Module 18 Adolescence Adulthood E - H pages 422 - 427

1. Module 18Adolescence & Adulthood(E - H)pages 422 - 427 Sabrina Hopkins Period 1: Psychology January 5, 2009

2. Research Focus: Happy Marriages - It is a fact that 40 � 60% of marriages fail meaning that something leads up to a successful or failed marriage. A. Facial Responses 1. Facial responses reflect a wide range of emotional expressions (surprise, interest, anger, disgust, contempt) that one or both partners may be unaware of or try to deny 2. Nonverbal behaviors are very important ways of communicating in real life B. Physiological Responses 1. Heart and breathing rate or sweating are responses that reflect the start and the duration of increased physiological or emotional arousal, which one or both partners may be unaware of or try to deny Ex. If one or both partners experience frequent and long lasting bad feelings, it often signals the marriage is in trouble.

3. Research Focus: Happy Marriages cont. C. Unsuccessful Relationships 1. The four problems that can cause a relationship to be unsuccessful is giving to many criticisms, becoming to defensive, showing contempt of a partner, and stonewalling or refusing to settle disagreements in an open, straightforward discussion. D. Successful Relationships 1. There are two things that can predict a successful relationship a. Happy marriages had husbands who were good at not immediately rejecting their wives� advice, but either accepted it or found something reasonable in it. b. In contrast, unhappy marriages had husbands who were autocratic, failed to listen and dismissed their wives� advice, often with contempt. E. Advice 1. Gottman�s advice is for a couple to work at managing conflict, which means men have to be more accepting of a woman�s position, and women have to be more gentle in starting up discussions.

4. Cultural Diversity: Preferences for Partners A. Measuring Cultural Influences 1. How much would your cultural influence the order of desirable traits? B. Desirable Traits 1. Men almost always ranked physical appearance in a partner higher. 2. Women almost always ranked earning potential in a partner higher. 3. How much does virginity valued around the world? a. In 2/3 of all the cultures measured, men desired virginity or chastity (the lack of previous sexual intercourse) in marriage partners than women did. b. There were no cultures where women valued virginity in a prospective partner more than a man. c. These differences in the value placed on the virginity of women indicate how cultural influences can raise or lower the desirability of certain traits in potential marriage partners.

5. Cultural Diversity: Preferences for Partners cont. C. Reasons for Marrying 1. How do women decide? a. Women who invest more time in caring for offspring would adopt more discriminating standards for potential mates b. In nearly every culture, women expressed more stringent standards across a wide range of characteristics. 2. How do men decide? a. Men generally decide to marry younger women who are physically attractive. b. In some societies where men purchase their wives, younger women command a higher bride price c. The most common reason that men use to dissolve marriages is infertility or the inability to have children. 3. How citizens in different nations rank the importance of love in choosing a spouse a. United States: Love ranked first, love was the most important factor in choosing a spouse b. Iran: Love ranked third. Ranked higher were education, ambition and chastity c. Nigeria: Love ranked fourth. Good health, refinement, neatness, and desire. d. China: Love ranked sixth. Ranked higher were health, chastity, and a good homemaker. e. Zulu: Love ranked seventh. Being mature, emotionally stable and dependability were ranked higher.

6. Physical Changes: Aging A. Kinds of Aging 1. Normal aging is a gradual and natural slowing of our physical and psychological processes from middle through late adulthood. 2. Pathological aging may be caused by genetic defects, physiological problems or diseases such as Alzheimer�s, all of which accelerate the aging process. 3. The aging process is caused by a combination of certain genes and proteins that interfere with organ functioning and by the natural production of toxic molecules, which in turn cause random damage to your body organs and DNA. Such damage eventually exceeds the body�s ability to repair itself and results in greater susceptibility to diseases and death. B. Physiological Changes: Early Adulthood 1. In our early to middle 20s our immune system, senses, physiological responses, and mental skills are at their peak efficiency.

7. Physical Changes: Aging cont. C. Physiological Changes: Middle Adulthood 1. In our 30s and 40s we usually gain weight, primarily because we are less active. By the late 40s, there is a slight decrease in a number of physiological response, including heart rate, ling capacity, muscle strength, kidney function, and eyesight. D. Physiological Changes: Late Adulthood 1. In our 50s and 60s we may experience a gradual decline in height because of loss of bone, a further decrease in output of lungs and kidneys, an increase is skin wrinkles, and deterioration in joints. Sensory organs become less sensitive. The heart becomes less effective at pumping blood. E. Physiological Changes: Very Late Adulthood 1. In our 70s and 80s we undergo decrease in muscle strength, bone density, speed of nerve conduction, and output of lungs, heart, and kidneys. More than 10% have Parkinson�s or Alzheimer�s disease.

8. Physical Changes: Aging cont. F. Sexual Changes with Aging 1. How does sex change with aging? a. People between ages 17 and 59 generally report that single men have more sex partners, experience orgasm more frequently, and masturbate more frequently than single women. b. People in late adulthood (60 - 80) are stereotyped that they no longer have and interest in sexual activity or that it is inappropriate for them to engage in sex. c. A national survey of men and women over the age of 60 found that 50% were sexually active. G. Sexual Changes in Women 1. Menopause occurs in women at around the ages 35 � 60 and involves a gradual stoppage in secretion of the major female hormone (estrogen), which in turn results in cessation of both ovulation and menstrual cycle.

9. Application: Suicide A. Teenage/Young Adult Suicide 1. In the United States a person dies by suicide every 18 minutes and some attempts suicide every minute 2. Among teenagers and young adults (ages 15 - 24), the suicide rate is 10.4 per 100,000, making it the third leading cause of death. 3. The suicide rate for people ages 25 � 64 years old is 14.4 per 100,000. 4. People over 65 have the highest rate of suicide. 16.5 per 100,000. B. Suicide in the Elderly 1. Why are the rates so high? a. Risk Factors - The common rick factors for suicide among the elderly include serious health problems, stressful events, loneliness and especially depression. - Murder-suicides, in which one member of an elderly couple kills the other and then takes his or her own life.

10. Application: Suicide cont. C. Problems Related to Suicide 1. Why do teens take their own lives? a. If and when adolescents talk about committing suicide, parents and friends need to take such talk seriously. 2. Problems and symptoms a. The most common psychological problems in clued depression, feelings of helplessness and drug related problems. b. The most common behavioral symptoms include decline in school performance; social isolation and withdrawal; intense difficulties with parents, siblings, and peers; and antisocial behavior. 3. Precipitators a. It may be certain events, feelings or situations. b. Common precipitators include problems with relationships, bouts of depression, drinking problems, and relatively ordinary stressors, such as difficulties with dating, parents or school.

11. Application: Suicide cont. D. What can be done to prevent suicides? - In the United States about 2 million teenagers/young adults attempt suicide each year. - While more teenage females than males attempt suicide, males� attempts are five times more likely to end up in death. 1. Identifying Risk Factors a. Identify risk factors, which include mood disorders, drug abuse, previous suicide attempts, suicide of a friend, and major life stressors, such as family turmoil or parental separation. 2. Psychiatric Evaluation and Psychosocial Intervention a. Short-term - A contract is negotiated so that the person will not harm him or herself - Lethal means they are removed from the home - Support and a 24-hour contact are provided b. Long-term - The individual�s personal problems are addressed, which may include help with improving his or her self-image and developing better interpersonal skills and functioning. - Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication c. Psychosocial intervention involves family support and treatment of underlying mental problems.

12. Module 18Adolescence & Adulthood(E - H) Sabrina Hopkins