Adolescence
The area of the brain associated with risk-taking behaviors and is activated by rewards.
Striatal system (in limbic system)
This area of the brain fully matures during this period of the lifespan leading to a decrease in risk-taking behavior and better self regulation.
Pre-frontal cortex
The most prominent IADL in the middle adult group
Home establishment and management.
IADL's are of central importance in middle adults.
One of the main risk factors associated with unhealthy aging and disease.
Physical inactivity
Erikson's generativity vs. stagnation theory is seen in this area of development.
Stagnation is characterized by:
Generativity is characterized by:
Middle adulthood
Stagnation: dissatisfaction, lack of productivity (life is meaningless)
Generativity: sense of productivity and accomplishment
Some new ADLs and IADLs that arise in adolescence.
Preparing meals, transportation, managing finances, taking medications, housekeeping, shopping
This type of intelligence could be associated with "wisdom".
Crystallized intelligence- knowledge gained through experiences, increases with age.
Fluid intelligence- ability to logically problem solve, peaks in early adulthood and slowly declines around 30
Acute stressors in middle adults increases/decreases. Stress in middle adulthood is likely ___.
Chronic
This is the visual area over which information can be extracted at a brief glance without eye or head movements and decreases with age
Useful field of view (UFOV)- less ability to ignore distracting information; associated with increased risk of car accidents
These are the two main types of memory dysfunction in older adults.
Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI)- everyday activities, modest loss of memory function in healthy people over 50
Benign senescent forgetfulness (BSF)- not severe enough to interfere with daily activities; inattentiveness and distractions
In adolescence there is ___ skeletal growth. Often the ___ regions grow faster due to ____.
Hand/feet or extremity
Epiphyseal plates
The two leading causes of death for young adults.
MVA and suicide
This is the leading risk factor for stroke and heart disease in middle adults and can lead to kidney disease.
Hypertension (HTN)
Three behavioral factors associated with driving concerns.
Poor judgement in making left-hand turns
Drifting within traffic lane
Decreased ability to change behavior in response to an unexpected or rapidly changing situation
Loneliness is common during this period of the lifespan. Some effects of loneliness.
Young adulthood.
Mild to moderate- personal reflection, learn to balance between gratifying relationships, could be positive motivator for development
Extreme loneliness- could lead to depression and anxiety
The three main theories in this stage of development and their characteristics.
Piaget - formal operational: Logic, high symbolic thought
● Erikson - identity vs. role confusion - importance of peer relationships, separation from parents, trying out new roles
● Freud - genital stage- awakening sexuality, the resolution is sexual functioning
This stage is when young adults use their knowledge to attain their long-term goals about their careers, family and societal contributions.
This stage is achieved when individuals have a spouse and care for children.
This stage is when individuals expand their energy from their personal domain to the community.
3 answers
Stages of cognitive development by Schaie & Willis:
Achieving
Responsible
Executive
Responsible and executive are seen in middle adulthood.
The stages of adult career development from Super during middle adulthood include:
Their characteristics:
Stage 3: Establishment- building new skills and work experience; traditionally begins in early adulthood
Stage 4: Maintenance- middle adults are continually adjusting to improve or maintain their position
There are 5 stages but timing and transition are function of the life circumstances and personality NOT the chronological age
Processing speed deficits are associated with this brain area.
Other areas affected by decreased processing speed:
Diminished white matter volume and integrity
Other areas affected: episodic memory, working memory, inhibition and attention
The main types of relationships in middle adulthood.
Family relationships- multigenerational are more common
Divorce
Kinship- close connection recognized by the individuals in question, marked by biological, legal and/or social ties (closeness with siblings increases, conflict decreases)
Friendships- remain as important as family relationships; serve as protective influence against stress
The four types of family independence and their definition.
Functional- able to function without help from parents
Attitudinal- identifying ones values/beliefs (political, religious)
Emotional- emotional support not needed from parents, share problems with friends
Conflictual- acknowledges differences from parents without guilt
The eight aspects of intimacy
Physical intimacy- physical closeness
Nonverbal communication - body language or gesture
Self-disclosure- being vulnerable with each other; especially important in early adulthood
Presence- knowing that the person you are intimate with is present whether with or without you; fosters sense of security
Cognitive intimacy- sharing thoughts, beliefs, ideas
Affective intimacy- expressing emotion toward each other, especially love or compassion
Commitment- level of dedication person wants to put forth in the relationships
Mutuality- partners work together and cooperate for common goal or direction
These mental abilities INCREASE in middle adulthood:
These mental abilities DECREASE:
Increase: vocabulary, verbal memory, spatial orientation, inductive reasoning (problem solving)
Decrease: number and perceptual speed
When some "orphaned" muscle fibers become reinnervated by a surviving motor neuron. Could lead to some motor units being larger
Collateral sprouting.
Number of motor neurons decrease with age but some "orphaned" fibers can be reinnervated by a remaining motor neuron through collateral sprouting. The proportion of muscle mass is diminished (sarcopenia).
Ginzberg's developmental theory of vocational choice shows development as continuous and includes these three periods:
Childhood: fantasizing about careers
Adolescence: tentative period, ends in later adolescence; exploring identity and testing level of commitment towards different ways of living and towards different values
Early adulthood: third and final period, commitment towards careers