Adolescence and Adulthood

Question 1

What is the world wide state of adolescence?

Answer 1

All cultures have it in some form. In west, prolonged education and economic dependence lengthens it

Question 2

When do growth spurts/puberty start for girls and boys? What also happens and what’s responsible for it?

Answer 2

9-10 for girls, 10-12 for boys

-Secondary sex characteristics form, everything caused by hormonal changes

Question 3

What are menarche and spermarch

Answer 3

First period, ejaculation

Question 4

How has puberty changed in the modern age? Why? (two reasons)

Answer 4

Happens more rapid than ever. Higher nutrition now, also maybe environmental pollutants trigger endocrine disruptors faster?

Question 5

What is premature maturation associated with?

Answer 5

Higher tendency for drug use, etc

Question 6

What happens in the teen brain?

Answer 6

White matter increases (mylenation, greater connectivity), and grey matter decreases (synaptic pruning, specialization).

Question 7

Why are teens more likely to take risks?

Answer 7

Aforementioned changes, also more sensitive to rewards because of early maturing dopamine circuits. Finally, more influenced by peer-pressure

Question 8

What is the relationship to teen suicide and ethnicity according to Chandler?

Answer 8

Two circumstances required for it

1. set of changes that most adolescents experience
2. cultural disarray -> need strong cultural presence and continuity for identity formation

Question 9

What did Erikson say about teens and identity formation?

Answer 9

Biggest challenge for teens. Must find balance between seeing oneself as unique while also embracing an ideology in line with values and that gives direction

Question 10

According to Marcia, what are the 4 stages of identity formation?

Answer 10

1. Identity diffusion: apathy, no ideology, struggle to form identity
2. Identity foreclosure: in line with parents, premature commitment to ideas (conformity)
3. Identity moratorium: delaying commitment to seek other options. Unsure, experimentation. (finishing high school, gap year)
4. Identity achievement: self direction after consideration of alternatives, higher self esteem

Question 11

Describe the proposed fifth developmental stage of emerging adulthood

Answer 11

18-25. Is it a stage or just a historical blip? Delaying marriage and parenthood, continuing careers/education
instability and exploration now the norm

Question 12

What do stats reveal about the big five personality traits throughout adulthood?

Answer 12

People become more agreeable and conscientious over time. Openness to new experiences and neuroticism go down

Question 13

How stable is personality throughout adulthood? When does development continue until?

Answer 13

Fairly stable, some will have more erratic paths than others. Development continues until 50s

Question 14

What are the four takeaways about personality-development stats?

Answer 14

1. variations in the extent of personality change among people
2. biggest changes in raw (not average) change scores happen in 20-40
3. big changes happen even in old age
4. typical trend is upwards (positive, towards maturity)

Question 15

What are Erikson’s 3 stages of adulthood?

Answer 15

6. Early adulthood: intimacy vs isolation (not just romantic) “shall I live with others or live alone?”
7. Middle adulthood: generatively vs self-absorption (thinking of one’s legacy, concern for children). Drastic changes in life. “Will I produce something of real value?”
8. Late adulthood: integrity vs despair (trying not to dwell on past mistakes, death vs positivity) “Have I lived a full life?”

Question 16

What are some causes of the trend for postponing marriage and kids?

Answer 16

Careers for women, education, personal autonomy

Question 17

Define conjugal status

Answer 17

Stats can: status in relationship between cohabiting couples

Question 18

What are the distinctions between two types of marital optimism and how to they impact the relationship?

Answer 18

1. As a personality trait: good. Generally positive about situation
2. Relationship-specific. Bad. Idealized visions, disappointment

Question 19

How does domestic work impact marriages?

Answer 19

Biggest sources of strife. Wives still do more, but husbands have increased share steadily

Question 20

What are the numbers of having kids and disatisfaction?

Answer 20

Overall a positive experience, but:

1. marital satisfaction declines
2. Mothers of new kids have steepest drop
3. more kids = less satisfaction
4. More satisfied the couple, the steeper the drop

Question 21

When is assisted dying ok in Canada?

Answer 21

When death by illness is “reasonably forseeable”

Question 22

Explain: menopause

Answer 22

Hormonal changes causing infertility. Can lead to seem depression, but this is overhyped

Question 23

What psychological factors influence how “well” we age? (including as a guard against Dementia)

Answer 23

intellectually stimulating activities, optimism, hobbies, social interactions, as well as better health habits combine to increase our lifespan and improve health as we age

Question 24

What is the difference between Dementia and a normal brain feature of aging?

Answer 24

We do lose a lot of brain tissue as we age but this doesn’t have much of an effect. Dementia is NOT a normal part of aging

Question 25

How does Alzheimer’s work?

Answer 25

Causes not understood (aside from genetics) Loss of tissue in Hippocampus, progresses for 8-10 years before death. Can’t retrieve information

Question 26

How does aging effect cognition?

Answer 26

Episodic memory suffers, processing time decreases. However, old people are generally still as smart

Question 27

Explain the use it or lose it hypothesis

Answer 27

Stimulating activities slow cognitive decline. Learning new skills especially helps

Question 28

When does fear of death peak? What is the main strategy in the west?

Answer 28

Avoidance. Peaks in middle age and plateaus, become more concerned with circumstances of death as we get old

Question 29

5 stages of grief for death?

Answer 29

-five stages: denial, anger, bargaining (with God), depression, acceptance (not a strict order)

Question 30

What are the four main bereaved spousal responses?

Answer 30

1. Absent grief: low levels of depression
2. Chronic grief: low pre loss depression is sustained
3. common grief: spike after death, decline over time
4. depressed improved pattern: heavy grief alleviated after passing
   - 1 is most common (50%)

Question 31

What are some behavioural differences between men and women? (3)

Answer 31

1. Women more likely to pick up non verbal cues
2. Men more aggressive (physically AND verbally)
3. Men more into sex

Question 32

What are three things that get worse as we age? (3)

Answer 32

Internal thermometer
Sense of humour
Fluid intelligence

Question 33

What are the environmental origins for sexual differences? (3)

Answer 33

1. Parents and schools rewarding kids through operant conditioning
2. Observational learning/idolizing
3. Self socialization: kids active participants, recognize sex as permanent, shape themselves accordingly