The Journey of Adulthood

by Bjorklund, Barbara R.; Bee, Helen L.

• ISBN13: 9780130970411
• ISBN10: 0130970417
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Using a conversational writing style. The Journey of Adulthood, Fifth Edition by Helen Bee and Barbara Bjorklund presents the best and most relevant theories of adulthood. Using current research findings from the fields of developmental psychology, social psychology, health psychology, sociology, and other related fields, and by using a writing style that will be understandable to today's college students, The Journey of Adulthood, Fifth Edition encourages readers to apply the concepts discussed in the text to their own lives and to their own journeys of adulthood. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Defining the Journey: Some Assumptions, Definitions, and Methods	p. 1
Explaining Development in Adulthood	p. 5
Explaining Stability in Adulthood	p. 11
Asking the Questions: Research Designs and Methods	p. 15
Finding the Answers: Collecting and Analyzing Data	p. 21
Theories of Adult Development	p. 31
Conceptual Organization of Theories	p. 32
Theories of Developmental Progress With Stages	p. 33
Developmental Progress Without Stages: Vaillant's Theory of Adaptation to Life	p. 40
Theories of Developmental Change With Stages	p. 41
Theories of Developmental Change Without Stages	p. 50
Additional Theoretical Complexities	p. 53
Some Shared Flaws and Weaknesses in the Theories	p. 54
Physical Changes	p. 59
Theories of Primary Aging	p. 60
Longevity, Life Expectancy, and Life Span	p. 64
Physical Changes over Adulthood	p. 66
The Effects of Physical Aging on Behavior	p. 83
Pulling the Threads Together: An Overview of Physical Changes in Adulthood	p. 88
Some Recurring Themes and Remaining Questions	p. 89
Health and Health Habits	p. 101
Age-Related Patterns in Health and Disease	p. 101
Age Changes in Specific Diseases	p. 107
Age Changes in Mental Health	p. 113
Individual Differences in Health and Disease	p. 118
A Review of Age-Related Health Changes	p. 126
Changes in Cognitive Abilities	p. 133
Intelligence	p. 133
Memory	p. 140
Real-World Cognition	p. 146
Individual Differences in Cognitive Change	p. 153
Review of Age Changes and Search for Balance	p. 160
Social Roles	p. 165
Social Role Transitions	p. 166
Gender Roles and Gender Stereotypes	p. 167
Social Roles in Early Adulthood	p. 169
Social Roles in Middle Adulthood	p. 180
Social Roles in Late Adulthood	p. 187
Social Roles in Atypical Families	p. 189
The Effect of Variations in Timing	p. 192
Development of Relationships	p. 199
Development of Adult Relationships: Some Theories	p. 200
Intimate Partnerships in Adulthood	p. 205
Relationships with Other Family Members	p. 222
Friendships in Adulthood	p. 228
Review of Social Relationships in Adulthood	p. 230
Work and Retirement	p. 239
Importance of Work in Adulthood	p. 240
Selecting a Career	p. 245
Age Trends in Work Experience	p. 250
Work and Personal Life	p. 254
Retirement	p. 262
Effects of Retirement	p. 267
A Concluding Note	p. 273
Personality Stability and Change	p. 279
Personality Trait Structures	p. 280
Personality Development	p. 290
Personality Stability or Change	p. 302
The Growth of Meaning	p. 310
Why a Chapter on the Growth of Meaning?
How Can We Study Possible Age Changes in Meaning Systems?	p. 311
Religious Participation over Adulthood	p. 312
The Development of Meaning Systems over Adulthood	p. 313
Integrating Meaning and Personality: A Preliminary Theoretical Synthesis	p. 323
The Process of Transition	p. 326
Commentary and Conclusions	p. 328
Stress and Resistance	p. 334
A Few Theories of Stress	p. 336
Effects of Stress on Adult Functioning	p. 340
Individual Differences in Stress Experience and Response	p. 343
Resistance Resources	p. 347
Specific Types of Stressful Events in Adulthood	p. 352
Themes of Adult Development	p. 363
Young Adulthood: From 18 to 25	p. 365
Early Adulthood: From 25 to 40	p. 366
Middle Adulthood: From 40 to 65	p. 368
Late Adulthood: From 65 to 75	p. 372
Late-Late Adulthood: From 75 Until Death	p. 374
Death and Dying	p. 381
The Meanings of Death	p. 381
Fear and Anxiety About Death	p. 382
Preparation for Death	p. 384
The Process of Dying	p. 384
Where Death Occurs	p. 389
Physician-Assisted Suicide	p. 392
After Death: Rituals and Grieving	p. 393
Living and Dying: A Final Word	p. 397
The Successful Journey: Individual Differences in Adult Development	p. 401
Variations in Successful Adult Development	p. 402
A Model of Adult Growth and Development: Trajectories and Pathways	p. 409
A Last Look at the Model	p. 415
References	p. 419
Glossary	p. 453
Credits	p. 469
Author Index	p. 472
Subject Index	p. 477
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

