Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

404 CHAPTER 9 Lifespan DevelopmentmenopauseThe natural cessation of menstruation andthe end of reproductive capacity in women.story—adulthood. During the half-century or more that constitutes adulthood,predictable changes continue to occur. Self-definition evolves as people achieveindependence and take on new roles and responsibilities. As you’ll see in this section,the story of adulthood also reflects the increasing importance of individualvariation. Although general patterns of aging exist, our life stories become moredistinct and individualized with each passing decade of life (Schaie & Willis, 1996).Physical ChangesPhysical strength typically peaks in early adulthood, the 20s and 30s. By middleadulthood, roughly from the 40s to the mid-60s, physical strength and endurancegradually decline. Physical and mental reaction times also begin to slow during middleadulthood. During late adulthood, from the mid-60s on, physical stamina andreaction time tend to decline further and faster.Your unique genetic heritage greatly influences the unfolding of certain physicalchanges during adulthood, such as when your hair begins to thin, lose its color, and turngray. Such genetically influenced changes can vary significantly from one person to another.For example, menopause, the cessation of menstruation that signals the end ofreproductive capacity in women, may occur anywhere from the late 30s to the early 50s.But your destiny is not completely ruled by genetics. Your lifestyle is one keyenvironmental factor that can influence the aging process. Staying mentally andphysically active and eating a proper diet can both slow and minimize the degree ofphysical decline associated with aging.Another potent environmental force is simply the passage of time. Decades of useand environmental exposure take a toll on the body. Wrinkles begin to appear as weapproach the age of 40, largely because of a loss of skin elasticity combined withyears of making the same facial expressions. With each decade after age 20, theefficiency of various body organs declines. For example, lung capacity decreases, asdoes the amount of blood pumped by the heart.Social DevelopmentIn his theory of psychosocial development, Erik Erikson (1982) described the twofundamental themes that dominate adulthood: love and work. According toErikson (1964b, 1968), the primary psychosocial task of early adulthood is to forma committed, mutually enhancing, intimate relationship with another person. Duringmiddle adulthood, the primary psychosocial task becomes one of generativity—to contribute to future generations through your children, your career, and othermeaningful activities. In this section, we’ll consider the themes of love and work byexamining adult friendships, marriage, family life, and careers.Psychosocial Developmentin Young Adulthood Youngadulthood brings many psychologicalchallenges andtransitions, not the least ofwhich is choosing a life partner.According to psychoanalystErik Erikson (1968), thekey psychosocial conflict ofyoung adulthood is intimacyversus isolation. Eriksonbelieved that the ability toestablish a meaningful, intimate,and lasting relationshiphelps set the stage forhealthy adult development.Friends and Lovers in AdulthoodLargely because of competing demands on their time,adults typically have fewer friends than adolescents do. Thefocus of adult friendships is somewhat different for menand women. Female friends tend to confide in one anotherabout their feelings, problems, and interpersonal relationships.In contrast, male friends typically minimize discussionsabout relationships or personal feelings or problems.Instead, male friends tend to do things together that theyfind mutually interesting, such as activities related to sportsor hobbies (Grief, 2006; Su & others, 2009).Beyond friendship, establishing a committed, intimate relationshiptakes on a new urgency in adulthood. Looking forMr. or Ms. Right, getting married, and starting a family arethe traditional tasks of early adulthood. However, in contrast