CHAPTER 3

Affirmative Aging - Adulthood

Chapter OverviewChapter Overview

Same Old?--Middle AdulthoodMidlife Transition or Midlife Crisis?Physical and Cognitive ChangesPossible Career ChangesSexual Changes

Decisions--Early AdulthoodLeaving HomeChoosing a CareerEstablishing Close RelationshipsStarting a Family

Aging Gracefully—Late AdulthoodPhysical and Cognitive ChangesPersonal and Social AdjustmentRetirementSuccessful Aging

AffirmativeAffirmativeAging--Aging--

AdulthoodAdulthood

Chapter Summary

Adult DevelopmentDecisions, Decisions, Decisions –

Early Adulthood Leaving Home Choosing a Career Establishing Close Relationships Starting a Family

Chapter Summary cont’d

Same Old, Same Old – Middle Adulthood

Midlife Transition or Midlife Crisis? Physical and Cognitive Changes Possible Career Changes Sexual Changes

Chapter Summary cont’d

Aging Gracefully – Late Adulthood

Physical and Cognitive Changes Personal and Social Adjustment Retirement Successful Aging

Adult Development

DevelopmentDevelopmentOur capabilities and behaviors continue to change as we grow older not only because of biological growth processes but also because of our understanding of and interactions with our environment.

Adult Development

AdulthoodAdulthoodThe period of life from physical maturity on, consisting of a sequence of physical and physiological changes throughout early, middle, and late adulthood.

Adult Development cont’d

Certain themes are important to Certain themes are important to adult development:adult development:

Adulthood is a period of continued development and personal change.

Increased importance of individual differences as we age.

Adult Development cont’d

Why are individual differences so Why are individual differences so noticeable in adulthood?noticeable in adulthood?

Non-age-related changes are more prominent: Events, influences that are unique to each of us and may occur at any age or not at all (e.g., illness, loss).

Through adolescence, age-related changes are more prominent: Changes which occur at a given age (e.g., puberty, high-school graduation).

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions–Early Adulthood

Leaving Home An important task in early adulthood! …creates perception of separation from

family. External aspects:

moving out of childhood home being less dependent on our parents.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions–Early Adulthood

cont’d

Internal aspects: Differentiation from

parents More autonomous

decision-making. …can cause

personal adjustment problems.

Trends indicate more young adults are moving back in!

Leaving Home

Choosing a Career …more than mere selection—preparation! The aim: to “make something of ourselves” and to

provide stability. Financial security influences choices… …can cause problems of adjustment.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions–Early Adulthood

cont’d

…another developmental task of young adulthood.

Young adults uncertain about themselves may be afraid of establishing close ties….

When intimate, relationships are noncommittal, the relationship is unstable; the more committed partner may feel vulnerable.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions–Early Adulthood

cont’dEstablishing

Close Relationships

Starting a FamilyTRENDS:• Young adults are

more thoughtful about marriage, families. RESULT: They marry and start families later.

• There is more “voluntary childlessness” too.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions–Early Adulthood

cont’d

• …working parents have fewer hours a week to spend with their children.

• Women’s educational, career plans are influenced more by family needs than are men’s.

Same Old, Same Old?--Middle Adulthood

Middle Adulthood:

that era between the late 30s and the 60s that is generally characterized by fulfillment of career and family goals.

Midlife Transition or Midlife Crisis?Midlife Transition or Midlife Crisis?The midlife transition:

a period of personal evaluation that comes sometimes with the realization that one’s life is

about half over.

Some people try hide the signs of middle age… Transitions can cause problems of adjustment

at this stage, too. Children leaving home Caring for aging parents The death of one’s parents Friends and neighbors retiring or moving

Same Old, Same Old?-Middle Adulthood

cont’d

Midlife Transition or Midlife Crisis?

Middle ageMiddle age--not necessarily a period of instability, crisis.

…emotions tend to soften.

Middle-aged adults report as much happiness and satisfaction as people in their twenties and thirties!

Same Old, Same Old?--Middle Adulthood

cont’d

Factors predictive of happiness and stability in midlife: religiosity, a stable marriage, good health.

