1. Adulthood and Old Age Chapter 10

2. Objectives Describe the physical, sexual, and intellectual changes that occur during adulthood Identify recent research related to older adults Identify, describe, and critique the stages of dying

3. Key Terms Ageism Closed awareness Decremental model of aging GenerativityMenopause Mutual pretense awareness Open awareness Stagnation Suspected awareness Thanatology

4. Introduction What is over the hill? What does middle age bring? Does everyone want to look young?

5. Introduction Is middle age a time of physical and mental deterioration? Are there stereotypes about getting older?

6. Adulthood What is adulthood like? ChangeSamenessSuccessFailureCrisisStabilityJoySadness

7. Adulthood Adulthood can be a time when a person matures fully into what he or she is OR It can be a time when life closes in and what was once possibility is now limitation

8. Adulthood Study of adulthood was not always a strength in society. Psychologists focused on childhood and adolescence Today, a growing number of psychologists are studying adult psychology. Focus on a period of changes and transformations Identifying & performing well in occupation Social & civic responsibilities Relating to significant other Satisfying leisure activities Helping kids become responsible Relating to one’s aging parents

9. Physical Changes Humans peak between 18-25 Period where they are strongest, healthiest, & quickest reflexes Look at pro athletes Read page 244, last paragraph

10. Physical Changes Health problems Natural process of aging Diseases Disuse and abuse Someone who is 30 pounds overweight, the chance of dying during middle age increases by 40% Smoking: Cancer of mouth, throat, and lungs, respiratory and heart problems Cardiovascular disease leading cause of death during middle ages

11. Physical Changes A person who eats sensibly, exercises, avoids cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol, and is not subjected to severe emotional stress will look and feel younger than someone who neglects his or her health

12. Menopause Between ages 45-50 in a woman’s life is a stage called climacteric, which represents all of the psychological and biological changes occurring at that time Menopause: When a woman’s production of sex hormones drops sharply Woman stops ovulating (producing eggs) and menstruating Woman stops ovulating (producing eggs) and menstruating Cannot conceive children Men do not go through menopause or a biological change equivalent to women

13. Social & Personality Development For a long time, psychologists commonly applied theories of childhood and adolescent development to the middle years Now only are we beginning to find out how age affects personality An individual’s basic character-his or her style of adapting to situations- is relatively stable over the years. Researchers are also convinced, however, that personality is flexible and capable of changing as an individual confronts new tasks

14. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Daniel Levinson & Yale colleagues 1976 Mentioned in book Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life Levinson interviewed 4 groups of men between ages 35-45 10 executives 10 Hourly workers in industry 10 novelists 10 University biologists A life structure was developed for each man based on the interviews Major periods of man’s life based on activities, associations, relationships

15. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development See handout Model shows the development sequence of a man’s life that Levinson proposed. The scheme emphasizes the development is an ongoing process that requires continual adjustment Similarities between Levinson theory and last 3 stages of Erikson’s psychosocial theory

16. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Stage 1: Early Adulthood (17 to 40) Age 22-28 Young man is considered (by himself & society) to be a novice in the adult world. Not fully established as a man, but no longer an adolescent During this time, must attempt to resolve the conflict between The need to explore the options of the adult world and need to establish a stable life Needs to sample different kinds of relationships Keeps choices about career and employment open Needs to begin a career, but may not be fully committed Establish a home and family of his own Lacks a full sense of stability or permanence

17. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Stage 1: Early Adulthood (17 to 40) continued Age-thirty crisis Some years ago, the motto of the rebellious, politically oriented young people who sought to change American society was “NEVER TRUST ANYONE OVER 30” Man feels that any parts of his life that are unsatisfying or incomplete must be attended to now, because it will soon be too late to make major changes

18. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Stage 1: Early Adulthood (17 to 40) continued Settling down Questioning and searching part of age-thirty crisis Firm choices about (Making it in the adult world!!) CareerFamilyRelationships Boom phase 36-40 Becoming one’s own man Fully independent

19. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Stage 2: Middle Adulthood (40 to 60) Mid-life transition (40-45) Man begins to ask questions What have I done in my life? What have I accomplished? What do I still have to accomplish? Resurgence in sex interests Husband and wife more time alone Stagnation can occur Stagnation: A discontinuation of development and a desire to recapture the past, characteristic of some middle-aged people Play same sports?

20. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Stage 2: Middle Adulthood (40 to 60) Late 40’s True adulthood achieved Understands and tolerates others Displays a sensitivity and concern for other people Balance between friends and privacy Others are as fortunate Extreme frustration UnhappinessIsolation

21. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Stage 3: Late Adulthood (beginning at about age 60) Golden agers Senior citizens Decremental model of aging: Holds that progressive physical and mental decline is inevitable with age Decremental view from society Drivers… Most of use know people or are 80 but act 50

22. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Stage 3: Late Adulthood 65 and older are in reasonable good health 80% can carry out normal activities Senses do decline 40% have a chronic disease

23. Female Development Men experience a mid-life crisis, married women at mid- life are facing fewer demands in their traditional task as mother. Career and family Women now start a family after a career Regardless of change, women still are the ones who typically are responsible for both housework and child care

24. Female Development Physical attractiveness in mid-life Tend to be more conscious of the aging process than men Tend to be considered less attractive with age Different image of one’s self Empty-nest syndrome A significant event in many women’s lives is the departure from home of the last child Need not be traumatic, many women express happiness New interests and activities Not all psychologists agree Stable marriage plays a role Widow or divorced can make it more difficult

25. Female Development Depression in mid-life Women 2-6 times more likely than men to suffer depression Some experience a loss of personal worth

26. Death and Dying Closed awareness: The situation in which the medical staff and the family are aware of the patient’s terminal condition but the patient is not Suspected awareness: The situation in which some patients begin to sense that their illness is terminal and endeavor to find out from a medial staff or from their families whether suspicions are true Mutual pretense awareness: The situation in which both the medical staff and the patient pretend they do not know that the patient’s disease is terminal Open awareness: The situation in which the medical staff and the patient publically admit to the knowledge of the patient’s terminal disease

27. Death and Dying Thanatology: Study of death and dying Stage 1: Denial People’s most common reaction to learning that they have a terminal illness is shock and numbness, followed by denial Stage 2: Anger Why me? They feel anger-at fate, at the powers that be, at every person who comes into their life Stage 3: Bargaining People change their attitude and attempt to bargain with fate

28. Death and Dying Stage 4: Depression Aware of the losses they are incurring Loss of everyone and everything Stage 5: Acceptance The struggle is over Experience a sense of calm Peaceful Read Hospices page 261

29. Handout Handout