Transcript Slide 1
Chapter 5
The Physical Self
Chapter 5: The Physical Self
Genetic and environmental forces e.g.
height
Average:
Can
be affected by malnutrition
Catch-up
growth possible
After illness or periods of malnutrition
More
female 5’4” male 5’9”
short people in cold climates
Smaller body surface for heat loss
The Endocrine System
Glands that secrete hormones
Pituitary gland: the master gland
Controls
all other glands
Is controlled by the hypothalamus
Produces growth hormone
Testes secrete androgens like
testosterone
Ovaries secrete estrogen and
progesterone
Plasticity
Responsiveness to experiences
Can
be negative
Vulnerable to damage
Environmental deprivation
Can
be positive
Aids in recovery from from injury
Can compensate for each other
Can benefit from stimulation
Allows for adaptability
Brain Development 2
Critical period: late prenatal & early
infancy
Lateralization (at birth)
Left
hemisphere
Analytic reasoning, language
Right
hemisphere
Understanding spatial information
Visual-motor information
Corpus
callosum connects the two
Brain Development 3
Never truly complete
Changes
occur across lifespan
Growth spurts in infancy, childhood and
adolescence
Full adult weight by about age 16
Processing speed increases in
adolescence
Myelination continues into adulthood
Brain Development 4
The Aging Brain
Gradual
and mild degeneration
Elderly adults
5-30%
fewer neurons than younger adult
Greater loss in sensory-motor areas
Plasticity still possible
Main result of age is slower processing
Principles of Growth
Procession of growth is orderly
Cephalocaudal:
from head, downward
Proximodistal: from the center, outwards
Orthogenic: from global, undifferentiated to
specialized
A Life-Span Developmental
Model of Health
Health: A life-long process
Determined by both genetic and
environmental factors
Is multi-dimensional: well-being, illness
Changes involve both gains and losses
Sociohistorical context: SES
The Infant
Typically 7 to 71/2 lbs., 20 inches long
Period of rapid growth
Neonatal reflexes (see Table 5.3 in text)
Survival
Breathing, eye-blink,sucking/rooting
Primitive
reflexes: clearly adaptive
reflexes: less adaptive
Typically disappear by 4 months
Babinski: toes fan
Grasping
Used diagnostically
The Infant 2
Behavioral States
Short
sleep-wake cycles at first
Establish more regularity at 3-6 months
REM sleep
50% of the time for newborns
25-30% by 6 months
May
be useful for reducing stimulation
Individuality in infant patterns
The Infant 3
Strengths and weaknesses
Sensory
system in tact
Ability to learn from experience and from
consequences
Limited in capacity to move voluntarily
Intentionality also limited
Cannot
interpret complex stimuli
Infant Physical Behavior
Developmental norms (see Table 5.5 )
Average
age of mastery
Gross before fine motor skills
Crawling at 7–10 months
Walking at about 1 year
Study of “walkers” (Siegel & Burton,
1999)
Infants
not using walkers sat up, crawled,
and walked earlier
Need sensory feedback I.e.,to see feet
Physical Behavior 2
Manipulating Objects
Grasping
reflex disappears: 2-4 mo
Pincer grasp by 6 months
Motor Skills
Rhythmic
Stereotypies
Rocking, bouncing, mouthing objects, banging
arms and legs
Precede a skill then disappear
Dynamic Systems Approach
A self-organizing process
Trying
new movements
Use sensory feedback
Motor milestones are learned
Also require maturation
A nature/nurture position
Adolescence
Growth spurt triggered by hormones
Peak
in height: Age 12/girls, 14/boys
Menarche: Average age 12½
Earlier in countries with good nutrition
Maturation different by ethnicity
AA and MA girls earlier than White
Semenarche: Average age 13
Emission of seminal fluid
Rates of Development
Genes set the process in motion
Hormones responsible for changes
Environment also
Secular
trend: better nutrition
Earlier maturation,larger body size
Poorly
nourished/mature later
Heavy & tall/mature earlier
Regular strenuous exercise/later
Psychological Implications
Girls become concerned w/appearance
Individual
reactions vary widely
Negative views about menstruation
Boys likely to welcome the changes
Family relations remain important
Distance
and conflict with parents
Usually about only minor issues
Early versus Late Development
Early males: Advantageous
More
Late/males: Disadvantageous
More
positive reactions from others
behavior and adjustment problems
Early/females: Disadvantageous
Subject
of ridicule, lower self esteem
Older peer group = problems
Late/ females: Academic advantages
Differences tend to fade with time
Physical Behavior
Dramatic physical growth overall
Boys continue to improve
Girls tend to level off or decline
Not
totally explained by biology
Gender role socialization important
Gender performance gap has narrowed
E.g., track, swimming, cycling records
Health and Wellness in
Adolescence
Obesity a continuing problem
Higher
risk: Diabetes, heart, BP problems
Poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyle
Leading causes of death
Motor
vehicles and violence
Alcohol and drug use, cigarette smoking
Also
result in risky choices
The Adult
Minor changes in the 20s & 30s
Noticeable by the 40s
Wrinkles,
gray hair, weight gain
In the 60s: Weight, muscle, bone loss
Osteoporosis
in older women
Fair, light frame, smokers
Calcium, exercise, (HRT?)
Osteoarthritis:
Joint deterioration
Functioning and Health
Most systems show decline with age
Heart
and lung capacity
Temperature control
Immune system and strength
Reserve capacity
On average, older people are less fit than
younger BUT not all
•
Physically active remain fit
Slowing Down
Balance difficulty affects the ability to walk,
stand, sit, and turn
Older people with strong muscles and
good cardiovascular capacity can walk
briskly
Major change is slowing of the CNS
Increased
RT
Novel/complex tasks more difficult
Physically-fit older people have quicker RT
Disease, Disuse, or Abuse?
Birren (1963) study of men aged 65-91
Healthy
older same as younger
Conclusion: Aging itself has little effect on
physical and psychological functioning
Disuse: “Use it or loose it!”
Includes
mental exercise
Abuse contributes to decline
Alcohol,
high-fat diet, smoking
Health and Wellness in Old Age
Acute illnesses less common
Chronic disease more common
Most 70-yr-olds: At least 1 chronic
impairment
Tremendous variability
Exercise, nutrition: Lifelong benefits
Improves
cardio, respiratory functioning
Slows bone loss, strengthens muscles
Less depression, delays disability
Diseases Common in Old Age
Osteoporosis: Smokers, light frame, at risk
Increase
calcium
Weight-bearing exercise
Osteoarthritis: deterioration of cartilage
Successful aging
Both
physical and mental functioning
Positive attitude