Aging

Childhood: A New Phenomenon?

• What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “childhood” or “children”?

• History of Childhood– Until the 19th century

• “Spare the rod, spoil the child”• Child labor

– Is it wrong?• High infant mortality• Cold, removed attitude• Wet nursing

Adolescence

• Adolescence: the period between the onset of puberty and adulthood– A SOCIAL stage– Not a child, but not an adult– Not all societies have adolescence

• Puberty: Physical maturing of an individual capable of sexual reproduction

American Adolescence

• Education• Labor force exclusion• Juvenile justice system

Characteristics of Adolescence

• Biological Growth• Undefined Status• Increased Decision Making• Increased Pressure• Search for Self

– Eriksonian Stage?

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Discuss…

• Is it easier to be a teen or an adult? Why• Is it easier or harder to be a teen today

than it was 50 years ago? Why?• Are teens today moral and responsible

enough to be treated legally like adults?• Are teens “oversexed” today?• Are teens hypocritical regarding sex,

drugs, and religion?

Adulthood (Male Development)

1. Early Adult (17-22)– College—leave home– Still financial support from home

2. Entering the Adult World (23-27)– Exploring occupations and relationships– Gaining stability and independence

3. Age 30 Transition (28-32)– Career changes– Settling down / planning for the future

More Adulthood…

4. Setting Down (33-39)– Establish self in career– Starting a family

5. Mid-Life Transition (40-44)– Self examination– Take stock of accomplishments– Mid-Life Crisis

Adulthood for Females

Phase 1: Leaving the family– Search for career or to begin family– Marriage takes priority

Phase 2: Entering the Adult World– Family established– Job advancement ends

Phase 3: Entering the Adult World Again– “Empty Nest”– Return to the workforce after the kids leave

Late Adulthood

Gerontology: the study of the aging process• What happens when we get old?• The significance of physical change—again

Groups of the Elderly1. Young-Old

– Age 65-74– Retirement—good or bad?– Free time and hobbies– Still in relatively good health

2. Middle-Old– Age 75-84– Death of a spouse– Health becomes an important issue

3. Old-Old– Age 85 and up– Reflection on life– Dealing with death and dependency

The Right to Die: Murder or Compassion?

• Euthanasia: the intentional killing (by act or omission) of a dependant human being for his or her alleged benefit– Active: doing something that kills the person– Passive: withholding a service that the person

needs to survive

• Assisted Suicide: Providing someone with the means to kill themselves

History

• Illegal in the US until 1975 (Karen Quinlan)• Supreme Court allowed termination of life

support in 1990• Jack Kevorkian

– “Dr. Death”– Helped over 100 people kill themselves– Now serving time in jail for murder

• Hemlock Society• Oregon (1994)

The Debate

Reasons For Reasons Against

Ethical “Playing God”

Merciful Medical Misdiagnosis

Personal Choice Pressure / Persuasion

Doctors save, not kill