5 pages paper about human development

Middle Adulthood Unit

Developmental Task of Middle Adulthood • Generativity vs. stagnation • What are we leaving behind, to the

generation that comes next? What is our contribution, our legacy?

• Generativity. A sense that you’ve successfully contributed to the world • Stagnation. A sense of disconnect or

remorse from failure to contribute

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Middle Adulthood: A Lifespan Perspective • Mid-life consciousness • Reflect on who we are, decisions made to

get here, consequences of decisions • “Were those good decisions? Did I invest

my time, energy, effort well?

• Mid-life crisis • Feel like maybe you’re on the wrong track

Middle Adulthood: A Lifespan Perspective • Paths are more variable • Best way to understand what’s

going on in development? Know where they are in family life cycle

• Balance between growth and loss

Middle Adulthood: A Lifespan Perspective • Shift in how you see your remaining life • Recognition that time is not limitless

• Goals and priorities may shift

Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

History of Research on Cognitive Abilities • Traditional view of development • Cognitive ability peaks in adolescence/early adulthood,

then declines with age

History of Research on Cognitive Abilities • Cross-sectional

studies suggested steady declines in cognitive ability after age 20-25

History of Research on Cognitive Abilities • Longitudinal studies

suggested gradual increases until age 70

History of Research on Cognitive Abilities

Limits of Cross-Sectional Studies

• Cohort effects • Older cohort had less education, worse health; were

unfamiliar with standardized tests

• Testing effects (i.e., testing conditions) • Older cohorts struggle with timed tests, testing pressure • Remove pressure, time limit à scores improve

Limits of Longitudinal Studies

• Attrition (drop-out) • Participants with lower

cognitive performance drop out earlier

Sequential Studies on Cognitive Development • Complex findings • Large cohort effects. Different generations have

different characteristics

• Big picture • Modest gains in 30, 40, 50-year-olds • Scores level off in 60, 70-year-olds • Declines in 70, 80-year-olds

• Results differ by cognitive ability

Crystallized and Fluid intelligence

Crystallized intelligence • Accumulated knowledge,

skills • Vocabulary • Verbal memory

Fluid intelligence • Ability to reason abstractly,

solve novel problems

Cattell & Horn

Research on Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence • Different abilities change at

different rates • Crystallized intelligence

increases slightly • Fluid intelligence decreases

slightly • Mental speed does decline

beginning in middle adulthood

Creativity

What is Creativity?

What is Creativity?

• Creativity. “The tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems… and entertaining ourselves and others.” (Franken, 1993)

Components of Creativity

1. Divergent thinking. Look at things from a different perspective

2. Originality. Novel, unique 3. Functionality. Has value or

serve some function

The Creative Process

1. Preparation. • The conscious, effortful work: Practice,

study, learn, gather information

2. Incubation. • The unconscious work: The mind

processes knowledge, information; makes new connections

The Creative Process

3. Illumination: Insights, “vision” • ‘Aha!’ moment: Insights generated from

conscious and unconscious processes

4. Revision: Try out and revise • You’re not done • May need to refine, revise, or start over

A Glimpse of Picasso’s Process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEKumfGP5W8

Development of Creativity

• Age trends: Peaks at different ages depending on domain • E.g., mathematics: peaks early • E.g., humanities: peaks late

Personality Development

What is Personality?

• What energizes you more – being at a huge party or a smaller gathering? • How much time do you spend looking for your keys? • Do you like being the center of attention? • Are you someone who’s willing to try anything once? • How do you feel about deadlines?

What is Personality?

• How are you like all other people? • How are you like some other people? • How are you like no other person?

What is Personality?

• Personality. “… individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.” (APA, 2017) • Roots in • Nature. Genetics • Nurture. Cultural and social backgrounds • Individual. Your particular idiosyncrasies

Trait Theory: The Big Five

Does Personality Change?

How Does Personality Change?

How Does Personality Change?

• From 15-50: • On average, we become less

• Extroverted (social vitality) • Neurotic

• On average, we become more • Extroverted (social dominance) • Agreeable • Conscientious • Open to new experiences

How Does Personality Change?

• Middle age onward: Relative stability in personality • Less social vitality • Less openness to new experience

Why Stability Starting in Middle Adulthood? • Possible explanations • Genetic influences (e.g., temperament) • Long lasting effects of childhood experiences • Identity achieved; you’re satisfied

• Maybe people actively create stability • People seek out experiences that fit with their

personality (so no need to adjust) • PersonalityèChoice of experienceèReinforcement of

Personality

Unit 9: Middle Adulthood Review

• Generativity vs. stagnation • Cognitive development • Cross-sectional vs.

longitudinal vs. sequential findings • Crystallized vs. fluid

intelligence • Trends over time

• Creativity • Definition and three

components • Four steps of process • Trends over time

• Personality • Definition • Big 5 components • Trends over time • Reasons for stability vs.

change