Psychology lifespan
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PSY206Chp15.pptxCHAPTER FIFTEEN
Physical and Cognitive Development in
Middle Adulthood
DISCUSSION
Age Span: 40 – 65
Forty is the new “X”
“You are only as old as you feel…”
Empty Next / Re Nest (already discussed)
OVERVIEW
Physical Development
Sensory
Organs / Systems
Health & Fitness
Stress
Cognitive Development
Capacities
Processing
Career
Adult Learners
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
SENSORY FUNCTIONS
Hearing
Presbycusis (“old hearing”): Hearing loss
Can be genetic, begins with high frequencies
Tactile (Skin)
Wrinkles
Changes in elasticity of the dermis
Dry skin (sun exposure)
Vision
Presbyopia (“old eyes”): The lens thickens
Glaucoma: Possible changes in fluid pressure
Olfaction
Stays strong
ORGANS / SYSTEM
Body composition
Weight gain (reduce calorie intake)
Gradual loss of muscle
Musculo-skeletal
Osteoporosis (loss of bone density)
Reproductive System
Climacteric – Decline in fertility
Menopause – Cessation of the menstrual cycle
Hot flashes (hormone involvement)
Men continue to produce sperm
Quantity and quality decreases however
HEALTH & FITNESS
Exercise
Exercise
Exercise
Men more prone to illness in this stage
STRESS
Exercise
Exercise
Exercise
Sandwich generation
Hardiness (dealing with stress of aging)
Control, commitment, challenge
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
CAPACITIES
Crystalized Intelligence
Skills that depend on accumulated knowledge, good judgment
Long term
Less affected by age (increases through middle adulthood)
Fluid Intelligence
Speed of processing
Problem solving
More affected (begins to decline in the 20s)
CAREER
Peak earning years, 45 – 55
Changes in the economy
ADULT LEARNERS
Changes
Community college act
Average age of our freshman
REVIEW QUESTIONS
By age forty-five the speed of neural processing has declined 50% in comparison to age twenty-five.
Fluid intelligence shows greater declines at this stage than does crystalized intelligence.