AN OPENING NOTE FROM BARBARA BJORKLUND The Journey of Adulthoodis now in its fifth edition and it continues to capture the dynamic process of adult development, from young adulthood to old, old age. It continues to be based on large-scale research findings and theories of human development, but because diversity increases with age, I have also included more studies of smaller group differences such as gender, culture, race, and socialeconomic status. I have sought a similar balance in seeking out the latest research findings while retaining some of the classical studies by pioneers in the field. And I have accompanied this sometimes medicinal taste with a spoonful of honey--a little personal warmth and humor. After all, I am an adult in the middle years of this journey, following my parents who are in their 80s and looking back at my children in their 30s. The first three editions of this book were written by Helen Bee and although she has retired and is no longer involved in the 4th and 5th editions, the core of the book is still hers. She remains the author emeritus of this series and I maintain her focus and tone. I have also retained some of her comments and stories which I identify with her name; the comments and stories that use the first person "I," are mine. I hope there is no confusion. The first two chapters of this book contain the basics for the course--the definitions, methods, and grand theories of adult development. They lay the groundwork for the following chapters which present a topical overview of adult development. In each of these seven chapters, I cover a topic of adult development using recent research, classic studies, current theories, new directions, and practical applications. In the last five chapters I present some topics that are not as easily classified into traditional fields of study but instead draw upon a number of areas covered in the previous chapters, such as the growth of meaning, the stress encountered at different stages of adulthood, overall views of adult development, and coping with death. In these chapters, to use Helen Bee's terms, "I try to pull the threads together and tie up loose ends." NEW IN THIS EDITION The fifth edition reflects three types of changes--changes in the field of adult development, changes in the world around us, and changes in the academic settings in which this book is used. Changes in the Field of Adult Development The field of adult development has widened and this edition reflects this trend, including information from various medical and biological sciences, sociology and social psychology, women's studies, economics, educational and vocational psychology, anthropology, and clinical psychology, just to name a few, I have found common ground among these disciplines and when discrepancies appear, I have made judgments or suggested future research questions. Another change in the field that is reflected in this edition ofThe Journey of Adulthoodis the international flavor that most sciences are adopting. This book features many studies conducted by international scholars and information about populations outside the U.S. I have also done some fine tuning in terminology and definitions which aligns this book more closely to recent changes in child and adolescent development writings. Changes in the World Around Us The world around us has changed drastically since the last edition of this book. As I write this preface, we in the U.S. are at "level orange" on the homeland security scale. We have just ended a war with Iraq and have started to rebuild that country. The horror of September 11 th, 2001 is still fresh in our minds. The economy is in a slump all over the world and many older adults have seen their investments dwindle to a fraction of their value five years ago. Many middle-aged adults have abandoned plans for early retirement. Although I try to main