Download Motor Performance in Adulthood Reproductive Capacity Leading

Theories of Biological Aging/Senescence-genetically influenced declines in functioning of
organs and systems
DNA-Cellular Level
Organ and Tissue Level
1.
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Programmed effects of specific
genes
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Longevity is a family trait
“Aging genes” control biological
changes--menopause, gray hair
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2.
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Telomeres
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Type of DNA that shortens
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Brakes against cancerous
mutations as cells duplicate
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• Athletic skills peak between 20 and 35
Cross-linkage theory
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protein fibers that make up the
connective tissue form links with each
other resulting in less elastic tissue.
Gradual failure of endocrine system
responsible for the production and
regulation of hormones.
Declines in immune system
functioning
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DNA in body cells is gradually
damaged due to changes in DNA.
Mutations and cancer
Free radicals
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– Decline gradually until 60s or 70s, then faster
• Continued training slows loss
– Keep more vital capacity, muscle, response
speed
Cumulative effects of random
events—internal and external
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Motor Performance in Adulthood
Naturally occurring, highly reactive
chemicals that form in the presence
of oxygen destroying nearby tissue.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Leading Causes of Death
in Early Adulthood
Reproductive Capacity
• Many people are delaying childbearing until their education
is complete, careers are well-established, and know they can
support a child
• Reproductive capacity declines with age
• Fertility problems among women increase from ages 15-50
• Female fertility declines largely due to reduced number and
quality of ova, since the uterus shows no consistent changes
among women in their late 30s and 40s
– Some women in their later reproductive years have normal menstrual
cycles, but do not conceive because the reserve of ova in their
ovaries is too low
• For men, the amount of semen and concentration of sperm
gradually decreases after age 40
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
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Cigarette Smoking
Substance Use in Early Adulthood
• Use peaks from 19-22 years, then declines
– But up to 20% ages 21-25 are substance abusers
– Cigarettes, chewing tobacco
– Alcohol
• Binge drinking
– Drugs
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Marijuana
Stimulants
Prescription drugs
Party drugs
• 25% of Americans, 19% of Canadians
– Numbers slowly declining
– Less with higher education, but many college
students smoke
– More women smoking
– Most smokers start before age 21
• The earlier people start, the greater their cigarette
consumption and likelihood of continuing
• The link between smoking and mortality is dose-related.
The more cigarettes consumed, the greater the chance of
premature death
• Deadly health risks
• Hard to quit
– Most in treatment programs restart
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Alcohol Abuse in Early Adulthood
• 13% of men, 3% of women heavy drinkers
– About 1/3 of these alcoholics
• Genetic, cultural factors in alcoholism
• Causes mental, physical
problems
• High social costs
• Treatment is difficult
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Factors Related to Sexual Coercion
Perpetrator Characteristics
• Believe traditional gender
roles
• Approve violence against women;
accept rape myths (women “want it” or
can resist if they want)
• Perceive behavior inaccurately—
friendliness as seductiveness
• History of own abuse, promiscuity
• Alcohol abuse
Cultural Forces
• Men taught dominance,
competition, aggression
•Women submission
• Acceptance of violence
• Aggressive pornography
– Half relapse in months
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
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Theories of Changes in
Thinking in Early Adulthood
Development of
Epistemic Cognition (Perry)
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• Piaget’s theory: postformal thought
– Cognitive development beyond Piaget's
formal operational stage
Perry interviewed Harvard students at end of
each year of college about “what stood out” from
the prior year.
1. Dualistic thinking (either/or)--younger
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• Perry’s theory: epistemic cognition
Dividing information, values, and authority into right and
wrong, good and bad, we and they
2. Relativistic thinking (it’s all relative)--older
• Labouvie-Vief’s theory:
pragmatic thought and cognitiveaffective complexity
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Knowledge as imbedded in a framework of thought.
No absolute truth—multiple truths, relative to context
3. Commitment within relativistic thinking
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
Labouvie-Vief's Theory: Pragmatic Thought
and Cognitive-Emotional Complexity
• Adolescents operate within a world of possibility.
• Adulthood moves from hypothetical to pragmatic
thought.
• Pragmatic thought
– Structural advance in which logic becomes the tool to
solve real-world problems.
• Pragmatic thinkers accept inconsistencies as
part of life and develop thinking that thrives on
imperfection and compromise.
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004
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