Adult Development PDF

Adult Development  Allport’s 7 Dimensions of Maturity 1. Extension of self – to environment 2. Relating Warmly to Others - Intimacy 3. Emotional Security – Self-acceptance, Emotional Acceptance, Frustration Tolerance & Confidence in Self-expression 4. Realistic Perception –...

Adult Development  Allport’s 7 Dimensions of Maturity 1. Extension of self – to environment 2. Relating Warmly to Others - Intimacy 3. Emotional Security – Self-acceptance, Emotional Acceptance, Frustration Tolerance & Confidence in Self-expression 4. Realistic Perception – no distortion 5. Possession of Skills & Competencies 6. Knowledge of self – self-objectification 7. Establishing Unifying Philosophy of Life  Three Phases of Adulthood 1. Young Adulthood: 20-40 2. Middle Adulthood: 40-60 3. Old Adulthood (Maturity): +60 Young Adulthood Ages 20-40  Young Adulthood Age Range: 20-40 (onset at end of adolescence- exact age varies widely) Peaking of biological development Transition from progression (growth) to retrogression (aging) over the course of this period Physical and Cognitive Changes Early Losses  George Gould’s Stages of Young Adulthood Leaving our parents’ world: 16-22 – False assumption: “we will always belong to our parents & believe in their world” I’m nobody’s baby now: 22-28 – False assumption: “I have to do it my parents’ way” Opening up to what’s inside: 28- 34 – False assumption: “Life is simple &  Physical Changes Decreased metabolism Hair loss Skin is losing tone- wrinkles Some loss of procreative function  Cognitive Changes Fluid cognitive ability peaks in 20s and begins to decline thereafter Slowing of reflexes, processing speed and working memory Crystalized intelligence less  Social-Emotional Development 1st up, Eriksonian Theory: Young Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation  Erikson’s Theory: Intimacy vs. Isolation Intimacy Isolation Seeks to make Unsuccessful in attempt commitments to others to develop committed due to desire for relationship (whether by emotional involvement choice or difficulty) (in sexual context) May display self- absorption Establishes intimate May suffer from isolation relationship and loneliness  Psychological Aspects Young adulthood viewed as relatively stable period (vs. “turmoil” of adolescence) Yet, also a time of onset for many psychiatric disorders: – Coincident with brain maturation? Developmental Tasks of Young Adulthood  Developmental Tasks Accepting age-related changes in body Develop adult friendships – Primary source of emotional sustenance – Substitutes for parents and siblings in young adulthood – Need for closeness and confidentiality  Independence Separation from family of origin – Learn to function without using parents as major source of comfort, security, direction – Establish sense of “equality” with parents – Shift to focus on family of procreation Develop a young adult sense of self and others – Comfortable and competent alone (e.g., “I’m my own man”)  Parenthood Establishing a legacy for the future – Parenthood and/or other contributions to society Develop similarity with own parents Provide parents with role experience of grandparenthood Establish an adult work identity Develop adult forms of play – Recognize personal limits (e.g., you are not going to be a famous football star) Middle Adulthood  Generativity versus Stagnation Generativity: A desire to create things in the world that will outlive you – Guiding the next generation, or improving society in general Failure at generativity may lead to stagnation (lack of growth/ development) – May be self- centered, isolated and unable to participate meaningfully in the world  Developmental Tasks of Adulthood 1. Accepting the aging body and mourning the loss of youth 2. Reappraisal of relationships, commitments to family, work 3. Taking stock of accomplishments and setting future goals – Mid-Life Transition vs. Crisis 4. Reversal of role with parents 5. Taking up new hobbies, interests  Developmental Tasks Physical decline- major illnesses, peer group deaths Struggle to maintain body integrity in the face of failing health and potential loss of independence Changing physical appearance – Vision, skin tone, hair color  Accepting the Aging Body Changing private aspects- cessation of menstruation, altered sexual function, changes in urination Loss of physical strength and youthful appearance- sometimes met with denial and defiance Reappraisal of Relationships The Struggle: settling for what person have vs. searching for perfection