Mors 200 Arts Final - Chapter 9 Discovering Psychology Notes Part 2

Girls usually experience menarche at about the same age as their mothers

Timing closer in identical twins than in non-twin siblings

Nutrition- well nourished begin earlier

Health- healthy begin earlier

Body size

Degree of physical activity

Absence of biological father in the home

Stressful home environment

Stress- teasing, social isolation, exlcusion from social activities

Girls who develop early and boys who develop late have the most problems

If parent-child relationship is good before adolescence, they continue to be smooth during adolescence.

Relationships with peers and friends become increasingly important.

Susceptibility to peer influence peaks during early adolescence (can be positive or negative)

Romantic and sexual relationships become increasingly important- when and why they occur is influenced by social and cultural factors.

A person's sense of self, including his or her memories, experiences, and the values and beliefs that guide his or her behavior.

Continues throughout the lifespan

Some aspects are determined by characteristics that the individual cannot control (gender, race, ethnic background, socioeconomic level).

Social acceptance by peers, academic and atheletic abilities, work abilities, personal appearance, romantic appeal

Independent of their parents while retaining a sense of connection to their family

Proposed that each of eight stages of life is associated with a particular psychosocial conflict that can be resolved in either a positive or negative direction.

Identity versus role confusion

Begins with role confusion, then moratorium period, then integrated identity.

Characterized by little sense of committement for a variety of issues (religious, moral, political beliefs, relationships, sexualit, long-term committments).

Adolescent experiments with different roles, vales, and beliefs.

Adolescent arrives here by gradually choosing among the alternatives and making committments.

The aspect of cognitive development that has to do with how an individual reasons about moral decisions.

Used hypothetical moral dilemmas to investigate moral reasoning. Three distinct levels with two stages that represent different degrees of sophistication:

Preconventional Stage

1. Punishment and obedience

2. Mutual benefit

Conventional Stage

3. Interpersonal expectations

4. Law and order

Postconventional Stage

5. Legal principals

6. Universal moral principals

Moral reasoning is guided by external consequences. No internalization of values or rules.

Stage one: Punishment and Obedience- "right" is obeying the rules simply to avoid punishment because others have power over you and can punish you

Stage two: Mutual Benefit: Right is an even or fair exchange so that both parties benefit. Moral reasoning is guided by a sense of "fair play."

Moral reasoning is guided by conformity to social rules, and expectations that the person has learned and internalized.

Stage 3: Interpersonal Expectations: Right is being a good person by conforming to social expectations, such as showing concern for others and following rules set by others so as to win their approval.

Stage 4: Law and Order: Right is helping maintain a social order by doing one's duty, obeying laws simply because they are laws, and showing respect for authorities simply because they are authorities.

Moral reasoning is guided by internalizd legal and moral principals that protect the rights of all members of society.

Stage 5: Legal principals: Right is helping protect the basic rights of all members of society by upholding legalistic principals that promote the values of fairness, justice, equality, and democracy.

Stage 6: Universal moral principals: Right is determined by self-chosen ethical principals that reflect the person's respect for ideals such as nonviolence, equality, and human dignity. If these moral principals conflict with democratically determined laws, the person's self-chosen moral principals take precedence.

Kohlberg's model is based on ethic of individual rights and justice and is geared towards males

Gilligan developed a woman's moral development scale based on ethic of care and responsibility

Men and women both mena nd women use a mix of care and justice perspectives

In other cultures, other regions other than harm, fairness and justice are equally important, Kohlberg's model is narrowing

In industrialized countries, the stage of lifespan from approximately the late teens to the mid-to-late 20's, which is characterized by exploration, instability, and flexibility in social roles, vocational choices, and relationships.

Starts at a later age than before because of need for additional education or training to join the workforce

Later ages for marrige- estabish careers and finish education

Tend to change jobs more often (average is 7)

Not universal

Hair begins to thin and turn gray- influenced by genetic heritage (does not mean all heritage is destiny)

Passage of time can take a toll on the body

Each decade after 10- organs functional less efficiently- not noticeable until late adulthood

Physical strength peaks in early adulthood (20-30), declines ater middle adulthood

Significant horomonal and reproductive changes (menopause late 30s to 50s)

The natural cessation of menstruation and the end of reproductive capacity in women.

Late 30s to 50s

Some women may experience unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes (rapid and extreme increases in body temperature), night sweats, disturbances in sex drive, sleep, eating, eating, weight, and motivation.

Emotional symptoms: depression, sadness, emotional instability

Many women experience postmenapausal zest- freed of menstruation, childbearing, and worries about becoming pregnant, energy, freedom and happiness.

Men experience andropause- decreased levels of testosterone

Number of unmarried couples living together has increased dramatically

More than 30% of children are being raised by a single parent

Remarriage and starting a new life is not unusual due to high divorce rate

Children decrease martial satisfaction and time together with partners (not all couples)- rises again when the children leave the home

Fundamentally changes your identity as an adult

Starting parenthood at a later age can ease the transition- more mature

Career tracks differ (particularly married women who have children)

Booming kids- adult children returning home after a breif period because of their own economic pressures.

Average life expectency for men- 76 years, women is 81 years, also seen globally

Most older adults live healthy, active, and self-sufficient lives

Mental abilities remain relatively stable until about the age of 60, some people may see an improvement in mental abilities related to what we do (jobs and hobbies).

Ability to speak and understand language tends to remain stable as people age

When there is a decrease in neuron functioning, the brain tends to compensate in other parts of the brain (at a cost of slower processing)

Those who are better educated and engage in physical, mental and social activities show the smallest declines

Dysfunctional social relatinoships can have negative effects

Greatest intellectual declines tend to occur in older adults with unstimulating lifestyles, such as people who live alone, are dissatisfied with their lives, and engage in few activities

Activity theory of aging

Caregiving responsibilities can persist well into late adulthood

Ego integrity

Despair

Life review

The psychosocial theory that life satisfaction in late adulthood is highest when people maintain the level of activity they displayed earlier in life.

Differ in the level of activity they find personally optimal- reflect lifelong temperamental and personality qualities that continue to be evident as a person ages.

The feeling that one's life has been meaningful.

A deep sense of disappointment in life.

Thinking about or retelling their life story to others. Often when ego integrity or despair emerge.

Attitudes towards death in old age show the same diversity that is relfected in other aspects of adult development.

Long before reaching old age, each individual has a personal history of thinking about death.

Feelings and attitudes towards death are influenced by cultural, philosophical, and religious beliefs.

Worries about death peak at this time. Then they decrease in late adulthood.

At any age, people respond with a wide variety of emotions when faced with the prospect of imminent death.

Denial- deny death is imminent, think their doctors are wrong, or the seriousness of their illness.

Anger- that they are dying

Bargaining- try to make a deal with doctors, relatives, or God, promising to behave in a certain way if they are allowed to live.

Depression

Acceptance

Did much to sensitize the public and medical community to the emotional experience of dying, though people do not necessarily go through these stages in the predictable sequence she describes.

An individual process must as living is. People cope to this much as they have coped with other stresses in their lives.

Some older adults react with passive resignation, others with bitterness

Plunge into activity and focus their attention on external matters, such as making funeral arrangements, disposing of their property, or arranging for the care of other family members.

Turning inward- searching for the meaning of their life's story

At death, this doesnt just end.

Each of us leaves behind a legacy of memories in the minds of those who survive us.

It is the people whose lives we have touched in some way, whether for good or for ill, who will remember us.

Final chapter is not written by us, but the people whose life stories have intersected with our own.