Adolescence and Adulthood

Physical and Sexual DevelopmentAdolescence is the transition from child to

adult.

Certain cultures and religions have initiation rites or rituals for when kids become adolescents.

Theories on AdolescentsG. Stanley Hall- Adolescence is transitional

stage; Adolescence is a “storm and stress,” as marginal being, confused, troubled, and highly frustrated.

Margaret Mead- Culture might play role in development; “storm and stress” is caused by industrialized society.

Robert Havighurst- Every adolescent faces challenges and has to learn to handle them.

Puberty- biologically ends childhood.

At what age does puberty start in girls? Boys?

What happens during puberty? Physically? Emotionally?

Menarche- females first menstrual period.

Spermarche- typically between 12-13 yrs. Old; first period of ejaculation.

Asynchrony- phase where adolescents growth or maturation of body parts is uneven.

Reactions to Growth

Most find this stage upsetting.

Adolescents want to be accepted by peers.

Negative body image or depression can occur.

Lack of self-confidence, rebellious, moody.

Sexual DevelopmentAdolescence is the time when

individuals develop attitudes towards sex and expectations.

Sex AwarenessAbstinenceSafe sexSTD’sContraceptives

Personal Development

An adolescent searches for their own identity.TattoosPiercingsPersonal Physical Transformations

Cognitive DevelopmentPiaget- formal operations; thinking

becomes more abstract.

Rationalization- process where individuals explain an often unpleasant emotion or behavior in a way that will preserve his or her self-esteem.

Dr. David Elkind- some adolescent problems develop as a result in immaturity or absent thought.Finding fault with authority figuresArgumentativeIndecisivenessSelf consciousness Invulnerability

Moral DevelopmentNot all adolescents go through changes in

moral thinking.Kohlberg Stages of moral development

Identity DevelopmentErikson Theory of Identity Crisis

Identity crisis- period of inner conflict which adolescents worry intensely about who they are.

James Marica’s Theory on Identity CrisisIdentity moratorium adolescents-

seriously considers issues, but have done nothing of important to face them.

Identity foreclosure adolescents- made a firm commitment about issues, but not on their own choices, but by others around them.

Identity confusion or diffused adolescents- not yet given any serious thought of making decisions and have no clear sense of identity.

Identity achievement adolescents- consider many possible identities and have freely committed themselves to occupations and other life matters.

Social Development

Role of family members then? Now?

Peer pressure/fitting inClique- small, exclusive

group of people within a larger group (

Conformity- acting in accordance with some specified authority.

Problems during AdolescentsTeenage crimeDepressionSuicideEating disordersDrug abuse Alcohol abuseBullying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I87QmHeq1I&feature=c4-overview&list=UUyoENTmfd1asFU747-xwnGA

Gender Roles and DifferencesGender identity- what gender (male or

female) you biologically belong to.

Gender role- set of behaviors that society considers appropriate for that gender.

Gender stereotyping- generalization of characteristics about men and women.

Androgynous- combining traditionally male and female characteristics (ambition, independence, affectionate, understanding, sensitive).

Gender DifferencesMen

More confidentBetter at Math and Science academicallyPhysically aggressiveDisplay of dominance and status

WomenVerbally aggressiveUse disclaimers in speech, “I may be wrong,

but” or “you know”Use tag questions; asking a question at the

end of a sentence, “Okay?”More submissive, warm, and sensitive

Lady vs. a Real Woman

Ladies: If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

Real Woman: Go ask the very cute neighbor guy to do it.

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus…

Origins of Gender DifferencesBiological Theory- role of hormones,

anatomy, and brain organization.

Psychoanalytical Theory- when a child identifies with the same sex parent.

Social Learning Theory- role of social and cognitive processes on how to perceive, organize, and use information.

Cognitive-Developmental Theory- the idea that children acquire gender roles by interacting with their environment and thinking about those experiences.

Gender schema- mental representation of behavior that helps children organize and categories their behaviors.

Changing Gender RolesHow have the roles of men changed over

the past 50 years?

How have the roles of women changed over the past 50 years?

Adulthood

AdulthoodAdulthood is a time of change And

sameness, success and failure, crisis and stability, joy and sadness.

