Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood: A Comprehensive Overview, Slides of Psychology

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CHAPTER 13

Early Adulthood: Physical and

Cognitive Development

chapter

Emerging Adulthood

Physical Development

Physical Development

• Physical development peaks in early adulthood.
  • (20’s and early 30’s) then declines
• Sensory sharpness peaks in early 20’s and then begins gradual

decline in middle adulthood

• Visual acuity remains good until middle adulthood.
  • Decline leads to farsightedness and a need for reading glasses
• Hearing decline beginning in late 20’s/early 30’s

Physical Development (cont ’ d)

• Fertility decreases as both sexes age.

Women

• After age 35, pregnant women are checked for Down

syndrome and chromosomal abnormalities.

• Number of eggs in women are reduced and the

quality is not as good

• May still have healthy children into their 40’s

Men

• Older men may contribute to infertility as well.

Physical Development (cont ’ d)

• Both sexes may be graying and losing hair by end of

early adulthood

• Due to heredity, men may bald by mid 20’s.
• Skin may begin to loosen, grow less elastic, and wrinkle
• More so in women than in men

Health and Fitness

• Young adults tend to have healthy immune systems.
• Accidents most prominent reason for early death
  • Further declines among 25- to 44-year-olds
• Homicide accounts for 13.9% of deaths of 25- to 44-

year-old men.

• Does not decline until 40 to 65 years of age
• Cancer and heart disease kill a much larger percentage

of people aged 25 to 44 than aged 15 to 24, but they

take second and third place behind accidents

• HIV/AIDS becomes leading cause of death among 25-

to 44-year-olds

Health and Fitness (cont ’ d)

• Many young adults do not take care of health and put it

on “back burner”

• 78% of young adults eat less fruits and vegetables than recommended
• 43% engage in no physical activity
• 29% are smokers
• 30% engage in binge drinking
• 26% are overweight
• 14% are obese

(McCracken et al., 2007)

• Fig. 13-2, p.

Exercise

• Adults 18+ need 30 minutes of physical activity five or

more days a week.

• Breaking exercise into smaller segments is beneficial
• Reduces risk of developing or dying from
• cardiovascular disease
• type 2 diabetes
• certain cancers such as colon
• Exercise helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol,

prevents or retards osteoporosis and arthritis, and

reduces obesity.

• Benefits brain function and helps with some mental disorders
• Integrating exercise into daily routine best way

Effects of Depressants

• Depressants slow the nervous system.
  • Include alcohol, narcotics derived from the opium poppy (heroine, morphine, and codeine), and sedatives (barbiturates and methaqualone)
• Alcohol effects
  • Lowers inhibitions
  • Binge drinking associated with bad grades and risky behavior such as unprotected sex, acts of aggression
  • Distorts perceptions, impairs concentration
• Alcohol use most prevalent among 21- to 34-year-olds
  • Over 2 million college students a year drive under the influence of alcohol.
  • More than one million between the ages of 18 to 24 are accidentally injured while under the influence.

Effects of Depressants (cont ’ d)

• Barbiturates are addictive.
  • In part due to their legitimate medical uses
• They are abused due to
  • relaxing effects
  • mild euphoric effects

Effects of Stimulants (cont ’ d)

• Cocaine produces feelings of euphoria, relieves pain,

boosts self-confidence, reduces the appetite

• Cocaine
  • accelerates heart rate
  • spikes the blood pressure
  • constricts arteries of heart
  • thickens blood
  • can cause cardiovascular and respiratory collapse
• Cocaine overdoses can causes restlessness, insomnia,

tremors, and death.

Effects of Stimulants (cont ’ d)

• Tolerance for amphetamines develops quickly.
• Methamphetamine may be physically addictive.
  • High doses can cause restlessness and insomnia, irritability, and loss of appetite
• Methamphetamine abuse can cause brain damage,

leading to problems with learning and memory.

• Smoking or injecting it can be associated with violent behavior