with new partner, job purpose Conflict causes new career pathways, trial separations, divorce, and affairs  Mid-Life Crisis Mid-life crisis: Major and revolutionary turning point in life, involving changes in commitments to career or spouse Accompanied by significant and ongoing emotional turmoil for both the involved adult and others – Upheaval of major proportions- Period of internal agitation is followed by flurry of impulsive actions  Mid-life transition (good) and Mid-life crisis (not so good) Mid-life transition: intense reappraisal of all aspects of life Precipitated by the growing recognition that life is finite and approaching an end  Role Reversal with Parents Occurs as elderly parents are less able to care for themselves Forces middle-aged child to anticipate the parents’ demise Forces attention on time limitations  “Playing” at Mid-Life Aging forces abandonment of most contact sports, but new hobbies and interests are pursued  Old Age Aka Maturity or Late Adulthood Old Age- Seniority/Maturity Federal government defines persons over 60 years of age as senior citizens  Life Expectancy Average life expectancy – Women: 78 years – Men: 72 years  Ego Integrity vs. Despair Reflecting upon one's life and its role in the big scheme of things Ego Integrity: satisfaction and pride in past accomplishments vs. Despair: feelings of regret about failures and disappointments  Ego Integrity vs. Despair Old age is a time for reflecting upon one's own life and its role in the big scheme of things, and seeing it filled with pleasure and satisfaction or disappointments and failures.  Dimensions of the Aging Process Biological Psychological Social Biological Dimension  Biological Dimension Skin Changes – Wrinkling, paler from decreased skin vascularity Hormonal Changes – Decreased production of growth hormone leads to increased body fat, weight loss, decreased muscle strength Sexuality – Some decline in functioning Neurological – Decreased cerebral blood flow and brain weight  Psychological Dimension Personality remains fairly stable over time (introversion-extroversion, aggressiveness, hostility) Majority of older persons view their lives as enjoyable and productive Morale is maintained through intimate social companions  Social Dimension Longevity of life in the geriatric population is associated with continued physical and occupational activity, advanced education and presence of SOCIAL SUPPORT Dealing with multiple losses: – Social status and worth, friends, family, health, independence- Death and Dying  Stages of Grief Kubler-Ross proposed 5 Stages of Grief Progression thru all 5 is not uniform, nor is the sequence of stages Can be grief reaction to: – Dying – Death of friends/ family – Loss of youth and function  Stages of Grief Denial: 1st stage – The patient unconsciously can not accept the diagnoses and refuses to believe he/she is dying. Anger: 2nd stage – This stage is often directed at the physician or staff.  Stages of Grief Bargaining: 3rd stage – The patient frequently tries to strike a bargain with God or a higher being. Depression: 4th stage – The patient feels distant from others and seems sad and hopeless.  Stages of Grief Acceptance: 5th stage – The patient deals calmly with his/her fate and is able to use/enjoy the remaining time with family and friends.  NDE (Near-Death Experience) Near-death studies is a school of psychology and psychiatry that studies the phenomenology and after-effects of a Near-death experience (NDE).  NDE (Near-Death Experience) The NDE is an experience reported by people who have come close to dying in a medical or non-medical setting  Among the general characteristics of an NDE we find: Subjective impressions of being outside the physical body Visions of deceased relatives and religious figures Transcendence of ego and spatiotemporal boundaries.  Melvin Morse lists nine traits that he believes is characteristic for the Near-death experience: 1) A sense of being dead, 2) A feeling of peace and painlessness, 3) An out-of-body experience, 4) A tunnel experience (the sense of moving up or through a narrow passageway), 5) Encountering "People of Light", 6) Encountering a "Being of Light", a "force", or a similar figure, 7) Being given a "life review", 8) A reluctance to return to life. 9) The experience may also involve after-effects, such as: personality transformation, loss of the fear of death, greater spiritualism, and greater ecological sensitivity. Many of the same traits are also mentioned by other researchers. THE END