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Nature vs Nurture In Adulthood & Late Adulthood - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Fluid Intelligence decreases with age. Neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer's become more apparent. Multitasking slows down. Develop three forms of intelligence: analytic, creative, and practical.
        
        Late adulthood the brain does not process as it did when it was younger and losses like speed and memory are apparent. Volume of the brain is now smaller with increased white spots. Neural fluid decreases and cerebral blood circulates slower. This shows a slow down in reaction time, movement, speech and thought.
    - - Personality traits continue to develop and are quite stable. The Big Five refers to five distinct clusters of characteristics: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. As adults age, they become less neurotic and more conscientious.
        
        Theories
        
        Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. All humans have the same basic needs.
        
        Erikson's Stages of Adulthood: intimacy vs isolation, generativity vs stagnation, and integrity vs despair.
        
        Self Theories: In late adulthood there is an emphasis on the core self, or the search to maintain one's integrity and identity. Elders felt happier and healthier if they were in control of their lives.
        
        Socioemotional Selectivity Theory: In late adulthood when time is limited, elders think about the meaning of life and decide that they should appreciate family and friends, contributing to their happiness. The positive effect happens with the tendency to perceive, prefer, and remember positive images and experiences over negative ones.
        
        In late adulthood, the big five personality traits shift. Openness tends to decrease and agreeableness tends to increase.
    - - Senescence is the process of aging, where the body becomes less strong. Genetics play a partial role in the way individuals age in adulthood. Physical signs of aging become apparent. Skin starts to change and "loosen" after the age of 30 as collagen starts to decrease. Wrinkles become more predominant; skin is less firm, age spots and blood vessels are more apparent, and the texture of the skin starts to change. Veins are more noticeable, and nails become thicker. Hair begins to grey and becomes thinner, and some may experience baldness. Muscles start to weaken, joints are less flexible, bones are less dense, and body shapes change to include more fat. Inner organs show signs of aging, and cells slow down with age. Lungs and senses are less efficient. Late adulthood: Muscle pain, breathing difficulties, frequent urination can become more present, and sleep apnea can occur. Late adults require less sleep. Adults in this stage require more exercise as their best defense again ailments.
        
        Sexual-Reproductive System
        
        Couples may experience infertility. Women experience menopause when hormones drop. Late Adulthood: sexual activity is reduced
        
        Men: experience andropause, a drop in testosterone levels. This reduces sexual desire and loss of muscle mass.
        
        Increased chances of diseases and disabilities. Late Adulthood: Primary aging refers to the physical changes that occur as we age. Osteoporosis occurs due to low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. Compression of morbidity refers to the shortening of the time a person spends ill before death.
- - - - As adults mature and collect experience and knowledge they become experts. Occupational expertise has become more gender neutral because more women are going to school and getting jobs in male dominated fields. Experts are able to trust their intuition, can think automatically and strategically, and be more flexible.
        
        Late adulthood: Education, exercise, and good health can improve cognitive loss. Exercise that enhances blood circulation can help reduce cognitive loss and repair damage. Polypharmacy occurs when older adults take multiple medications, which can have side effects and interact with other medicines that can lead to dementia. Many adults become interested in creative endeavors and reflect on their lives, becoming philosophical and achieving self-actualization.
  - - - Adults may become parents and may reevaluate gender norms. Parents also transition to empty-nesters when their children start to become early adults and leave home. Adults may transition into caregivers for their aging parents. All of these roles can add stress and require careful balance.
        
        Late adults become grandparents and great grandparents
        
        In late adulthood, retirees love to take care of their homes, and housework increases. This can include making meals, gardening, and small home projects. Many like to stay in their homes and resist moving into assisted living communities. Religious and political activities are still important, and elders are still involved. Friendship is important during old age, however the size of their social shrinks. Elders maintain relationships by making phone calls, sending cards, and writing letters.
        
        When elders need care in late adulthood or are dependent on others, nursing home and long-term care are options. Children may help look after parents. Elder abuse is a concern.
    - - The workforce is becoming more diverse in age, gender, and background of employees. Late adulthood, prejudice called ageism, which is a stereotype about older people in culture. This can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies that reflect food, exercise, and sleep. Elderspeak emerges and is similar to baby talk. People speak to elders slower and louder and may frequently repeat themselves.
        
        Late adulthood recognizes the diversity among older people. Young-old are the largest group of adults. They are healthy and financially secure. Typically aged 65-75. Old-old adults, generally over the age of 75, suffer physically and mentally—oldest-old adults over the age of 85 who are dependent on others for almost everything. Adjusting to changes is essential on many levels-microsystem, macrosystem, and ecosystem.
      - Economic Divergence. Elders who experience low income levels may have a shorter life expectancy.
  - - - Proper nutrition is important to reduce the risk of chronic illness and obesity. Individuals from a higher SES may have better access to healthy foods and healthcare.
        
        In late adulthood wear and tear is the oldest theory of aging. The body wears out after years of use. Homeostasis slows down. For example, repeated stress on elbows, shoulders, and knees can lead to painful joints. Bodies become frail.