Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 15 Physical and

Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 15 Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: n Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; n Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; n Any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Vision and Hearing Changes in Middle Adulthood Vision n Presbyopia n n n Problems reading small print Bifocals if nearsighted Difficulties in dim light Reduced color discrimination Glaucoma risk Hearing n Presbycus n n Most loss in high tones Hearing aids can help Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Skin Changes in Middle Adulthood n Wrinkles n n n Sagging n n Face, arms, legs Age Spots n n Forehead – starting in 30 s Crow’s Feet After age 20 Faster with sun exposure, for women Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Muscle-Fat Makeup in Middle Adulthood n Middle-age spread common – fat gain in torso n n Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 Men: upper abdomen, back Women: waist, upper arms Very gradual muscle declines Low-fat, calorie-reduced diet and exercise can help

Menopause n Average 51 n n Physical & psychological symptoms n n n Ranges from 42– 58, 10–year climacteric period Hot flashes, headaches, sleep loss, slower sexual response Interpretation affects adjustment Hormone Replacement Therapy controversial n Lifestyle, diet options Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Male Reproductive Changes in Middle Adulthood n n Reduced sperm and semen after 40 Gradual testosterone reduction n n Sexual activity stimulates production Erection Problems n n Stress, alcohol, heart or other diseases increase Viagra Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Sexuality in Middle Adulthood n Slight drop in frequency among married couples n n n Intensity of response declines n n Continue patterns from early adulthood More sex in good marriages Slower arousal; partner may seem less attractive Gender differences n More women with no partners; lack of opportunity Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Leading Causes of Death in Middle Adulthood Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Cancer Sites in the Body Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Cardiovascular Disease n Symptoms n n Risk Conditions n n n Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 Heart attack Angina pectoris – chest pain Arrhythmia High blood cholesterol High blood pressure Atherosclerosis

Osteoporosis n Bones more porous; lose bone mass n Men: 8– 12% n n n Women: up to 50% Menopause estrogen drop speeds bone loss Bone breaks can be life-threatening n Prevention, treatment: n Diet – vitamin D, calcium n n Weight-bearing exercise Hormone therapy for women at low cancer risk Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Hostility and Health n Expressed Hostility n n Frequent angry outbursts Rudeness, contempt Disagreeable verbal and nonverbal behavior Health Effects n n n Cardiovascular problems Depression and dissatisfaction Health complaints, illnesses Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Stress Management Problem-Centered Emotion-Centered Coping n n Identify and appraise problems Choose and implement potential solutions Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 n Control distress when problem can’t be solved

Hardiness n Control n n Commitment n n Regard most experiences as controllable Find interest and meaning in daily activities Challenge n View as normal part of life, chance for growth Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence Fluid n Depends on basic information processing skills: n n n Detecting relationships among stimuli Analytical speed Working memory Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 Crystallized n Skills that depend on: n n n Accumulated knowledge Experience Good judgment Master of social conventions Valued by person’s culture

Longitudinal Trends in Six Mental Abilities Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Verbal and Performance IQ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Individual and Group Factors in High Intelligence Scores n Lifestyle n n n Personal n n n Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 High education Complex job or leisure Lasting marriage High SES Flexible personality Healthy Sex Cohort Perceptual speed

Age-Related Slowing of Cognitive Processing Neural Network View n n n Neurons in brain die Brain forms new connections New connections are less efficient Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 Information-Loss View n n Information lost at each step through cognitive system Whole system slows down to inspect information

Coping with Age-Related Cognitive Slowing n n n Factual Knowledge Procedural Knowledge Metacognitive Knowledge Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Practical Problem Solving and Expertise n Practical Problem Solving n n n Evaluate real-world situations Achieve goals that have high uncertainty Expertise n n n Efficient, effective approaches to solving problems, including practical problems Organized around abstract principles Result of years of experience Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004

Vocational Life and Cognitive Development n n Cognitive and personality characteristics affect job choice Once in job, it affects cognition n Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004 Complex work increases cognitive flexibility

Becoming a Student in Midlife n n n 40% of North American college students over age 25 58% are women Reasons diverse n n Job change, better income Life transition Personal achievement, self-enrichment Concerns about handling class work, balancing demands outside school Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004