most difficult
seen as Lhe theii
the death of
usually
to insecurity and [Link] elderly tend Spouse is
behind after
loss, Those
left lorncliness,
to look towards others to lean on and to care deep grief,
cope wilh
also at risk
suffer and are
for them. Indian culture favours dependency partner
f i n a n c i a l loss Widows by
of elderly on their children, for old age necds
depression, problems.
related studies
health because
oriental O1 narny n u n b e r w i d o w e r s ,
caring. In fact, parents in most nen and
the fond hope lar out longer than
Cultures rear their childrern with Show that
women live themselves,
old agc. It older than
that they will care for them duringa sense of tend to
marry men
support from
children,
the elderly help the
is important to give
times,
During such friends can
security and belonging, a
feeling that people and spOuse.
the loss of view death
grandchildren,
the time of crisis), with
care for them (especially in grow old
individual cope cultures
that we all }have to
different
and to remember People in our country.
culture in
differently. In the Gond caused by
magic
oneday. believed that death is Culture of
it is In the
Tanala
thought to
demo).
and are
natural forces
Aetivity 3.5 Madagascar,
d e v e l o p m e n t as
you have
Human
helps you to
different siages of lilc, cause death. chapter thus,
Intervier people
fron thrce of factors
and over 60 years read in this
various
of
20-35, 35-60
example, the
influence
for understand
them about: place in lifetime.
age. Talk tot r a n s i t i o n s that have taken
individual's
in an
a.
Major
their ives. transitions have aflected
feel these
b. How they
important in Key uerms
them? considered
the events
Attachment.
Compae Animis m, Concrete
Adolescen ce, trend,
differentgroups. Cephalocaudal
thought.
Centration, Deductive
Development,
o perational
stage,
Egocentrism, Evolution.
Gender,
to occur n
Menarche,
Maturation,
is mnore likely point Jdentity,
infancy,
Object
permaneng
death at any development,
Prenatal per
Although
death can come especially of Motor Phenotype,
adulthood, inary
late deaths, often
Operations,
Preoperational stage
The adults, are ud, Pu
of characteristics, Proxind
development.
in younger those bristto
and tragic
than Reflexes, Secondaryse
children
more death
to be
adults,
younger Sensorimotorslage,
perceived
and accidents
children of
In because
0cCur
others.
to occur
likely to
more
likely
it is
more
death of a are
is older
adults disease..The
but in chronic
because
of
nutriton,
SUminaly mate
allected
by ltrends
may be
and pr
d e v e l o p m e n t
S o m e m a l e r n a ll l n e s s e s .
Prenatal c e p h a l o c a u d a l
ofatta
follows learning.
a l l e c t th
d e v e l o p 1 n e n t
and
can
m a t u r a t t o n
Motor rearing 2ch
both
d s on in
child
tocop
i r allrntes winiti f e attrd have
IrN)Rilility o thes, Nowf e r are ople
hanglg I crialtt uaya
reking pion1nt
utstd the hene CuetCtir. anl creaiive
in which both Ta1e quite active valued
parents wOk T:r anci are thcrcfore.
when both parcuts ae orkir11( 11e y tt" k0i tentwalks of ite. In partirtlar,
ay
ofa sigle wotkig pareit. D sOCiciv n
in polllcs, literttitte.
(aking CaTe off children. their school We hav aged /Copd mvthof dase
art ands t e e hr
DiIsiness,
illness, and coing with worklnad theretore. frightenin
at 2saniitapacitaling aid
the oftice, ete. Despite the phase of ife is ehanging.
sassocated with expericCe ol old age
also
parenting. it providcs O course, thesocio-cconomic conditiois.
11níque opportunify for rowth and depends on the
safislaction and iS perreited as a wa1' ol of peoqlc.
avallability of health care. attitude
[Link]ín:! cOnCern and guiding the next pectations of s0cirtr and the availabie
LCieration.
mOst inportanl
Phvsical changes during middle ages are Sipport svstenn. Work is
fanily becomeS
during cariy aduit years, then
eused by maturational changes in the body. that health
1hough individuals may vary in the rate at most important and beyond
becomes the most important issue
it the
1whichtlhese changes occur, almost all middle
person's life. Clearly, sUccessul ageng tor
ascd people notice gradual deierioration in much of our adult life focuses on how
eftective
sOne aspects ol their physical functioning We are at work. how loving our relationships
suchas decline in vision, sensitivity to glare, are in our family, how gOod our
friendships
hcaring loss and changes in physical are, how healthy we are, and how cognitively
appearance (e.g.. wrinkles. grey hair or fit we are.
