Human Growth and Development II – Middle and Late Adulthood

Human Growth and Development II – Middle and Late Adulthood

Every individual spends their life transitioning from one stage of development to another. This transition is marked by personality, physical, and cognitive changes, which occur as one ages. Learning about human growth and development is essential as it gives insight into what affects who one becomes and helps one prepare for issues associated with age, for instance, by providing information about making healthier choices. This paper will focus on middle adulthood and late adulthood. Accordingly, it will discuss the differences between Erikson’s generativity versus stagnation stage and the ego integrity versus despair stage. It will also describe the physical and cognitive changes in late adulthood and death and dying.

Part A

Erikson’s Generativity versus Stagnation Stage

Erik Erikson postulated that middle adulthood is characterized by a period he termed the generativity-versus-stagnation stage. According to Erikson, individuals spend their adulthood either in generativity or stagnation. Generative adults spend their middle adulthood making personal contributions to family, the community, and society (Feldman, 2018). Additionally, generative adults aim to guide and encourage future generations. Primarily, generative roles are achieved through parenting. Also, generativity needs can be met through other roles like mentorship, working directly with younger adults, or creative work like art. Overall, generative people aim to leave a lasting contribution to society; therefore, their focus is beyond themselves, and they aim to continue their lives through others (Feldman, 2018).

Conversely, people may experience stagnation during middle adulthood due to a lack of psychological growth (Feldman, 2018). According to Erikson, such individuals focus on the triviality of their actions and may feel they have made little contribution to society. For instance, one may feel that their career is not fulfilling or does not leave a lasting contribution to society. Consequently, some may flounder, others may seek new and potentially fulfilling livelihoods, and others may experience frustration and boredom (Feldman, 2018).

Ego Integrity versus Despair Stage

The ego-integrity-versus-despair stage is Erikson’s final stage of the eight psychosocial development stages. Unlike the generativity-versus-stagnation stage, this stage occurs in late adulthood, and individuals spend time looking back, evaluating, and coming to terms with their lives (Feldman, 2018). Accordingly, successful individuals in this development stage achieve integrity, which is a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. For instance, a person who has spent their life advocating for the rights of the minority may feel they have fulfilled all possibilities in their life and have few regrets. Conversely, individuals in the despair stage experience dissatisfaction when they look back on their lives. They feel they have not achieved what they wished; thus, they may become hopeless, unhappy, angry, and depressed (Feldman, 2018).

A similarity between the two stages (the generativity-versus-stagnation stage and the ego-integrity-versus-despair stage) is that both involve feelings of either satisfaction for individuals at generativity and ego-integrity stages or dissatisfaction for individuals at the stagnation and despair stages.

Occurrences that Could Affect Positive or Negative Outcomes Erikson’s Stage of Generativity versus Stagnation

Several factors can affect the outcome of Erikson’s stage of generativity versus stagnation. These include pride in work and family, taking responsibility, making contributions, and feelings of productivity (Cherry, 2022). Essentially, an individual who takes pride in their family and work feels they are supportive of their family, for instance, through parenting, and that their work is of greater meaning. Secondly, people who contribute to the community, for example, through animal volunteer work, environmental volunteer work, or working with children and youth, feel that they have contributed to the continuity of life and that their life are productive. Conclusively, all these occurrences lead to a positive outcome of Erikson’s generativity versus stagnation stage. Contrariwise, a negative outcome (trivializing one’s activities) is achieved if the individual does not take pride in their work and family, feels that they have not made significant contributions, or that their actions have been unproductive.

Proactive Changes to Improve My Generativity

Although I consider myself a generative person, I believe I can make some changes to improve my generativity. To begin with, with the current issues concerning human activities and their adverse effects on the environment and climate, I will join and encourage others to join environmental conservation organizations such as Conservation International (CI) that aim to promote environmental sustainability. I will also help create awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability by informing my family, friends, and peers through personal conversations and the larger society through social media. In addition, I will engage in animal volunteer work by volunteering in animal shelters and caring for rescued and injured animals. I believe all these changes will bring fulfillment to my life, hence improving my generativity.

Part B

Physical and Cognitive Changes in Late Adulthood

Individuals in late adulthood undergo several physical transitions, categorized into outward signs of aging and internal aging. Outward signs of aging include changes in the older adult’s hair; it turns gray and ultimately white and thins out in some cases. The skin becomes wrinkled after losing elasticity and collagen. The elderly in late adulthood also become shorter and their bones thinner (osteoporosis) due to their backbone discs becoming thinner (Feldman, 2018). Further, internal aging involves changes in the internal functioning of body systems. Accordingly, the brain reduces in size and weight as one age, but it retains its structure and function in the absence of diseases. Also, the gap between the skull and the brain increases as the brain shrinks, doubling from age 20 to 70. In addition, blood flow in the brain reduces, requiring less oxygen and glucose. This reduction in blood flow results from the heart’s declined capacity to pump blood. Similarly, all other body systems are affected by aging and work at a lower capacity. For instance, the respiratory system loses efficiency, muscles decrease in size, the digestive system produces reduced digestive juice, and some hormones are released at lower levels. It is worth noting that these changes result in a declined ability to recuperate, thus increasing incidences of severe health conditions like cancer, stroke, and heart disease, eventually leading to death.

