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Chapter 5

Introduction to Psychology

Late Adulthood Old age is generally considered to begin at about age

65.

It has been estimated that by the year 2030, Americans over 65 will make up 20% of the population.

Despite the problems associated with longevity, many older people are happy and engaged in a variety of activities.

• What is a common fear in our society?▫ The fear of dying

•Society’s View of Aging: ▫We treat aging negatively▫ Jokes▫Ads to replace old products with newer ones▫Using the euphemisms for the word old

Ageism

• Ageism may be defined as the prejudice or discrimination that occurs on the basis of age.

• Although it can be used against people of all ages, older people are most frequently its target and it may often result in forced retirement.

• Stereotyping of the elderly is also an aspect of ageism, as seen in such a statement as “He drives like a little old lady.”

Physical Changes• atrophy of the brain and a decrease in the rate of neural

processes• Respiratory and circulatory• Bone mass /osteoporosis. • Muscles• Skin • Hair loss • decreased sensitivity in all of the sensory modalities,

including olfaction, taste, touch, hearing, and vision

Cognitive ChangesCognitive changes. The study of cognitive changes in the

older population is complex.

John Horn proposed two types of intelligence: fluid and crystallized.

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• Intellectual changes in late adulthood do not always result in reduction of ability.

• While fluid intelligence (the ability to see and to use patterns and relationships to solve problems) does decline in later years

• Crystallized intelligence (the ability to use accumulated information to solve problems and make decisions) has been shown to rise slightly over the entire life span.

Dementia• Dementias are usually responsible for cognitive defects

seen in older people. These disorders, however, occur only in about 15% of people over 65.

• The leading cause of dementia in the United States is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive, eventually fatal disease that begins with confusion and memory lapses and ends with the loss of ability to care for oneself.

• Retirement. Retirement at age 65 is the conventional choice for many people, although some work until much later.

• Widowhood. Women tend to marry men older than they are and, on average, live 5 to 7 years longer than men. One study found ten times as many widows as widowers. Widowhood is particularly stressful if the death of the spouse occurs early in life; close support of friends, particularly other widows, can be very helpful.

ThanatologyThe study of deathOver the last 30 years the social concept of “hiding death” has gone away and this field has grown

The Dying Process ▫Defining Death A growing acceptance in medical and legal circles of the need for an additional criterion of death has resulted in a legal definition that includes the absence of spontaneous brain function.

▫Dying Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identifies five stages through which dying persons typically pass:1. Denial2. Anger3. Bargaining4. Depression5. Acceptance

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Causes of Death Most deaths occur in a hospital, clinic, or medical

center. A large number of deaths are attributed to

hypertension and the resulting cardiovascular conditions. Cancer is the second leading cause of death. HIV rates are higher in states on the east coast and

west coast and in nearly every urban area of the United States.

Grief, Bereavement, and Mourning ▫Adjusting to the Death of a Loved One Bereavement- mourning period (cultural)Grief- response to lossMourning- process/time people adapt (cultural)

The Death of a Child The loss of a child is frequently associated with depression,

anger, guilt and despair. Recovery can take a very long time. Guilt can be especially intense after a death from sudden infant

death syndrome (SIDS). Parents who have lost a child by miscarriage often receive no

recognition of their loss from others, yet their grief work might continue for a lifetime.

Human Diversity: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Death In some societies, one is required to deal with death during

one's entire lifetime. For all cultures, death is a transition from one stage to

another. Provides examples of different cultures and how they handle

death in different ways In India, death is not considered a taboo subject, while

Muslims tend not to discuss it openly. Some cultures look at death as the end of life. Some cultures look at death as the beginning of a new life.