HDE 100C Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Paul Baltes, Elder Abuse, Hans Selye
25 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
The lifespan developmental theory by paul baltes: as life progresses, there are progressively more losses and progressively less gains. Losses lead to stress: we need to find ways to cope to lessen and reduce those stresses. If there is not enough stress, there will be no motivation to do anything. If there is too much stress, there will be negative reactions and no motivation to do anything: acute stress response (fight or flight) (cannon, 1915/1929) preparing the body to fight or flee. The body gives resources (blood, oxygen, and nutrients) to body parts like the arms or legs which would aid in fighting or escaping. Thymus (involved with immune function) decreases in size and function: the thymus controls the alarm reaction, but represses immune function (stress comes at a cost to the body, exhaustion alarm-stage responses reappear. If there is a severe enough stressor, this can be accompanied by physical illness or death.
