Psychology - Developmental Psychology Age 13 to 65+ - Quick Guides | Psychology

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Study GuidePsychology–Developmental Psychology: Age 13 to 65+1.Development in Early and Middle AdulthoodUnlike adolescence,adulthood does not begin with a clear biological signsuch as puberty. Inmany technologically advanced countries, people now livewell beyond 70 years, so adulthoodmakes up a large part of the lifespan. Because of this, developmental psychologists usually divideadulthood into stages.•Early adulthood:aboutages 20 to 40•Middle adulthood:aboutages 40 to 65Each stage comes with its own challenges, goals, and changes.1.1Early Adulthood (Ages 20–40)Relationships and IntimacyA major focus of early adulthood is learning how toform close, intimate relationships. People workon:•Sharing their lives with others•Developing emotional closeness•Finding intimate loveDuring this period, many people formlong-term relationships, and marriage and children oftenfollow.1.2Marriage, Family, and DivorceImportant decisions aboutmarriage and family lifeare often made in early adulthood. Researchshows that divorce is more likely among:•People who marry during adolescence•Individuals whose parents were divorced•Couples who differ greatly in age, intelligence, personality, or physical attractiveness

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Study GuideSeparation is also more common among coupleswithout children.Most people who divorce eventuallyremarry, which means some children grow up withmore thanone set of parents.1.3CohabitationAlternatives to marriage, such asliving together (cohabitation), have become more common. Forexample, in 1997 theUnited States Census Bureauestimated that4.13 million unmarried coupleswere living together in the United States.1.4Work and Career ChoicesCareer decisions are another major concern in early adulthood. A person’s job affects many areas oflife, including:•Income and socioeconomic status•Friendships and social networks•Political values•Where one lives•Child care decisions•Levels of job-related stressAlthough income matters, people also look for:•Achievement•Recognition•Job satisfaction•Security•ChallengeIn modern societies, job choices often need to take into account thecareers of both partners, notjust one.

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Study Guide1.5Middle Adulthood (Ages 40–65)Generativity vs. Self-AbsorptionIn middle adulthood, people often turn their attention towardcontributing to others and futuregenerations. PsychologistErik Eriksondescribed this stage as a conflict betweengenerativity andself-absorption.•Generativityinvolves caring for others, guiding younger people, and contributing throughwork, family, or community.•Self-absorptioninvolves focusing mainly on one’s own needs and concerns.1.6Developmental Tasks of Middle AdulthoodPsychologistRobert Havighurstidentifiedseven major tasksthat often occur during middleadulthood:1.Accepting and adjusting to physical changes, such as menopause2.Reaching and maintaining satisfaction in one’s occupation3.Adjusting to and possibly caring for aging parents4.Helping teenage children become responsible adults5.Achieving adult social and civic responsibility6.Relating to one’s spouse as a person, not just a role partner7.Developing enjoyable leisure-time activitiesSuccessfully managing these tasks helps people feel productive and fulfilled during this stage of life.1.7The Midlife TransitionThe idea of amidlife crisisis well known, but psychologists do not see it as universal. However,many people in their 40s and 50s do become aware thatmore than half of their life has passed.This realization can lead to different reactions:•Some people feel pressured to makesudden or dramatic changesto achieve unmet goals.•Others focus onaccepting their current pathand finding satisfaction in what they havealready built.

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Study GuideKey Takeaway•Early adulthood centers onintimacy, relationships, and career choices.•Middle adulthood emphasizescontribution, responsibility, and caring for others.•Not everyone experiences a midlife crisis, but reflection on life direction is common.•Development in adulthood is shaped by personal choices, relationships, work, and socialroles.2.Development in Late AdulthoodLate adulthood, often called old age, generally begins aroundage 65. This stage of life bringsimportant psychological, social, and physical changes. Although aging is often associated withdecline, research shows thatmany older adults remain mentally active, emotionally satisfied,and socially engaged.2.1Psychosocial Development: Integrity vs. DespairPsychologistErik Eriksondescribed the main challenge of late adulthood as the conflict betweenintegrity and despair.•Integrityinvolves looking back on life with a sense of meaning, acceptance, and satisfaction.•Despairinvolves regret, bitterness, or feeling that life was wasted.Successfully resolving this stage means accepting one’s life as it was lived and finding peace with it.2.2An Aging PopulationAs life expectancy increases, the number of older adults is growing. It has been estimated that by2030, people over65 years oldwill make up about20% of the U.S. population.Despite concerns about aging:•Studies of people in their 70s show that aging doesnot automatically mean serious mentalor physical decline.•Many older adults remain happy, productive, and involved in meaningful activities.The scientific study of aging is calledgerontology, an interdisciplinary field that includes psychology,biology, sociology, and medicine.

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Study Guide2.3Theories of Successful AgingPsychologists have proposed different theories to explain how people age successfully.Disengagement TheoryThedisengagement theorysuggests that:•Withdrawal from social roles isnatural and appropriatein old age.•Reducing responsibilities can make aging easier.•Society benefits when younger people take over these roles.Activity TheoryTheactivity theoryargues the opposite:•Stayingphysically, mentally, and socially activeis essential for a high quality of life.•The idea is “use it or lose it.”•Maintaining activities from earlier life helps people adjust better to aging.2.4AgeismAgeismrefers toprejudice or discrimination based on age. Although it can affect people of anyage, older adults are most often targeted.Examples include:•Forced or early retirement•Negative stereotypes, such as assuming older people are bad driversAgeism can limit opportunities and negatively affect self-esteem and well-being.2.5Physical Changes in Late AdulthoodPhysical abilities typically peak in the20sand then gradually decline.

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