Unit 9 Flashcards
Describe variation in the lives of middle-aged adults, which makes prescribed roles and tasks in this life stage complicated by difference and diversity, such as Sandwich generation etc….
First, the empty nest syndrome refers to the unhappiness, worry, loneliness, and depression some parents feel when their children leave home. Many parents report that they go through a period of major adjustments and others have the opportunity to solve their stressful marital problems by divorcing. However, while the loss can be difficult, parents also find that some aspects of this transition are quite positive; for the first time in their lives they can do whatever they want. there are a lot of benefits when children leave the nest, they have more time for each other, the house stays neater, and the telephone rings less often. However, there is a down side to middle adulthood known as the boomerang children when young adults return home for some period; in addition, the sandwich generation, adults who are burdened in middle adulthood to fulfill the needs of both children and aging parents. Grandparenthood is the next stage that come with mixed blessings as a clear signpost of aging. There are different styles of grand parenting, first, Involved grandparents are actively engaged in and have influence over their grandchildren’s lives. Second, companionate grandparents are more relaxed by not taking on any of the responsibilities and like to be seen as more of as a buddy. Finally, the most aloof type of grandparents are remote. they are detached and distant, showing little interest in their grandchildren. Basically there is gender difference in the involvement and usually the grandmother plays a bigger role in the grand children’s lives.
Describe middle-aged body’s capabilities and sexual performance within the context of menopause.
For woman, when they transition into Menopause that marks the end of a woman’s fertility which changes hormone production. During this period that causes physical affects including the vaginal wall thins and grow less elastic, their vagina begin to shrink which can make having sexual intercourse uncomfortable. However, there is an increasing number of drugs, creams, ad testosterone patches that help increase one’s sexual pleasure.
Describe research on hormone replacement therapy. (2) also discuss health issues within this stage of development
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s natural fertility. These changes in hormone production can produce a variety of symptoms such as Hot Flashes, headaches, feelings of dizziness, heart palpitations, and aching joints. And still keep in mind, the psychological effects. To counteract these physical effects, doctors medicated woman with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) which in the beginning seemed to be a positive treatment. However, research found HRT put woman at a higher risk for breast cancer, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and heart disease. Therefore, HRT remains a gamble, women nearing menopause stage in middle life need to be more informed and consult their physician.
Describe cognitive changes in middle age, including different kinds of intelligence.
Developmentalists examined Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence, Fluid intelligence reflects information processing capabilities, reasoning, and memory and Crystallized intelligence is the information, skills, and strategies that people have accumulated through their own experiences and that has given them more thing to draw from to solve problems. Because crystallized intelligence holds steady and can actually steady and improves; even though,. some abilities change in middle adulthood others such as spatial orientation, numeric ability, verbal ability, and so on, rather than the broad divisions of crystallized and fluid intelligence. However, certain abilities decline such as inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, perceptual speed, and verbal memory at around age 25 and continue to do so through old age. These changes happen because brain functions begin to change. research shows that 20 genes that are vital to learning, memory, and mental flexibility begin to function less efficiently as early as age 40.
Describe how memory functions, and the development of expertise, drawn from years of experience.
The memory is viewed as three sequential parts: sensory memory is an initial, momentary storage of information. Next, short-term memory, where it is held for 15 to 25 seconds. If the information is rehearsed (practiced in private), it moves into long-term memory, where it is stored on a fairly permanent basis. In addition, Memory Schemas or Schemas are organized bodies of information stored in memory, Schemas represent the way the world is allowing people to categorize and interpret new information; such as, our schemas for eating out tells us how to treat the server, what sorts of food to eat first, and what we should leave as a tip. Peoples schemas organize their behaviours and help them to interpret social situations. Implications for learning for adults memory in this stage who return to school Mnemonics are formal strategies for organizing material in ways that make it easier such as using encoding specificity phenomenon: people are best able to recall information on a test if the test is held in the room in which they studied. Visualize: if you want to remember that global worming might lead to rising oceans, think of yourself on a beach on a hot day, with the waves coming closer and closer to where you are sitting. Rehearse: by practising or rehearsing what you wish to recall, you can substantially improve your memory
Describe the perspectives of normative-crisis vs. life events.
