The Aging Processes Essay Example

Adulthood can be understood by learning the three main stages of development associated with it. The first stage is the biosocial development, which involves all the biological developments that affect a person's social life while aging. Senescence is the term used to describe the physical deterioration associated with the aging process (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 576). The physical deterioration is believed to begin at a cellular level increasing levels of mortality as people grow old (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 594). Studies have shown that as people grow older, they are at a higher risk of death than when they are young. A biophysical aspect of aging affects a person's outward appearance causing wrinkles due to muscular degeneration.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Aging not only affects the ability to move but also affects sensory organs and the reproductive systems. When it comes to affecting the senses, people who are older than 60 are prone to a condition called presbycusis, which is the loss of hearing caused by senescence. Additionally, the biosocial aging process affects the reproductive system. In men, aging is attributed to reduced sexual responsiveness when testosterone levels decrease, leading to sexual unresponsiveness and mass reduction in a state called andropause (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 581). Menopause is the opposite, which occurs in women around the age of 50 where a woman's menstrual periods cease, and there is a considerable reduction in the production of vital, productive hormones like estrogen and progesterone (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 584). The reduction in hormones in women is attributed to the risk of osteoporosis, which can be prevented by hormone replacement therapy, which compensates for the reduced hormones (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 584). In old age, vitality, the measure of health based on how energetic ones feel mentally, physically, and socially, is commonly used due to its holistic approach to health measurement for those in old age.

The second stage in aging is cognitive development. Numerous studies have been conducted to show the relationship between aging and cognitive development. It is assumed that general intelligence is a common trait in all people and underlies cognitive abilities (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 603). Aside from general intelligence, there are several forms of intelligence in each person, most of which have been shown to decline with age. Fluid intelligence, for example, is the ability for one to store short-term memories and think abstractly (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 610). On the other hand, there is crystalized intelligence, which is one's ability to gather general information that increases with age. A person's approach to problem-solving is affected by cognitive abilities. Dealing with stressors or factors that lead to stress is different for all individuals (Boyd, Bee and Johnson 615). While there are those who cope by avoiding the problems, avoidant coping, there are those who are problem focused and deal with their problems directly. As such, people have diverse personalities.

Conclusion

Personality is the root of a person's identity. Personality in adulthood is shaped by experiences, genes, and one's perspective on life. According to Erikson, personality in adulthood can be defined by intimacy or isolation among other factors. Conferring to Maslow's theory of hierarchy needs, love, success and a sense of belonging are at the top of the list in adulthood. It is due to these factors that most people face the mid-life crisis. It is the unusual radical transformation and redefinition that comes during middle ages but more concerned with a person's development history. With old age, most people have been seen to seek family relations and reconnect more with their families and children. In most cases, people in old age tend to be caring and concerned about family and interpersonal relation than they were in earlier years.

Work Cited

Boyd, Denise Roberts, Helen L. Bee, and Paul A. Johnson. Lifespan development. Pearson, 2014.