CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5, ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE

SECTION 1, ADULTHOOD

Adulthood is either a time of fulfilling one’s dreams or a time to realize that what was dreamed cannot be fulfilled—the frustrations of this can lead to despair.

Physical Changes

One theory—our cells break down and cannot repair themselves.
Another theory—our cells are “biological clocks” that can only divide and multiply so many times.

We are at our peak physical condition from 18-30; but an old moral goes: “Old age and treachery will triumph over youth and skill every time.”

Changes in sight are very noticeable—can’t focus as fast even though our eyesight is great. Hearing is not as good—especially when more than two people are talking.

Heath Problems

Staying away from bad stuff keeps up looking younger longer. No tobacco, drugs, booze, and a sensible well-balanced diet along with a moderate exercise regimen are also very good.

The three most common causes for death—heart disease, cancer, cirrhosis may all be a result of the living we do as younger people.

· Lesser causes are drug abuse, and death due to accidents—both more prevalent in younger ages.

Menopause

A woman goes through menopause between the ages of 45-50 and stops ovulating and menstruating so she cannot bear any more children.

· Negativity associated with menopause is merely the effect of stereotyping and have no physical basis.

· Men have no counterpart to menopause—men have fathered children well into their 80s (Aaron Burr).

Marriage and Divorce

Roughly 60% of those who marry a first time will divorce.
Those who marry a second time are divorcing at a 75% rate.

Experts say that the successful marriage is the result of how people handle the good times and how they handle the bad times.

Sexual Behavior

It is thought that sex drive may only diminish if one is bored with a partner, is in poor physical condition, is extremely ill, or accepts that age kills everything.

Cognitive Changes

Adulthood leads to slower reactions, even on tests. But, adults can continue to learn well into their old age.

Up to age 65, there is little decline in learning or memory.
Motivation, interest, and recent educational experience are more important than age with regard to ability to master complex knowledge.

Social and Personality Development

Levinson’s Theory of Male Development

Levinson’s sample:

• Levinson interviewed 40 men in four occupational groups (novelists, biologists, business executives, and factory workers) between the ages of 35-45. Five percent were black. All had been married at least once.

STAGES OF ADULT LIFE—EARLY ADULT TRANSITION (17-22)

• Move from pre-adulthood to adulthood

– Graduation from school, move out of family home, go to work.

– Independence from family. Financial and emotional autonomy.

– College and military are transitional institutions – away from family but not total independence.

– Make choices about how adult life will be lived

• Men have a “dream,” a vision of the future usually viewed in terms of career

• Men have a “mentor,” an older (8-15 years) role model – someone with experience and seniority in the world the young adult wishes to enter.

• Second important relationship – a woman who supports dream, makes man feel capable of obtaining it.

Levinson developed five stages of male development characterized by:

Entering the Adult World— explore and make commitments to adult roles – establish a life style—work leads to career choice—intimate relationships lead to marriage, birth of children.
The Age-Thirty Crisis— a reappraisal of early adult commitments and change—focus on adjustment and enrichment—“If I am to change my life, I’d better do it now”—sometimes crisis; divorce, occupational change common.
Settling Down— culminating life structure for early adulthood—apprenticeship over – time to be a successful, competent adult
1. BOOM period – Becoming One’s Own Man – independence from mentor—deeply absorbed in commitments to occupation, family, and activities—desire to get ahead, realize youthful ambitions.
The Midlife Transition— Midlife crisis – “What have I done with my life?” he comes to terms with the dreams of one’s youth—he works on discrepancy between what is and what will be.
1. Life takes on a new sense of urgency—80% of Levinson’s subjects went through personal crisis and re-evaluation—crisis may include divorce, extramarital affair, and occupational change.
2. Men see midlife crisis as a last chance to hold onto youth

c. Many women see midlife crisis as a time to reassess and revitalize their creative energy

Middle Adulthood— living out previously made changes—for many, the most satisfying, enriching time of life.

