Chapter 15 Sensory Changes Presbyopia age related progressive loss of the eye s ability to focus on nearby objects due to the loss of elasticity in the lens Myopia nearsightedness increases through middle age Presbycusis age related gradual loss of hearing which accelerates after age 55 especially with regard to sounds at higher frequencies Basal Metabolism use of energy to maintain vital functions Loss of endurance results from gradual decrease in the rate of basil metabolism Sexual Issues sex drive age 45 55 Menopause cessation of menstruation and of ability to bear children hot flashes loss of Perimenopause period of several years during which a woman experiences physiological changes of menopause includes first year after end of menstruation called climacteric Erectile dysfunction inability of a main to achieve or maintain an erect penis sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance Sex therapy is available both physically and mentally Health Hypertension chronically high blood pressure Diabetes disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin a hormone that converts sugar starches and other foods into energy needed for daily life Osteoporosis condition in which the bones become thin and brittle as a result of rapid calcium depletion Cancer is leading cause of death then heart disease Risk factors smoking drinking low SES Women tend to be healthier than men 45 65 most common obesity age Stress Very high stress levels at this age Stress is the response to physical of psychological demands Stressors are perceived environmental demands that may produce stress When daily stress occurs it becomes important to develop good coping skills Chronic stress drops immune system efficiency Acute stress boosts immune system temporarily Middle age adults most likely to have mental health issues depression anxiety Intelligence Fluid intelligence the ability to solve novel problems that require little or no previous knowledge such as discovering a pattern in a sequence of figures o Mostly young adults Crystallized intelligence the ability to remember and use info acquired over a lifetime such as finding a synonym for a word o Mostly adults in middle adulthood Uniqueness Expertise completely mastered knowledge of a skill or information becomes automatic Encapsulation progressive dedication of info processing and fluid thinking to specific knowledge systems making knowledge more readily accessible Integrative thought bringing 2 types of thought together logic and emotions Creativity peaks in early middle adulthood o Losses in quantity are made up by quality Work A shift away from early retirement and toward more flexible options is occurring o Problems with finances o People are happy in their jobs o Better education leads to reduced need to work longer Complex work may improve cognitive flexibility People used to retire earlier because life span s were shorter Chapter 16 Trait Models Big 5 people tend to be more socially mature confident warm responsible and calm as o This enables them to be more productive contributors at work and to society and they mature through the prime of life to lead longer and healthier lives Normative Stage Models Individuation emergence of the true self through balancing or integration of conflicting parts of the personality including those parts that have previously been rejected o Giving up image of youth and acknowledging morality Erikson Generativity vs Stagnation the concern of mature adults for establishing and guiding the next generation perpetuating oneself through one s influence on those to follow o Giving back figuring out what is most important in life Interiority a concern with inner life usually appears in middle age Midlife Crisis stressful life period precipitated by the review and reevaluation of one s past typically occurring in the early to mid 40 s o Awareness of morality o Reality sets in I m not going to live forever Midlife Review introspective examination that often occurs in middle age leading to reappraisal and revision of values and priorities o May bring regret over failure to achieve a dream Midlife Identity Identity process theory identity is made up of accumulated perceptions of the self o Identity assimilation an attempt to hold on to a consistent sense of self in the face of new experiences that do not fit an existing schema o Identity accommodation adjustment of the schema to fit new experiences o Identity balance enables a person to maintain a stable sense of self while adjusting the self schemas to incorporate new info such as the effects of aging Narrative psychology stories make up who we are how we perceive and tell story 911 good experience resilient bad experience conquered o Changes view of world Relationships Social convoy theory people move through life surrounded by concentric circles of intimate relationships on which they rely for assistance well being and social support o Best friends throughout life neighbors o Long term and short term friends o Very important for same sex relationships Socioemotional selectivity theory people select social contacts on the basis of the changing relative importance of social interaction as a source of info as an aid in developing and maintaining a self concept and as a source of emotional well being o Social interaction is a source of info helps people to develop and maintain a sense of self and is a source of pleasure and comfort Marital capital financial and emotional benefits build up during a long standing marriage which tend to hold a couple together o College education decreases risk of separation or divorce after the first decade of marriage o Marriage can be very rewarding at this stage in life o Less common to have 1st divorce during middle adulthood 2nd 3rd more common o Divorce is frequent at this age wait until kids leave o Divorce tends to be far more devastating at this point in life Filial maturity when middle age children learn to accept and to meet their parents need Filial crisis adults learn to balance love and duty to their parents with autonomy within a to depend on them two way relationship o Most middle age people willingly accept their obligations to their parents Cohabitation people that have never been married or people that have been divorced o Very common for homosexuals Family Relationships home o Especially hard for youngest child Empty nest transitional phase of parenting following the last child s leaving the parent s Revolving door
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