Adolescence_and_Adulthood

Adolescence and Adulthood Laura L Crabtree PSY 202 July 3, 2011 Thea Lawton Adolescence and Adulthood Adolescence is one of the most confusing and trying times for both the child and their parents. At age thirteen is when a child enters adolescences and they start to experience according to Erikson the fifth stage of psychosocial development known as identity vs. role confusion. During this stage, a time of major testing, people try to determine what is unique about them. They attempt to discover who they are, what their strengths are, and what kinds of roles they are best suited to play for the rest of their lives—in short, their identity. I remember when I was about this age I discover that I was a very strong willed individual, and I had a very big heart. I began to realize that I had a small network of good friends and that I was very good at causing trouble. My role in life varied as I was already working as close to full time as I could get by the time I was 14. During this time in my life I was exposed to lots of temptations such as sex, drugs, and other activities that were not at all legal. I must say that I did not give into to the peer pressure I came in contact with because I was a strong willed person I only did the things I wanted to. Most the time I would just simply find something else to do or tell people that I was not interested for whatever reason. I will say that I did choose to do a lot of things that I now can see the reasoning for why my mom did not want me to do however I still think that I made wise decisions back then. As we grow into adulthood there are varies changes that people go through from physical to social and cognitive. The physical changes become very obvious the body starts to decline and shows signs of wear and tear i.e. hair thins, skin shrivels, and mental processes and memory decline. Socially older adults were thought to withdraw from society but researchers are finding that is not the case at all they remain a functioning member of society. The cognitive change show some declines in intellectual functioning during late adulthood do occur, although the pattern of age differences is not uniform for different types of cognitive abilities. In general, skills relating to fluid intelligence (which involves information-processing skills such as memory, calculations, and analogy solving) show declines in late adulthood. In contrast, skills relating to crystallized intelligence (intelligence based on the accumulation of information, skills, and strategies learned through experience) remain steady and in some cases actually improve (Stankov, 2003; Rozencwajg et al., 2005; van Hooren, Valentijn, & Bosma, 2007).Even when changes in intellectual functioning occur during late adulthood, people often are able to compensate for any decline. They can still learn what they want to; it may just take more time. Furthermore, teaching older adults strategies for dealing with new problems can prevent declines in performance (Saczynski, Willis, & Schaie, 2002; Cavallini, Pagnin, & Vecchi, 2003; Peterset al., 2007). The Major differences that occur in adolescences and late adulthood are mostly physical and cognitive. When you are young your body is developing and changing with the transition through puberty. There also the stages where the young person brain is starting to transition into the full development and they are able to use all of it capabilities. Lastly this is the time that one starts to define one’s self and discover morality and deeper social connections. The last stages in adulthood begin the declining changes both physically and mentally. This stage is when one comes to terms with life will not last forever. I feel that the only similarity I see in these two stages is that they are both transitions time one being the transition into productive adulthood i.e. working, reproducing. The other be the transition into the afterlife your physical form and brain starts to deter ate. Late adulthood is when most people come to terms with their beliefs in regards to death. Life is a wonderful circle it throws many loops at you as you travel down the road it is the only trip that has no shortcuts everyone must experience every stage in some way shape or form before it is over.