Physical and Cognitive Changes

Physical ChangesPhysical Changes Weight gain Activity level decreases, pace slows Recovery from illness takes longer Decreased susceptibility to illness because of

increased resistance Those who remain physically active tend to

be healthier

Same Old, Same Old?--Middle Adulthood

cont’d

Physical and Cognitive Changes

Cognitive ChangesCognitive Changes Around age 50, people begin to differ more

in their cognitive abilities. Spatial ability and abstract reasoning may

begin to decline. Early-onset of Alzheimer’s disease--a

dementia of old age--can produce mild cognitive impairments (MCI).

Same Old, Same Old?--Middle Adulthood

cont’d

Possible Career Changes

Middle-aged people may seek new jobs or new careers.

Changes for womenIf they: worked, they may make a

late attempt to start a family.

stayed home, they may return to the workforce.

Some return to school as nontraditional students.

Same Old, Same Old?--Middle Adulthood

cont’d

Sexual Changes

WomenWomenMenopause-the cessation of monthly

menstrual cycles; signals an end to the childbearing years.

Hormone replacement therapy? Has recently been shown to cause serious adverse side effects.

Most women find other changes (e.g. caring for elderly parents) to be more distressing!

Same Old, Same Old?--Middle Adulthood

cont’d

Sexual Changes

MenMenThe climacteric-the loss of reproductive capacity. Includes the diminution of sexual vigor, decrease

in testosterone secretion, and reduced fertility. Men reach this 5 to 10 years later than women

reach menopause.

Men and women who take these changes in stride Men and women who take these changes in stride are able to find continued sexual satisfaction in are able to find continued sexual satisfaction in

middle age!middle age!

Same Old, Same Old?--Middle Adulthood

cont’d

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthood

Late adulthood:The final stage of adult development, from

mid-60s to death and is characterized by adjustment to changing health, income,

and social roles.

Introduction

Older people are likely to encounter ageism- negative attitudes and treatment (especially of older Americans) because of age.

The federal government has age-related protections in place to prevent discrimination….

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d

Physical Changes ...distinction between the young elderly--65-74

years; the old elderly--75 years an up; latter group experiences more infirmity.

Aging–the biological processes that come with advancing years, which increases the risk of illness and death, and is usually accompanied by appropriate psychosocial changes.

Bodily processes slow Decreased visual and auditory acuity Sleep is less restful Likelihood of death due to illness increases

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d

Cognitive Changes …decline is not inevitable! Fluid intelligence--the ability to process new

information based on perceptual skills and a memory.

Crystallized intelligence--the ability to use accumulated knowledge to make judgments and solve problems.

…fluid intelligence is affected more by aging. Creativity may peak! Temporal memory (remembering things related

to time) may be affected; other forms of memory aren’t necessarily affected.

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d

Personal and Social Adjustment

Activity, involvement = integrity!

…having an internal locus of control, the belief that something within him- or herself controls life events, helps! For example, most elderly Americans prefer to live in their

own homes…. Older women typically outlive their husbands so have

more adjustments to make. Poverty can be a factor….

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d

Retirement Attitudes about and

reasons for retirement vary from person to person.

…the more “voluntary” the retirement, the better the adjustment to it.

Adequate income is important to successful retirement; Social Security is not sufficient.

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d

Retirement RESEARCH INDICATES THAT: Retirement does not

cause a decline in self-esteem.

Older Americans value post-retirement activities (e.g., volunteer work or part-time employment).

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d

Successful AgingWHAT IS THE KEY? The activity theory of aging--individuals who

remain active age most successfully; OR The disengagement theory of aging--

individuals who disconnect from society as they age, age more normally.

… each person adopts a style of aging that best suits his or her needs and personality.

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d

Successful Aging

“Why does grandma tell so many stories about growing up?”

The life review--a naturally-occurring process of self-review prompted by the realization that life is approaching its end.

These help the older person to assess his or her life; leave a record of the past for others.

Individuals who felt satisfied with their earlier lives will likely age most successfully.

Aging Gracefully–Late Adulthoodcont’d