Mar 17 Flashcards
Name some overvalued ideas in our culture
Money
Physical beauty and youth
Overvalued ideas
Term connected with famous theorist named Alfred Adler. In some unconscious ways, we establish ideas that have the power to push and pull us forward. Most of the time, they are not rational. Most of the time, they pull us to things that are overvalued and temporary (eg. Being the fastest runner)
Physical changes with age
Height - get shorter
Weight - get fatter
Strength - declines
Less visual acuity, hearing impairment, slower reaction time (20% slower for 20-60 year olds)
Anti-aging
Most people don’t embrace aging bc youth is an overvalued idea. Aging is seen as though there is something wrong with an individual. You need to look young. Many anti-aging products on the market. Obsession with youth and physical appearance
Health enhancement
Contrasts with anti-aging. Healthy lifestyle can counteract some effects of aging. We should focus on being healthier rather than being prettier
Importance of exercise
On muscles - increases speed of movement and blood supply to the muscles, slow deterioration of bones, slows soreness in muscles
On nervous system - slows down impulses
On circulatory system - decreases bad cholesterol, lowers the chance of developing hypertension
On skeletal system - decreases osteoporosis or chances of developing osteoporosis
On psych state - decreases depression or chances of developing depression
Middle adulthood sexuality
Decline in frequency. Having grown kids that don’t live in the house leads to more opportunity for sex. Impact of menopause is less concern about getting pregnant. For men, harder to achieve erection and less volume of some. For women, find it painful sometimes
Female climacteric
Asian women have less symptoms, or maybe just report their symptoms less bc their social values don’t allow them to complain as much.
African American women report more hot flashes.
Caucasian women report more symptoms in general
Women associate menopause with dread. In other cultures, menopause means you are wiser.
Hormone replacement therapy (HMT) is very helpful in slowing down symptoms but is danger bc increases risk of cancer, heart attacks and stroke.
For menopause, expectation may play a huge role in symptomology, leading to a self fulfilling prophecy.
Male climacteric
Occurs in late middle age. A very gradual decline. Prostate enlargements causes problems with urination
Health in middle adulthood
Younger adults may deny and repress deteriorating health as time goes on. Increasing concern.
During 45-65, health is overall not that bad. There is a smaller chance of being affected by problems that are not chronic. Vast majority doesn’t suffer from chronic problems
Compare death rates among different races and sexes
African Americans have worse health than Caucasians. Could be socioeconomic factor.
Women tend to get more sick but less likely to die.
Life events model
Universal stages tied to a sequence of age-related crisis. Development is influenced by particular events of timing rather than aging per se. For example, a 50 year old man being an empty nester vs a 50 year old man having a 4 year old daughter. Both men are the same age but are going through different stages of life.
Normative crisis model
Universal stage tied to a sequence of age related crises
Which model is more accurate? The life events model or the normative crisis model?
It depends. When a woman becomes a widow, for example, the life events model is more appropriate
Generativity vs stagnation
Ages 30-65 approximately.
The longest stage
Generativity involved being productive, being active, and raising children
Stagnation involves not really doing much, just caring for themselves
