Adulthood & Aging Overview

Adulthood & Aging

• Adulthood is the period from 20 to 60 years old
• It's divided into young adulthood (20-30), middle adulthood (30-60), and old age (60+)
• Old age (60+) is characterized by biological and social changes, including illnesses like Alzheimer's, arthritis, and heart disease.

Overview

• Definition of Terms: Includes distinctions between young, middle, and old adulthood, as well as the concept of aging.
• Development in Adulthood and Aging: Focuses on the progression of developments in adulthood and aging.
• Psychosocial Development in Adulthood: Examines the psychosocial changes occurring during adulthood.
• Theories for Adulthood & Aging: Explores various theories relevant to understanding adulthood and aging.

Young Adulthood

• Describes people aged 20-30.
• This period is characterized by social and emotional changes.

Middle Adulthood

• Describes people aged 30-60.
• Marked prominently by biological and social changes.

Old Age

• Consists of people aged 60 and older.
• Significant biological and social changes occur in this period.

Other Important Terms

• Aging: Defined as the process of becoming old.

Physical Development

• Complete physical maturation typically happens by early adulthood (20s-early 40s), but height and weight may still change slightly.
• Peak physical abilities, including muscle strength, reaction time, sensory abilities, and cardiac function happen in young adulthood.
• Gradual physical decline begins in middle adulthood, with skin losing elasticity, and wrinkles appearing.
• Late adulthood is marked by further loss of elasticity, slower reaction time, decreased muscle strength, and diminished senses (smell, taste, hearing, and vision). Decline in brain function can lead to memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.

Cognitive Development

• Fluid Intelligence: Includes logical reasoning, memory, spatial ability, and reaction time.
• Crystallized Intelligence: Involves using experiences and knowledge to solve problems (vocabulary, math problems, comprehension of text).
• Older adults often perform worse than younger adults on memory tasks requiring retrieving information previously learned.
• Efficiency of working memory declines with age, and the ability to focus while suppressing distractions may also diminish.

Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

• This framework outlines various stages of psychosocial development throughout life, from infancy through old age, highlighting the virtues developed at each stage.

Psychosocial Development: Erik Erikson's Integrity vs. Despair

• Integrity vs. Despair is a stage of psychological development during old age.
• The person with integrity defends their lifestyle values and dignity. They realize their life's experiences were part of a historical context and see life's meaning.

Erikson's 9th Stage

• Joan Erikson proposed a ninth stage of psychosocial development, adding that older adults revisit previous conflicts and adapt to physical and social changes in new ways
• This stage focuses on coming to terms with changes, and attaining gerotranscendence.

Activity Theory

• Developed by Havighurst and Albrecht in 1953
• Encourages active lifestyles in old age, emphasizing avoidance of sedentary lifestyles to maintain health and happiness.
• Adjusts to changing age-related circumstances like retirement, illness, or loss.

Disengagement Theory

• Developed by Cumming and Henry in the 1950s.
• Argues that older adults should follow their inclination towards solitude and greater inactivity, adjusting to smaller social circles like family and friends.
• Suggests that older adults often disengage from their larger social roles.

Continuity Theory

• Older adults continue to view themselves similarly to younger selves in terms of approaches to problem-solving, goals, and everyday activities.
• The continuity theory suggests that older adults retain their sense of identity even as they may change roles or activities.

Explore the stages of adulthood from young adulthood to old age in this comprehensive quiz. Delve into psychosocial development, the categorization of adulthood, and significant theories related to aging. Understand the biological and social changes that accompany each stage.