Developmental Psychology: Exam 3

What are the criticism of emerging adulthood?

• applies to affluent individuals (middle to high socioeconomic status)

• does not occur in all cultures

What is the “top dog” phenomenon

Going from senior in high school and knowing everyone to a college freshmen and being at the bottom of the totem pole again

When is peak physical performance typically reached?

19-26 years of age, as we age muscle tone and strength decline (30 years old)

Stability of bad health habits

bad health habits in adolescence increases during emerging adulthood

Most effective way to lose weight and keep it off?

diet and pairing with exercise

What stage of cognitive development are adults in according to Piaget?

Formal Operational Stage

• Both adolescence and adults think in the same way qualitatively

  • Logical, abstract, idealistic thinking

• Adults: Quantitatively more advanced

  • Increase specific knowledge base

According to Piaget, what is meant by “quantitatively advanced”?

increase in specific knowledge base

What is the proposed 5th Piaget stage?

Postformal (not approved by Piaget)

What is the post formal stage?

adults are reflective, provisional, realistic, recognize being influenced by emotions

What is temperament?

individuals behavioral style and emotional response

Are early childhood secure attachments linked to later romantic attachments?

count on a partner for comfort and security

What are the differences in adult attachment styles?

1. Secure - easy to get close to others

2. avoidant - hesitant about relationships, distance themselves from partner

3. anxious - demand closeness, less trusting, emotional, jealous and possessive

What is consensual validation?

similar attitudes, values and lifestyles

What is the matching hypothesis?

choose someone similar to own level of attractiveness

What is a precursor to intimacy in romantic relationships according to Erikson?

identity development during adolescence

How is cohabitation linked to marital satisfaction?

linked to lower rates of marital satisfaction and higher rates of divorce

• depends on previously live in situations, children, age and previous marriages

What stage characterizes early adulthood according to erikson?

intimacy vs isolation

• success: meaningful connections, love

• failure: loneliness

Why does height decrease in midlife?

Age causes changes in bones, muscles, joints

Define Sarcopenia

Muscle loss that comes with aging

What does accommodation of the eye refer to

Refers to the ability to focus and maintain an image

What are chronic disorders?

Characterized by slow onset and long duration

• Rare in early adulthood and increase in middle and common in late

• Accounts for 86% of total health care spending

• Leading disorder: arthritis

Crystallized vs fluid intelligence

• Describe and give examples of each.

• Crystallized intelligence: accumulated intelligence and verbal skills

  • Increases

• Fluid intelligence: reason abstractly

  • Decreases

Erikson’s stage for middle adulthood.

 Generativity vs Stagnation stage (leave legacies vs done nothing)

Generativity: do you feel you have left a legacy, done something

Stagnation: nothing

Levinson’s middle adulthood transition

• Psychologically painful : 40-45 takes 5 years to fully transition

• Four conflicts

  1. Being young vs old

  2. Being destructive vs constructive

  3. Being masculine vs feminine

  4. Being attached to others vs being separated

What daily hassle is the #1 complaint by middle adults?

concerns about weight