Moreover, cognitive changes in late adulthood include loss of memory. However, memory loss during this stage of development is specific to particular types of memory. For instance, while implicit and semantic memories are mostly unaffected, episodic memories are largely affected. Episodic memory concerns specific life experiences, semantic memory involves general knowledge and facts, while implicit memory is the memory that people are consciously unaware of (like riding a bicycle). Also, short-term memory declines gradually and then deteriorates rapidly after age 70. Additionally, information processing in late adulthood is slow, and individuals may make poor decisions, especially if complex concepts are involved. Also, the focus is more on emotional content in older adults than younger people. Nonetheless, their accumulated knowledge and experience can compensate for their deficits. Cognitive changes also involve intelligence. Notably, intelligence declines slowly as one continues to age. However, different cognitive abilities change differently, as practice, motivation, and training can help older adults maintain their mental abilities.

Death and Dying

Death and dying have different outcomes depending on the path one might take. Culture is one such path. Consequently, the outcome or responses to death and dying take different forms across various cultures. For instance, some cultures may view death as punishment depending on the individual’s contribution to society. Another factor that affects the outcome of death and dying is religion. For example, some religions view death as the beginning of eternal life, and others as redemption from a life of struggle (Feldman, 2018). Notably, those who view death as a continuation of life may not respond to death with anger or view it as unfair. The outcome of death and dying or how people respond to death also depends on one’s values. Since people have different personal values, they may respond differently to death and dying. For instance, some may consider a man who dies after a full life of raising his family and a successful job as honorable. Contrariwise, others may consider a man who dies while protecting the country in wartime more honorable.

Improving Physical Health

One proactive way to improve my physical health is by eating a healthy diet. According to the CDC, eating healthy diets improves one’s physical health by boosting immunity, supporting muscles, strengthening muscles, ensuring proper functioning of the digestive system, lowering the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, and extending one’s active life span (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Secondly, I will engage in exercises like yoga, dancing, and cycling. Exercising regularly helps improve physical strength and balance and reduces the risk of falls. It also helps in controlling blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress and depression, and preventing conditions like heart disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis (National Institute on Aging, 2020). Lastly, I will avoid behaviors or habits that would predispose me to health risks, such as smoking.

Improving Cognitive Health

I will improve my cognitive health through practice, training, and exercise. Notably, practice and training improve one’s mental abilities (Feldman, 2018). The National Institute on Aging (2020) also reports that exercising maintains and possibly improves some aspects of cognitive functions, such as planning, shifting from one task to another, and ignoring relevant information. Therefore, in addition to yoga, dancing, and cycling, which I mentioned earlier, I will engage in activities I like, such as gardening, which will help improve my cognitive functioning.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Benefits of Healthy Eating. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/resources-publications/benefits-of-healthy-eating.html.

Cherry, K. (2022). Generativity vs. Stagnation in Psychosocial Development. Verywell Mind. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/generativity-versus-stagnation-2795734.

Feldman, R. S. (2018). Development Across the Life Span (8th ed.). Pearson.

National Institute on Aging. (2020). Real-life benefits of exercise and physical activity. National Institute on Aging. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/real-life-benefits-exercise-and-physical-activity

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Instructions
Directions: Be sure to make an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English spelling and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be four (4) pages in length; refer to the “Assignment Format” page for specific format requirements.

Human Growth and Development II – Middle and Late Adulthood

Part A
1. Compare and contrast Erikson’s generativity-versus-stagnation stage with his ego-integrity-versus-despair stage for middle and late adulthood. Include at least three examples from your text as you compare and contrast the two stages.
2. Write a well-reasoned paragraph for each of the following:
Part B
The occurrences that can affect positive or negative outcomes in Erickson’s generativity- versus-stagnation stage
• Three proactive changes you can make personally to improve your generativity in your lifetime
1. Describe the physical and cognitive changes that occur in late adulthood, including how some of these changes may lead to decline and eventual death.
2. Explain how the processes of death and dying can have different outcomes or scenarios depending on the different paths one might take. Use at least three examples of supportive evidence from your text.
3. Write a well-reasoned paragraph on each of the following:
• Three proactive ways you can improve your physical health
• Three ways you can improve your cognitive health in your lifetime