thinning of hair, weight gain). Do cognitive Retirenment from active vocational life is
abilities change during adulthood? It is quite significant. Some people perceive
believed that some cognitive abilities decline retirenent as a negative change, They
with age while others do not. Decline in consider il as a separation from an important
memory is more in tasks involving long-term sOurce of satisfaction and self-esteem. Others
memory than short-term memory. For view it as a shift in life with more time to
example, amiddle-aged person can remember pursue their own interests. It is seen that
the telephone number immediately after s/he older adults who show openness to new
has heard it but may not remember it so experiences,more striving and achievement
efliciently after a few days. Memory tends to oriented behaviour prefer to keep busy and
show greater decline, while wisdom may are better adjusted.
improve with age. Remember that individual Older adults also need to adjust to changes
differences exist in intelligence at every age in the family structure and new roles (grand
and as not all children are exceptional, neither parenting) that have to be learnt. Children
doall adults show wisdom. usually are busy in their careers and families
and may set up independent homes, Older
Old Age adults may depend on their children for
Just when "old age" begins, is not easy to financial support and to overcome their
determine. Traditionally, the age of retirement loneliness (after children have moved out).
was linked to old age. Now that people are This might trigger-off feelings of hopelessness
living longer, age of retiring from work is and depression in some people.
changing, and the cut-off point for the In old age feelimg of loss of energy, and
definition of"old age" is moving upward. Some dwindling of health and financial assets, lead
57
Chapter 3" Human Development
lo ive witlh ther pauCnts evCn aller L
physiological dependency, i.e, addlel lon to a r c l and beciDE namcially Indepen
drugs, alcohol or ntcotine may serlously Is direcledi
jeopardise the rest of tlhe adolescents' lives.
The assuIpiol oladult rolcs The bs
context.
Positive relationshlps witlh parents, peeTS, an Indivilual's soctal
oiDportnl le CVentsh
lor sone ol the
siblings, and adults play an imporlant role in marriage. job, viny children) might be
successlul
preventingdrug abuse. In India, a different n diflerent CullurCs but
wili,.
Thcatre
nti-drug programne is the Socicty for Culturc there is sinilarily
inlhc coursec ol:t
uses
in Education Programme in New Delhl. It development.
street performances to cnterlain people najor lasks .
In carly adulth00d, twO acdult livit
between 13 to 25 years of age while teaching exploring lhe
p0ssibilities for
them how to say no to drugs,
The United
developing aslable life structure. The twen
phase of adl.
Nations International Drug Control Programme represenl the novice
(UNDCP) has chosen the programme as
an
develop1nent. Gradually,
a transitio r.
other non independence should or:
Cxample to be adopted by dependence to
region. of (he,
governmental organisations in the TI couldbe marked by an inage
obsession wants, especially
Eating Disorders: Adolescents' ol le the young persOn career.
world and peer
with sclf, living in fantasy conditions where lern1s of marriage
and a
comparisons lead to certain
Career and Work : Earning a livi
their own bodies. and developin
they become obsessed with choosing an occupation,
disorder thal for people in (
Anorexia neosa is an eating career are in1portant themes
through
involves relentless pursuit of thinness twenties and thirties. Entering
work lite
common to see
starvation. It is quite challenging event in anyone's life. There
certain foods from their differe
adolescents eliminate apprehensions regarding
only. The media
diets or to eat slimming foods adjustments, proving one's
competen
most desirable
also projects thinness, as the image of performance, dealing with competition,
image andcopying such fashionable Bulimia coping with expectations both of
the emplo
thinness leads to anorexia nervosa. beginning of
which and oneself. It is also the
is another form of an eating disorder in roles and responsibilities. Developing
the individual follows a binge-and-purge eating evaluating a career becomes an
important t
pattern. The bulimic goes on an eating binge, of adulthood.
then purges by self-induced vomiting or usii Marriage, Parenthood, and Family :
fasti
a laxative at times alternating it with adjustments that young adults have to
m
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are primari marriage relate to kno,
when entering a
female disorders more common in urban
theother person if not known earlier, cop
families. with each other's likes, dislikes, tastes,
choices. If both the partnerS are work
ADULTHOOD AND OLD AGE adjustments are required regarding shaz
and performing roles andresponsibilitie
Adulthood home.
An adult is generally defined as someone who In addition to getting married, becomi
and parent can be a difficult and stressful trans
is responsible, mnature, self-supporting,
well integrated into society. There is a variation in young adults, even though it is usL
accompanied by the feeling of love for the b
indeveloping these attributes, which suggests How adults experience parenting is affecte
that there is a shift in timing when an different situations such as the numbe
individual becomes an adult or assumes adult
children in the family, the availability of se
roles. Some people take up jobs along with support, and the happiness or unhappi
their college studies or may get married and
not pursue their studies. Others may continue of the married couple.
56
Psychology
