Developmental Psychology

Negative Stereotyping is something that effects the elderly as well. When an elderly person begins thinking of themselves in a negative light, then there is a chance that they will see general things in a negative way as well. 10.7 Dementia and Alzheimer’s These are perhaps 2 of the most known issues that older adults may face later in life. Dementia is defined as extreme memory loss. Dementia will start with small memory lapses, and as it begins to progress, the lapses will become larger and larger. Eventually as dementia progresses further, then there is a chance that the individual will not remember who their family members are and even may lose thought of who they are. Dementia, and the loss of memory that is associated with it, cannot be reversed. This is due to an organic brain disease. Dementia is not known to be normal, even in elderly individuals. The dementia that starts in the lower part of the brain is called subcortical dementia and usually affects motor impairments first and then will cause cognitive impairments. Diseases such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s are subcortical dementias. Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most common forms of dementia. The occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease starts because neurofibrillary will tangle in the brain and will keep the brain from functioning normally. Other organic reasons that dementia occurs is something called Pick’s Disease . This is where there is an atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobe, and it usually is very fatal. Infectious diseases are yet another cause of dementia. Infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS, are known for creating cognitive problems. Cognitive issues that are associated with AIDS are called AIDS-Related Dementia . Someone who has drank their entire life, especially later in life can be diagnosed as being a chronic alcoholic, and this actually can develop into Korsakoff’s Syndrome which is another type of dementia and affects short-term memory. 10.8 Psychological Problems In general terms, elderly individuals have a reduced risk of developing psychological illnesses. There are only approximately 10% of elderly individuals who have actually been diagnosed with dementia, and these 10% have been diagnosed with psychological problems and not physiological problems. One thing that is most often diagnosed is clinical depression. Sometimes it is diagnosed as dementia in elderly patients. Dementia can actually regress if there is proper treatment such as therapy and pharmaceuticals. Depression, just as in any age, can be fatal. There is a high suicide rate in late adulthood, than in any other lifespan group. 10.9 Psychosocial Development Theories Looking back at Erik Erikson’s stages of development, late adulthood is within the Integrity vs Despair Stage. It is within this stage that people start looking back at their lives and will evaluate their lives and look at their sense of integrity. • Self-Theories o Typically begins with a premise of choice o Typically ends with self-actualization (According to Maslow) o Continuity Theory : This is the theory that focuses on how individuals experience life • Activity and Disengagement Theories

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