10.4 adult developement Flashcards
young adulthood ages
18-40
middle adulthood ages
40-65
older adulthood ages
65 +
dimensions that determine a successful transition into adult roles
- social relationships
- managing new freedoms
- overcoming new challenges
for women diff in young and middle adulthood
menopause
(mens are less dramatic)
-declines in testosterone and declines in sex drive
some complications associated with menopause
- estrogen levels drop significantly which can cause hot flashes
- lower interest in sex
- extreme emotional reactions
the risk of developing a neurodegenerative condition increases in older adulthood
ex. dementia -affects 14% of individuals over age 71
alzheimer’s disease - make up 10% of dementia cases involves progressive worsening, and ultimately fatal, brain damage
dementia
involves a serious disruption in mental functioning, memory difficulties, and impairments in judgment and decision making
Alzheimer’s disease
- build up of beta amyloid bw neurons (forming amyloid plaques)
- tangles of tau proteins within neurons (forming neurofibrillary tangles)
fluid intelligence
the capacity for new learning, speed of info processing, and the ability to adapt comfortably to new challenges and situations
(declines gradually with age)
crystallized intelligence
the ability to use previously acquired knowledge and skill
does not decline with age very much
factors that minimize declines in fluid intelligence
- staying physically active
- maintaining rewarding social relationships
- sticking to a healthy diet
- engaging in mentally challenging activities
erik erikson
8 crisis
8 crisis
- trust vs. mistrust in infancy
- automomy vs. sham/doubt in toddlerhood
- initiative vs. guilt in early childhood
- industry vs. inferiority in later childhood
- identity vs. role confusion in adolescence
- intimacy vs. isolation in early adulthood
- generativity vs. stagnation in middle adulthood
- ego integrity vs. despair during older adulthood
there are advantages to finding a long term committed relationship during adulthood
members of couples: have sex more often, are more physically active, eat healthier
**as long as the culture is accepting, being a member of a committed, but unmarried, couple provides the same health benefits as being a member of a married couple