Erikson’s, Normative-crisis-models, this psychosocial theory predicts that people move through a series of stages and crises though out their lifespan. These approaches arose at a time when society had fairly rigid and uniform roles for people. Today, there is considerable variety of roles and timing for both sexes in society. As a result, social changes have called into question the normative-crisis model because of the relationship dynamics of today’s society.
Describe Erikson’s model as a time of Generativity-versus-stagnation, and we will discuss not only critiques of Erikson’s theory, but (2)more current research on midlife tasks
Generativity versus stagnation, according to Erikson, the state during middle adulthood in which people consider their contributions to family and society. Valliant suggests at around age 45 and 55 centers on seeking to extract meaning from their lives. Adults also seek to “keep the meaning” by accepting the strengths and weaknesses of others and appear content with the meaning they have found in life. People who are unable to achieve this state risk becoming rigid and increasingly isolate from others. Nevertheless, Gould states, people in their late thirties and early forties begin to feel a sense of urgency about attaining life’s goals as they realize that their life is finite. He basis this model of development on very few participants and relies heavily on his own clinical judgements, this research cannot be supported. However, Levinson’s critique is that the transition to middle age can lead to a midlife crisis, but there is little evidence that this is so for the majority of people.
Describe divorce and the impact of family violence
Divorce among midlife couples is rising and marriages terminate for many deferent reasons. Western culture emphasizes romance and passion, people might feel they have cause to divorce if the passion goes and the strain on the marriage when both parents work. both men and women who divorce in midlife are also likely to form new relationships, and possibly remarry. However, some people have personality and emotional problems that make relationships difficult. Family violence , emotional, physical, or financial abuse against a spouse. Both men and woman are likely to be abusive, but men are more likely to be the perpetrators of Violence which happens in three stages. First, tension-building stage, a batterer becomes upset and shows frustration by verbally abusing their spouse. Next, acute battering incident–the physical abuse actually occurs, lasting from several minutes to hours. Finally, loving contrition stage, when the husband feels remorse and apologizes for his actions and assuring his spouse that he will never do it again–that is a lie. At this point the victim should seek help (police, family shelter, and social supports) and both victim and batterer should be referred to a professional for help from an appropriate agency.
Describe work and career in midlife. You may want to reflect on health, employment, and family life, to provide a counterpoint to Erikson’s theory
In contrast to Eriksons theory, Health, besides not eating right--in midlife, their children have left home, and this allows parents to have more time on their hands being lonely and watching TV and being total inactive. In some cases, Employment can be shattering, their job have change because of technology and they no longer enjoy their jobs. When re-entering the work force they are soon disappointed by the realities of unemployment. They can only find entry level positions in their job search. They no longer see their families because they live far away from their geographical location. In contrast to Eriksons theory, Generativity versus stagnation, according to Erikson, the state during middle adulthood in which people consider their contributions to family and society
Compare and contrast roles and responsibilities in middle adulthood, including the role of grandparents, the impact of boomerang kids, and the stresses of the sandwich generation with Western normative approaches to aging and degeneration
First, the empty nest syndrome refers to the unhappiness, worry, loneliness, and depression some parents feel when their children leave home. Many parents report that they go through a period of major adjustments and others have the opportunity to solve their stressful marital problems by divorcing. However, while the loss can be difficult, parents also find that some aspects of this transition are quite positive; for the first time in their lives they can do whatever they want. there are a lot of benefits when children leave the nest, they have more time for each other, the house stays neater, and the telephone rings less often. However, there is a down side to middle adulthood known as the boomerang children when young adults return home for some period; in addition, the sandwich generation, adults who are burdened in middle adulthood to fulfill the needs of both children and aging parents. Grandparenthood is the next stage that come with mixed blessings as a clear signpost of aging. There are different styles of grand parenting, first, Involved grandparents are actively engaged in and have influence over their grandchildren’s lives. Second, companionate grandparents are more relaxed by not taking on any of the responsibilities and like to be seen as more of as a buddy. Finally, the most aloof type of grandparents are remote. they are detached and distant, showing little interest in their grandchildren. Basically there is gender difference in the involvement and usually the grandmother plays a bigger role in the grand children’s lives.