Female Development

The mentor - Women substantially less likely to have a mentor

Love relationship – Men seek women to support their dreams. Women seek a “special man” but see themselves as supporting his dreams.

Men dream of occupational achievement, status accomplishment. Women – less clear dreams; more tentative mix of family and career interests

Women are a bit different at the midlife stage especially as many are going back to college or going back to work.

The “Empty Nest” Syndrome— when the last child has left home the women may suffer from depression especially if her marriage is not so good. Otherwise, they may be at their happiest with the new-found freedom.

Depression in Midlife— most common in middle aged women; menopause can lead to depression as mothers now sense that their role in the life cycle is over.

® Women also show a less orderly sequence of stages than men

® Men see midlife crisis as a last chance to hold onto youth

® Many women see midlife crisis as a time to reassess and revitalize their creative energy

Section 2—OLD AGE

A. Introduction

1. What is a common fear in our society? The fear of dying is very prevalent.

2. How does our society take a negative view of aging? We treat aging negatively in jokes, in advertisements to replace old products with newer ones, in retiring older workers and replacing them with younger ones, and by using the euphemisms for the word old.

B. Attitudes toward Aging

1. What is the decremental model of aging? This theory holds that progressive physical and mental decline is inevitable with age.

2. What are common misconceptions of young people about the old? Common misconceptions include the assumption that all old people suffer from poor health, live in poverty, and are frequent crime victims.

C. Changes in Health

1. What influences the health of older people? Older people’s health is influenced by their health earlier in life, by their eating habits, and by the amount of exercise they get.

2. What is a chronic disease, and what are the most common chronic diseases? Chronic diseases are permanent disabilities. Common chronic diseases include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis.

D. Changes in life situation

1. How do transitions between early adulthood and late adulthood vary? In early adult hood, transitions are usually positive and create a deeper involvement in life. In late adulthood, transitions are negative and increase isolation.

E. Changes in Sexual Activity

1. What factors influence the frequency and regularity of sexual activity in old age? The factors that influence the frequency and regularity of sexual activity in old age include availability of a partner, and frequency and regularity of sex in early and middle adulthood.

F. Adjusting to Old Age

1. What changes is society making to help people adjust to old age? Society is slowing changing its attitudes toward the elderly, influenced in large part by organizations such as AARP.

G. Changes in Mental Functioning

1. What is the difference between crystallized and fluid intelligence? Crystallized intelligence refers to the ability to use accumulated knowledge and learning in appropriate situations. This ability increases with age and experience. Fluid intelligence is the ability to solve abstract relational problems and generate new hypotheses. This ability generally declines with age.

2. What are two forms of loss of mental functioning experienced by some older people? Two forms of loss are senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

DECADE DESCRIPTORS

0 - 9_______________________________________________________

10 - 19 _______________________________________________________

20 - 29 _______________________________________________________

30 - 39 _______________________________________________________

40 - 49 _______________________________________________________

50 - 59 _______________________________________________________

60 - 69 _______________________________________________________

70 - 79 _______________________________________________________

80 - 89 _______________________________________________________

90 - 99 _______________________________________________________

According to Erik Erickson, generativity is the idea that one’s function in life is to pass down acquired wisdom to younger generations. It leads to a successful midlife transition where they can now enter later life with a feeling of accomplishment.

A person who does things in such a way as to appear to be “hanging on to the past” is one who has stagnated.

Ageism is discrimination against the elderly such as the assumption that al old people suffer from poor health, liver in poverty, and are victims of crime.

Senile dementia is a condition where people lose their memory, forget, don’t know where they are or what time it is, find it harder to think for themselves, have short attention, personality gets altered and have difficulty relating to others.

Alzheimer’s disease is the fourth leading cause of death among US adults and is an incurable disease that destroys a person’s ability to think, remember and relate to others.

The difference between senile dementia and Alzheimer’s is that Alzheimer’s is a form of senile dementia that is incurable. Some of senile dementia is curable, some not.