Chapter 5The Physical Self

Chapter 5: The Physical Self• Genetic and environmental forces e.g.

height– Average: female 5’4” male 5’9”

– Can be affected by malnutrition

– Catch-up growth possible• After illness or periods of malnutrition

– More 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

•Figure 5-2

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 reflexes: clearly adaptive• Breathing, eye-blink,sucking/rooting

– Primitive 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

The Child

• Age 2 until puberty– 2-3 inches in height, 5-6 lbs weight– Bones grow and harden– Run faster, jump higher, and throw a ball

farther– Skills very responsive to practice– Hand-eye coordination, fine motor, and

reaction time all improve

Health and Wellness in Childhood

• Education level of parents a factor

• Nutrition: Well-balanced diet important– High-carb foods detrimental

• Injuries, auto crashes: Leading cause of death

• Exercise: Promotes physical, cognitive, social well-being, academic skill

• Child obesity: Junk-food, TV

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

• Sequence of Events in the Sexual Maturation of Males and females.

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 positive reactions from others

• Late/males: Disadvantageous– More 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

The Reproductive System

• Beginning in adolescence– Sex hormones influence behavior

• Male testosterone – Levels fluctuate daily

• Female estrogen & progesterone– Monthly cycle– PMS? Expectations vs. hormones– Calcium & Vitamin D helpful

Menopause and Andropause

• Menopause: Estrogen production declines – Age range 45-54– Symptoms: hot flashes, vaginal dryness– Little anxiety, irritability, depression, or other

stereotypes– Exercise and adequate sleep helpful

• Andropause: Decreasing testosterone– Symptoms: Libido, fatigue, erection, and

memory problems

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