Social, Personality, Physical, and Cognitive Development in Adulthood; Death and Dying

CH 16 Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood

Erikson on Midlife

Erik Erikson's theory identifies generativity vs. stagnation as the central psychosocial stage of middle adulthood. This stage focuses on how individuals contribute to their family and society, and how they find meaning in their lives.

• Generativity: Involves guiding the next generation, often through parenting, mentoring, or community involvement.

• Stagnation: Occurs when individuals feel disconnected or uninvolved with the next generation, leading to a sense of unproductiveness.

• George Vaillant's View: Emphasizes the importance of accepting both strengths and weaknesses in oneself and others during this stage.

Personality Traits

• "Big Five" Traits (OCEAN):

  • Openness to experience

  • Conscientiousness

  • Extraversion

  • Agreeableness

  • Neuroticism

• Stability: Costa and McCrae found that personality traits remain relatively stable over time, with some changes possible.

Marriage and Divorce in Middle Adulthood

• Marital Satisfaction: Often follows a U-shaped curve, with satisfaction declining after marriage, reaching a low during child-rearing years, and increasing again after children leave home.

• Divorce: Can occur for various reasons, including infidelity, incompatibility, and stress. Remarriage is common, but second marriages have a higher risk of divorce.

Family Relationships

• Empty Nest Syndrome: Feelings of sadness or loss when children leave home, but many parents experience increased marital satisfaction.

• Sandwich Generation: Adults who care for both their aging parents and their own children.

CH 17 Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Aging

• Primary Aging: Inevitable, genetically programmed changes (e.g., graying hair, wrinkles).

• Secondary Aging: Changes due to lifestyle, environment, or disease (e.g., effects of smoking, lack of exercise).

Theories of Aging

• Genetic Programming Theories: Suggest aging is determined by a biological timetable, possibly encoded in DNA.

• Wear-and-Tear Theories: Propose that the body wears out over time due to accumulated damage.

Physical and Cognitive Changes

• Physical Decline: Includes reduced muscle mass, bone density, and sensory abilities.

• Cognitive Changes: Slower processing speed, but some abilities (e.g., vocabulary) remain stable or improve.

• Dementia: General term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.

• Alzheimer's Disease: Progressive brain disorder causing memory loss and confusion.

Life Expectancy

• Average age of death for members of a population.

• Influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and healthcare access.

CH 18 Social and Personality Development in Late Adulthood

Erikson's Stage: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

In late adulthood, Erikson's final stage focuses on reflecting back on life:

• Ego Integrity: Feeling satisfied with one's life and accepting its course.

• Despair: Regret or dissatisfaction with one's life, often accompanied by fear of death.

Theories of Social Aging

• Disengagement Theory: Suggests older adults gradually withdraw from social roles and relationships.

• Activity Theory: Proposes that staying active and involved leads to greater satisfaction in old age.

• Continuity Theory: Emphasizes maintaining previous activities and relationships for well-being.

Social Support

• Networks of family and friends provide emotional and practical support, which is crucial for well-being in late adulthood.

CH 19 Death and Dying

Definitions of Death

• Brain Death: Diagnosed by the absence of brain activity, as measured by electrical brain waves.

• Functional/Clinical Death: Cessation of heartbeat and breathing.

Understanding the Process of Dying

• Kübler-Ross's Stages of Dying: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.

• These stages are not necessarily experienced in order or by everyone.

Choices at the End of Life

• Euthanasia: The practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering.

• Living Will: Legal document specifying medical treatments a person wishes to receive or avoid if incapacitated.

• Hospice Care: Focuses on comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients.

Bereavement and Grief

• Bereavement: The state of loss after a loved one dies.

• Grief: The emotional response to loss, which can include sadness, anger, and confusion.

• Mourning: The culturally prescribed ways of expressing grief.

Additional info:

• Hospice care is often provided at home or in specialized facilities and emphasizes pain management and emotional support.

• Advance directives, such as living wills, help ensure that a person's end-of-life wishes are respected.