What was once possibility turns to limitations.

How we all handle adulthood depends on our preparation, circumstances and general outlook on life.

Physical ChangesYoung adults are at their physical peak

from 18-30.

This is when we are at our strongest, healthiest, and quickest reflexes.

At middle age, appearances change; hair turns grey and thins, wrinkles appear, muscles weaken, and fat starts to deposit itself.

Health ProblemsGood health reflects a life of choices, such

as exercise, diet, and lifestyle.

Top health problemsHeart diseaseCancerCirrhosis of the liver

Menopause

Occurs in women 45-50 years old

All women go through the climacteric, which represents all of the psychological and biological changes occurring at that time.

Menopause- a woman’s production of sex hormones drop dramatically

Men do not go through any biological changes as severe as menopause, but men do lose sperm gradually over the years.

Marriage and Divorce

90% of American adults will marry at some time in their lives.

Over 50% of American marriages end in divorce.

What makes a marriage last?

Two factors that determine if a marriage can make it…How couples

handle conflictHow often couples

share intimate and happy moments

Sexual BehaviorIs there sex after 40?

There is no physiological research that suggests that sex stops at one ages.

Most sexual inactivity is due to boredom, poor physical condition, or illness.

Levinson’s Theory of Male DevelopmentDaniel Levinson proposed a model of adult

development for menEntering the adult world: ages 22-28, need to

explore and establish a stable life structure.

The Age-Thirty Crisis: life, marriage, and career goals are re-examined.

Settling Down: 36-40 years old; questioning and searching of the thirty something questions begin to be resolved.

Midlife Transition: Around 40-45 years old; What have I done with my life? What have I accomplished?Generativity- desire to use one’s wisdom to guide

future generations.Stagnation- desire to recapture the past

Middle Adulthood: Late 40’s; true adulthood has been achieved. This period is a time of extreme frustration and unhappiness.

Old Age

Decremental model for aging: progressive physical and mental decline is inevitable with age.

Ageism: prejudice or discrimination against the elderly.

http://www.seniorsolutionsofamerica.com/home.html

Changes in HealthPhysical strength and senses decrease

1% ever year through adulthood.

Obesity is on the rise in our nation.

Which state do you think has the highest percentage of obese people?

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

Changes in Life SituationLife transitions for a young adult

GraduationMarriageParenthood

Life transitions for late adulthoodRetirementwidowhood

About 50% of women and 20% of men are widowed by the age of 65.

About one third of men and women are alone by 80 years old

Adjusting to Old Age

Gradual loss of control in life and decision making.

When older people are unable to maintain what they value most- good health, recognition in the community, visits from friends and family, privacy, leisure and work activities, their quality of life diminishes and so does their self image.

Changes in Mental FunctionDecline in memory and sometime

intelligence.

John Horn believes there are two types of intelligenceCrystallized- ability to use accumulated

knowledge and learning in appropriate situations (increases with age)

Fluid- ability to solve abstract relational problems and to generate new hypotheses (increases development of nervous system as we mature)

As we age, our nervous system declines and so does our fluid intelligence.

Decline in nervous system affects reaction time, visual motor flexibility, and memory.

Senile DementiaDecrease in mental abilities experienced by

some people in old age.

Includes memory loss, forgetfulness, disorientation of time and place, decline of mental ability, impaired attention, altered personality, and difficulties relating to others.

Types of Dementia Vascular- impairments in cognitive function caused by

problems in blood vessels that feed the brain.

Parkinson's- often starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes a slowing or freezing of movement.

Lewy body- visual hallucinations, which can be one of the first signs of the disorder. Hallucinations may range from abstract shapes or colors to conversations with deceased loved ones.

Frontotemporal- primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain — the areas generally associated with personality, behavior and language.

Alzheimer’s DiseaseForm of senile dementia

Neurological disease that gradually deteriorates the cognitive functioning.

Early signs include, frequent forgetting, poor judgment, increased irritability, paranoia and social withdrawal.

Eventually followed by loss of comprehension and unable to recognize friends or family, lose ability to control bodily function.

Dying and Death Thanatology- study of dying and death

Stages of psychological adjustment to death Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

HospiceA facility designed to care for the special

needs of the dying.