Running Head: REPORT ON OBSERVED SUBJECT 1 Four score and seven years ago Report on Observed Subject: One Women’s Journey Through Middle Adulthood Christina M. Chongoushian Felician University REPORT ON OBSERVED SUBJECT 2 Abstract In this paper I have inferred what is happening to my subject from a developmental perspective based on my three observations. My subject REPORT ON OBSERVED SUBJECT 3 Report on Observed Subject: One Women’s Journey Through Middle Adulthood Over the past few months I have observed a subject whom I address by the initials of MC. MC is 52 years old, and is in the middle of the developmental stage of middle adulthood. She is a homemaker and stay at home mother of three, …show more content…
Studies have shown that regular physical exercise in middle adulthood helps to prolong cognitive abilities (Guiney & Machado, 2013; Rogers, Meyer, & Mortel, 1990). “Middle-aged adults…who are more physically active…tend to score higher on tests of reasoning, reaction time, and short-term memory (Van Boxtel, Paas, Houx, Adam, Teeken, & Jolles, 1997).” This correlates to my second observation REPORT ON OBSERVED SUBJECT 5 when MC, her other daughter JC, and I went for a walk. MC was noted to have been, “swinging her arms back and forth, putting some “pep” into her step as she walked. ‘It’s good to swing your arms when you walk as you get older,’ she informs me and my sister.” From her statement and her actions I can infer that MC is aware of the benefits of physical activity at her age, and was informing JC and I to keep up our behavior of walking in the evenings so that we too can reap such benefits one …show more content…
Selective optimization with compensation is a process coined by researchers Baltes and Baltes (1990) where adults “balance the gains and losses associated with aging.” In my third observation I found MC preforming selective optimization while she was driving when she turned on the car radio during a red light, and then decides to turn it off after no less than a minute. I can infer that MC was using selective optimization to reduce as many distractions as possible while driving in the rain, a task that requires full physical and cognitive attention. Conclusion During my observations, I have come to the conclusion that because middle adulthood is filled with so many physical, cognitive, mental, and social changes, that my subject’s behavior on both a physical and mental level is a normal response to such changes. While researching developmental theories for middle adulthood, I kept in mind some common stereotypes that people think of for this stage of life; declining in one’s physical shape and cognitive performance, trying to gain a sense of purpose in life, etc.
Because time is being filled with short-term stimulation—during which brief tidbits of knowledge can be gained with minimal effort—rather than the long-term stimulation from books and print, people’s brains are being retrained to think in short bursts rather than fully developed ideas when speaking or planning. Games, texting, blog posts, and hyperlinks have begun to take over our time reducing interest in in-depth learning or prolonged research. These changes in the way people think are leading to an overall decrease in attention span, even in adults who at one point in time would claim that they had a sufficient attention
The bar chart compared the proportion of Australian males and females of various ages who habitually devoted themselves to physical activities in 2010. It can be drawn from the picture that the females who are 45 to 54 years old did the most exercise; the amount of it is up to 53.3%. On the contrary, the group of people aged 65 and over ranks the least among the women, and it accounts for 47.1%. Besides, females of ages 35 to 44 and 55 to 64 also took regular physical activity seriously, respectively with 52.5% and 53%.
Rachel Champeau explores a study that explores the effect technology on brain function among middle aged and older adults. The study suggested that adults that use the internet are demonstrating increased brain stimulation and function. A series of tests were conducted on a group of adults that had internet experience and some that did not to see if brain function was affected. The internet savvy adults showed improved function in both decision-making and complex reasoning and this increase was twofold what the non-internet using adults experienced. This study shows that there is the promise of technology to help increase brain function and stimulation of our aging population and that further research is
After following up about 10 years later there were 250 participants who developed heart failure and a total of 788 participants who died during the follow-up time period. The results from the study brought the conclusion that there is a direct association between the amount of elderly’s physical activity and the risk of heart failure (see Appendix B for a graph showing the full study results). The more that elderly participate in physical activity, the more risk of heart failure reduces in those individuals (Kraighter-Krainer, et al., 2013). This study directly indicates that a lack of physical activity in elderly and people of all ages increases the likelihood of cardiovascular
In middle adulthood, ages (40-65) known as generativity vs. stagnation Erickson proposed this life span theory as struggle in middle adulthood. “Generativity is the ability to transcend personal interests to provide care and concern for younger and older generations” (Crain, William, 2011). This theory suggests that older people have the ability to give care, guidance, and inspiration to the younger generation, in addition, to providing for the older generation, such as aging parents or family members. In her middle adulthood years Kathleen experienced many losses.
