Important Questions for IGNOU MAPC MPC002 Exam with Main Points for Answer - Block 4 Unit 1 Physical Changes - Early Adulthood, Middle Age, Old Age

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Block 4 Unit 1 Physical Changes - Early Adulthood, Middle Age, Old Age


1. What are the physical changes that take place in early adulthood?

  • Early adulthood, from about 20-40 years old, is a period where individuals are typically vibrant, active and healthy.
  • The body may continue to add a bit of height and weight to the teenage frame.
  • The body continues to undergo significant hormonal changes.
  • Individuals experience a new sense of independence and feel free, taking on more responsibility for themselves and others.
  • During this time people typically focus on friendship, romance, childbearing and careers.
  • They are usually at their peak physical performance


2. What are the developmental tasks during this period (early adulthood)?

  • The sources highlight the following developmental tasks of early adulthood:
    • Self-search: This is a time of self-discovery and preparation.
    • Establishing financial and emotional independence.
    • Entering into marital relationships.
    • Choosing a career becomes a major task
    • Dealing with personal responsibilities to themselves and others.
  • The key psychosocial task according to Erikson is to form intimate relationships and avoid isolation.


3. What are the physical changes that take place in middle adulthood?

Middle adulthood, from approximately 40-60 years of age, involves noticeable signs of deterioration in physical functioning.
  • There is often a decline in near vision (presbyopia).
  • The lens of the eyes become less elastic, losing the ability to accommodate to objects at close range.
  • There is an increased sensitivity to glare.
  • It takes longer for the eyes to adapt to changes in illumination.
  • Some hearing loss is common
  • Loss of skin elasticity, resulting in wrinkles especially in the face.
  • Individuals get a little shorter.
  • Hair starts graying, skin is wrinkling, bodies are sagging, and teeth are yellowing.
  • There is often a reappraisal of choices and attempts to make changes in careers and social relations.


4. What are the developmental tasks of this period (middle adulthood)?

The sources highlight the following developmental tasks of middle adulthood:
  • Developing a genuine concern for the welfare of future generations and contributing to the world through family and work.
  • Making a meaningful contribution to avoid being preoccupied with selfish needs.
  • Re-evaluation of their choices and seeking to make changes in their lives.
  • Focusing on health, the fate of their children, ageing parents, use of leisure time, and plans for old age.
  • Coping with the physical changes like decline in near vision.


5. What are the physical changes that take place during old age?

Old age, generally considered to start at age 65, brings about several natural physical changes. These include:
  • Sensory changes: Including changes in vision, hearing, taste and smell.
  • Changes in digestion, circulation and sexuality.
  • External changes like hair turning grey or white and thinning, and skin becoming less elastic, more wrinkled, dry and thin.
  • Loss of fatty tissue under the skin that contributes to wrinkles.
  • Peripheral vision decreases.
  • The flexibility of the eye decreases and it takes longer to adjust to changes in light.
  • Limited regenerative abilities, making them more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness.
  • The older heart slows down and is less able to pump blood through the body than the younger heart.
  • Degeneration of eye muscles and clouding of the lens.


6. What are the developmental tasks of old age?

The developmental tasks of old age, generally considered to begin around 65 years, are as follows:

  • Finding meaning and satisfaction in life rather than becoming bitter and disillusioned is a central task of this stage. This involves resolving the conflict of integrity vs despair.
  • Adjusting to the many physical changes and decline that accompany this period becomes a focus. These changes can include sensory changes (vision, hearing, taste, and smell), and changes to digestion, circulation, and sexuality.
  • Maintaining a sense of well-being and engagement with various activities is important for life satisfaction.
  • Coping with retirement and developing leisure pursuits are important considerations during this period. Adjusting to retirement can be difficult, and engaging in hobbies, interests and volunteer work can help.
  • Finding ways to transcend physical limitations, disabilities and loss of youth and beauty by finding value in cognitive, social strengths and relationships.
  • Finding a constructive way of facing the reality of death. This involves finding a future beyond their own mortality through giving back to a younger generation.
  • Minimising losses and maximising gains. This means adapting to challenges and finding ways to compensate for changes due to ageing.
  • Elders become more in touch with their feelings and must use those feelings to reflect on their life experiences. They demonstrate better emotional self-regulation than younger people.
  • The sources also suggest that involvement in grand parenting can help elderly satisfy many of their personal and emotional needs. Grandparents can serve as important role models and derive self-satisfaction through achievement of their grand children.
  • Older adults are often seeking to maintain independence, preferring not to burden their extended family. They may strive to enjoy life with members of their own cohort.

These developmental tasks reflect the challenges and adjustments that individuals face as they enter old age, with a focus on maintaining well-being, finding meaning, and adapting to the changes associated with this period of life.


Important Points

  • Young adults are vibrant, active and healthy.
  • Young adults tend to get isolated due to crisis.
  • Attention gets focused on health and fate of children during middle age.
  • A decline in near vision is a condition known as presbyopia.
  • During middle age, there is a loss of elasticity in skin.
  • Women between the ages of 45 and 50, experience menopause.
  • Early adult’s focus on friendship, romance, child bearing and careers.
  • Individuals due to crisis, tends to get self absorption during middle adulthood.
  • Old people have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other adults.
  • With ageing, peripheral vision is reduced.
  • The older heart slows down and is less able to pump blood through the body than the younger heart.
  • Degeneration of eye muscles and clouding of the lens are associated with ageing.
  • The skin serves a protective function by buffering us from the environment.
  • Regular exercise, such as a daily walk, can prevent constipation.
  • Immune system declines as T Cells become less effective.
  • Arthritis is a condition of inflamed, painful, stiff or swollen joints and muscles.
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