, stronger, better coordinated, more endurance
Men focus on being independence, women on creating relationships with others

4. Physical Changes
Physical decline is one of the first noticeable symptoms of aging.
Decline in fertility.
Menopause: The natural time in a woman's life when her menstrual cycles end.
Happens around the age of 50
Men do not experience a cessation in fertility but the do experience a decline in sperm count.
Middle Adulthood

5. The Last Developmental Problems You Will Face
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
The Last Developmental Problems You Will Face
Some of the most obvious changes that occur with age affect physical abilities such as
Vision
Hearing
Thinking, learning, and problem solving
Memory
Sexual functioning
Social interaction
Emotions 42

6. Late Adulthood
Sensory Abilities
Muscle strength, reaction times, stamina, vision, smell, and hearing decrease with age.

7. Cognitive Development
Aging and Memory
As we age our memory does decline.
What we find is that recall (without cues…free response) is worse as we age than recognition (with cues…multiple choice).

8. Old Age: Alzheimer’s Disease
The risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease also increases with age. Individuals who are in the early stages of this disease show more MRI activity in the brain than do normal individuals of the same age.
Susan Bookheimer
At risk Alzheimer
Normal

9. Social Development
As people enter their forties they enter middle adulthood and realize that their life has been mostly lived.
Popular belief is that this stage this is troubling and may trigger a “mid- life crisis” or time of great struggle or regret.
False!
Not triggered by age but rather a major life event or change.

10. Social Development
Major life events trigger transitions to new life stages, and psychologist use the term “social- clock” to discuss these stages.
The social clock is the culturally preferred timing of social events, such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement.
Changes from culture to culture and era to era

11. Social Development and Work
Happiness stems from working in a job that fits your interests and provides you with a sense of competence and accomplishment.
Charles Harbutt/ Actuality

12. Marriage and Divorce Marriage and Intimate Relationships Divorce
Erickson  key task in young adulthood
75% over 18yrs married
27 men, 25 women
Majority marry in same ethnicity, level of education, social class, and religion
Divorce
Reasons: high expectations, abuse, infidelity, economics

13. Kubler-Ross Stages of Dying
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Denial
Person feels the doctor made a mistake, doctors must have made a mistake
Anger
Person becomes resentful of and angry at those around him.

14. Kubler-Ross Stages of Dying
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Bargaining
Person tries to bargain (with doctors and God) for more time.
Depression
Person comes to grips that death is inevitable but feels cheated.
Acceptance
Person accepts death as part of life and quietly makes necessary plans.

15. ROBOT CHICKEN
Y&noredirect=1