Chpt 12 [Adulthood]

Question 1

What is the age of adulthood?

Answer 1

65/70/75 but an emphasis on 45-55 and

Question 2

What are the developmental milestones of adults?

Answer 2

• Marrying & forming families (raising kids)
• Work productively
• Assisting children in transition from home to world
• Empty nest syndrome that results in relating to spouse as a person.
• Adjusting to physiological changes of aging
• Assisting aging parents.

Question 3

Biosocial Development and Body Aging

Answer 3

• Senescence- The process of aging, whereby the body becomes less strong and less efficient.
• Senses usually remain the same but hearing/vision decline is common (hearing loss more common in men)
• Height and weight
• Changes in appearance

Question 4

Biosocial Development and Physiological Changes/Aging

Answer 4

• Menopause- (52 yrs old) when a woman’s menstrual period goes away and estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone production drops. Symptoms= Vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood changes, cold sweats, etc (ranges in intensity)
• Andropause- Menopause for men
• IVF (in vitro fertilization)- The union of ova and sperm in a glass dish in a lab used commonly by older or same-sex couples or single person.

Question 5

Life style moderators for Biosocial Development and Physiological Changes/Aging:

Answer 5

1. (Most important) Exercise
2. Diet
3. Smoking
4. Sun Exposure
5. Stress

Question 6

Optimal/Optional Diets (in general/in adulthood)

Answer 6

1. Mediterranean Diet- A diet with ample veggie’s, little meant, fish, nuts, whole grains, some dairy, glass of wine.
2. Intermittent Fasting- A pattern of eating that includes periods of restricted eating interspersed with unusual consumption. Most common is two days per week less than 750 cal and five days of normal eating and plenty of water.

Question 7

Cognitive Development & Basic Intelligence in Adulthood

Answer 7

• General Intelligence (g)- The idea of g assumes that intelligence is one basic trait, underlying all cognitive abilities. According to this concept, people have varying levels of this general ability.
• Fluid Intelligence- (goes down with age specially middle age) and is the type of basic intelligence that makes learning of all sorts quick and thorough. Abilities such as short-term memory, abstract thought, and thinking speed.
• Crystalized Intelligence- (goes up with age) and is the type of basic intelligence that reflects accumulated learning. Vocabulary and general information are examples.

Question 8

Sternberg’s 3 Forms of Intelligence

Answer 8

1. Analytic Intelligence- (book smart) Involves mental processes such as abstract planning, strategy selection, focused attention, and information processing, and verbal/logical skills.
2. Creative Intelligence- Involves the capacity to be intellectually flexible and innovative.
3. Practical Intelligence- (street smart) Involves intellectual skills used in everyday problem solving (sometimes called tacit intelligence)

Question 9

Selective Optimization w/ Compensation

Answer 9

Theory developed by Margaret and Paul Baltes, that people try to maintain a balance in their loves by looking for the best way to compensate for physical & cognitive losses and to become more proficient in activities they can already do well.

Question 10

Expert Cognition

Answer 10

Expert- Someone with specialized skills and knowledge developed around a particular activity or area of specific interest.

Question 11

Characteristics of Experts

Answer 11

1. Intuitive
2. Automatic
3. Strategic
4. Flexible
5. Enjoys Challenges