BESC1120 Study Guide - Final Guide: Sensory System, Visual Acuity, Fallopian Tube
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EXAM NOTES - Developmental Psychology
Early Adulthood
Lecture 9:
Chapter 12: Physical and Cognitive Development in early adulthood
Young/Early adulthood = age 18 – 40
Physical Development
- Young adults at peak of their physical abilities
- Heart, lungs, other body organs reached maturity
- At strongest by mid 20’s
Physical functioning:
Signs of normal ageing appear between 20-40
Any decline in physical functioning is likely to be so gradual it goes unnoticed
3 aspects of physical functioning
- growth in height and weight
- strength
- age related changes in body systems
Genetics, diet, exercise, stress < all effect these changes
Growth in height and weight:
Both sexes experience weight increases during early adulthood
Bodies continue to fill out – high activity levels of adolescence gives way to more inactive routines
(study, work..)
Contemporary society – emphasises being slim as essential to being attractive – females are
particularly attuned to weight and weight control
Recent generations of adults have been getting taller and heavier and maturing earlier
These generational changes reflect secular trend observed in 19th and 20th centuries
^ due to … better nutrition, hygiene, healthier environmental conditions
Less clear trend for aboriginal Australians
Many people reach full height during adolescence and virtually all by mid 20’s
Skeletal development ends during 20’s – ossification process changes cartiliage to bone
Females tend to reach this earlier than males, but variability in when time is complete for both
sexes
Both will achieve max bone mass by 30
Combo of exercise and good nutrition while bone mass is developing produces pool of bone and
calcium that can alleviate bone loss associated with ageing later on
Womens breasts and hips increase in size
Mens shoulders and upper arms increase
If don’t adjust diets and monitor activity level, gain weight (because of more sedentary routine in
adulthood)
During early 20’s average body fat percentage for males (15%) females (21%)
Increases when 50+ to average males (19%) females (25%)
Weight in females (extra fat) – sex specific reproductive functions
Woman more concerned about weight in early adulthood
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Strength:
Continues to increase after full weight is reached
Gains in strength throughout 20’s (muscular system), peaks in early 30’s
Middle and late 20’s = prime time for doing hard physical labour or playing strenuous sports
After peak, comes slow and steady decline in strength – has little impact on people until they reach
around age 40/50
Declines of ageing affect our organ reserve (the extra capacity of the lungs, heart and other organs
for responding to particularly intense or prolonged effort or unusually stressful events) – eg.
running for the bus – so first notices under unusual / stressful circumstances
Age Related Changes:
Appearance changes very little
Some people may notice few creases in face or few grey hairs by late 20s
First visible signs of ageing reflect changes in skin elasticity and reduction in number of pigment
producing cells
Age related changes occur in all body systems
In 20’s, body systems are at peak performance, after, gradual decline begins (proceeds at different
rates for different systems)
Level of cellular water (slowest decline), maximum breathing capacity (fastest decline)
Cardiovascular changes:
Undergoes steady decline in functioning throughout adult years
System function = to pump blood through the body in an efficient and continuous matter, to
provide cells with nutrients and oxygen and to rid them of waste products
In healthy individuals (free of cardiac disease) major change is gradual decrease in maximum heart
rate
Max rate the heart can beat during heavy exertion decreases aprox 5-10 beats each decade
following peak capacity in 20’s
Respiratory changes:
This system enriches the blood with oxygen and rids it of carbon dioxide, by exchanging air from
outside body with air inside.
Because of pollutants in modern enviro, difficult for researches to see normal ageing of lungs and
this system (smoking and air pollution influence this)
Gradual decreases in respiratory efficiency start at about 25, and decrease noticeably by 40
Declines quickly compared to other body systems
Sensory system changes:
Peak CNS (central nervous system) function characterises early adulthood
age related changes begin during this period but very gradual
nerve conduction speed (time it takes to transmit nerve impulses) decreases less during adulthood
relative to other functions
senses vary in degree of age related change
visual acuity increases until 20/30’s and remains relatively constant to 40/50.
From age 30, eyes become more farsighted as lenses thicken and flatten – most people usually do
not notice visual changes until middle adulthood when may need reading glasses for first time
Hearing peaks at age 20, followed by gradual loss, usually too small to be noticed by young adults
Taste and smell sensitivity remain constant
Sensitivity to touch continues to increase to age 45
All these physiological changes don’t mean a whole lot in early adulthood…
- Period of life when physical functioning is most stable
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 12: physical and cognitive development in early adulthood. Young adults at peak of their physical abilities. Heart, lungs, other body organs reached maturity. Any decline in physical functioning is likely to be so gradual it goes unnoticed. Genetics, diet, exercise, stress < all effect these changes. Both sexes experience weight increases during early adulthood. Bodies continue to fill out high activity levels of adolescence gives way to more inactive routines (study, work) Contemporary society emphasises being slim as essential to being attractive females are particularly attuned to weight and weight control. Recent generations of adults have been getting taller and heavier and maturing earlier. These generational changes reflect secular trend observed in 19th and 20th centuries. ^ due to better nutrition, hygiene, healthier environmental conditions. Many people reach full height during adolescence and virtually all by mid 20"s. Skeletal development ends during 20"s ossification process changes cartiliage to bone.
