maturitate

Question 1

What is adulthood?

Answer 1

The stage of development that starts at 18-21 years old and ends at death.

Question 2

How can we define development?

Answer 2

We can define development based on a number of different criteria:
- physical
- cognitive
- psychosocial

Question 3

What are Erikson’s developmental stages?

Answer 3

He has 8 but we will only focus on 3.
Early adulthood
Adulthood
Old age

Question 4

What is early adulthood?

Answer 4

20-25 yo
Seek relationships with others, lead to long-term commitment

Question 5

What is adulthood?

Answer 5

26-64 yo
- establish careers, settle down, start families
- give back to society through raising children and community activities

Question 6

What is the criticism of Erikson’s developmental stages?

Answer 6

Focused on western males
What causes these stages
How are they resolved
Issues with gender roles

Question 7

What are Levinson’s developmental stages?

Answer 7

4 stages with 3 transitions for both men and women
Based on interviews on key issues in life
Sequence of stages people pass through

Question 8

What is the childhood and adolescence stage? (Levinson)

Answer 8

birth - 17 yo
Person learns how to conduct themselves within family and society
Including cultural rules

Question 9

What is the early adult transition?

Answer 9

17-22 yo
Gain independence (financial)
Leaves home
Forms life goals, motivation for future

Question 10

What is the early adulthood stage?

Answer 10

22-40 yo
Creation of new life (independent from family)
Identity and pursue goals (career and relationships)
Attain responsible position in society

Question 11

What is the mid-life transition?

Answer 11

40-45 yo
Re-evaluation of life choices
Aspirations realised?
Sudden large changes
Mid-life crisis

Question 12

What is the middle adulthood stage?

Answer 12

45-60 yo
Stable, fulfilling period
Sense of recognition or self-worth
Become senior members of community
Reducing abilities

Question 13

What is the late adulthood transition?

Answer 13

40-65 yo
Physical and cognitive decline
Illness and death of peers
Reducing recognition and influence
Fear of aging

Question 14

What is the late adulthood transition?

Answer 14

65+
Giving up authority
Retirement
Own interests
Develop wisdom
Reflect on life experiences

Question 15

What are criticisms of Levinson’s developmental stages?

Answer 15

Claiming relevance for males and females but only interviewed men in their 40s

Question 16

What is the emerging adulthood theory?

Answer 16

Relatively new theory about stage between late adolescence and early adulthood
Not yet independent
Exploring life possibilities (generally positive)

Question 17

Do cognitive abilities continue to change into adulthood?

Answer 17

Piaget indicated that the highest stage of cognitive development was “formal operations” between 15-18 yo.
Researchers suggest there’s differences between adolescent and adult reasoning and cognition

Question 18

What is the proposed stage beyond Piaget’s formal operations?

Answer 18

Post formal thought
Flexible, creative thinking
Knowledge in context
More than 1 possible logical response

Question 19

What happens to cognitive abilities with age?

Answer 19

Cross-sectional studies suggest that many abilities decline with age.
HOWEVER
Some abilities are stable in adulthood e.g.
Language abilities tend to be better with age.

Question 20

Do cognitive abilities impact our health?

Answer 20

People with higher IQ have fewer health problems and live longer.

Question 21

What is the impact of socioeconomic status on health and longevity?

Answer 21

SES interacts with IQ
Low SES + low IW people have more risk of heart disease
High SES + low IQ people do not have increased risk

SO
SES impacts

Question 22

Does personality change over time?

Answer 22

Much research suggests that people’s personality is relatively stable over time

Question 23

How does life satisfaction change across adulthood?

Answer 23

We see a U-shaped curve for life satisfaction or quality of life.
Lowest satisfaction in middle age in 40s
HOWEVER
Some studies suggest few differences in rates of change
e.g.
Few differences in happiness ratings by age

Question 24

What is the issue with cohort effects in development?

Answer 24

Cohort effect is an effect due to group characteristics.
It can be difficult to disentangle age effects from cohort effects.
Smoking can have effects on cohort.