This is consistent with the thought that it will interfere with human’s normal brain functioning in the long run. Going off of this thought, her second point is brought up as young adulthood is a critical period of decisions regarding education, occupation, etc. and an impairment to cognitive functioning could largely effect a future decision. (Tapert,
The origins of generativity can be traced to Erik Erikson’s seminal work Childhood and Society (1963). Erikson theorized that as people age, they progress through a series of eight stages, each stage illustrating a particular challenge. Generativity versus stagnation is the seventh stage and is the conflict most commonly associated with midlife. Erikson loosely defined generativity as “the concern in establishing and guiding the next generation”.
Manuel Gaivoronsky Wissinger College Comp Block 8th April 12, 2023 America's Fitness Crisis: Causes, Consequences, and Strategies for Change. With the detrimental rise in obesity and chronic diseases all around America, the issue of physical inactivity has become a critical concern for public health. As an advocate for fitness who has experienced the positive effects of fitness on my body and mind, I am driven to dive deeper into the problem of physical inactivity across America. The root causes of lack of fitness, the negative health outcomes associated with it, and the most effective strategy to overcome and promote physical activity are all the topics I will be covering and promoting in this essay moving forward.
Theories of late adulthood development are quite diverse in later adulthood than at any other age. They include self-theory, identity theory and stratification theory. The self-theory tries to explain the core self and search to maintain one’s integrity and identity. The older adults tend to integrate and incorporate their various experiences with their vision and mission for their respective community (Berger, 2008). Also, the older people tend to feel that their attitude, personalities and beliefs have remained in a stable state over their lives even as they acknowledge that physical changes have taken place in their bodies.
INTRODUCTION: Attention Step: According to the article “Exercise Makes You Younger,” “Research shows that physical inactivity can cause premature death as well as chronic disease and disability" (54). Establish Need/Relevance: Nowadays technology and busy work schedules have prevented many people from including exercise into their daily activities. Many people think that it is too time consuming and rather not work
As we mature our brain undergoes tremendous changes and we learn to adapt to these changes at different stages in our lives. Our brains function very differently in our adolescent years in contrast to our adult years. In adulthood there is a more efficient use of the brain than in younger childhood. This is in part due to metacognition: the ability to understand one’s mental processes (Feldman, 266). Some major structural differences that occur are the increase in efficiency of the prefrontal cortex, the increase in the number of neurons, and the expansion of neural interconnections.
The physical development of late adulthood is defined by a dramatic loss and decline of physical strength, determination, and abilities as they near the end of their
CHANGING CARE NEEDS THROUGH LIFE STAGES The aim of this assignment is to discuss in general the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of a person in late adulthood. This will be completed by going through each heading and describing the different elements of each stage. Following that, I will compare *the norm* with a lady called Margaret.
Turning 50 years old and beginning the developmental period phase of one’s life, considered ‘middle adulthood’, can contain a mixture of emotions and feelings. This period in one’s life can be a time of declining physical skills, and expanding responsibility with a combination of new opportunities. Lachmen discusses that middle adulthood involves “balancing work and relationship responsibilities in the midst of the physical and psychological changes associated with aging” (Santrock, 485). In conclusion, physical changes, sexuality, leisure, information processing most significantly influence the experience of turning 50 years old.
DEVELOPMENT PSYCHOLOGY: REFLECTIVE ESSAY In life of an individual there are several developmental changes or events which occur as continuity of span of life. Some of life developmental stages include infantile, adolescence, maturity, and adulthood. These phases have biological, social, psychological and physiognomic reasons to which an individual completed the course of life. Psychological analysis upon the developmental stages include the focus on characterization, demarcation and the social interaction of individual’s life (Baltes & Schaie, 2013).