Verified Document

Human Psychology Compare And Contrast Essay

It is a time when parents are overworked, stressed, and frequently sleep-deprived for prolonged periods of time. Those are all significant potential stressors that contribute to depression; naturally, where a single parent faces those stressors and obligations alone, the magnitude of stress would be expected to increase proportionately. Furthermore, single parenthood is probably directly associated with higher instances of loneliness and emotional emptiness as compared with parenthood within a stable nuclear family environment with a supportive spouse. Indeed, being single late into adulthood (especially for women) is a likely source of anxiety and depression. The prospect of finding a partner is greatly reduced by virtue of single parenthood, both as a practical matter having to do with time management and energy as well as in terms of motherhood being a potential barrier to the interest of many prospective partners. Finally, all of the available research (Brugha, Sharp, & Cooper, 1998; Loxton, Mooney, & Young, 2006) strongly suggests that single motherhood is also associated with financial hardship, which is also independently associated with depression in general.

Cognitive ability commonly declines in old age. Discuss the environmental and biological factors that have positive and negative influences on cognitive aging.

In general, both mental activity (Anstey, 1999) and physical activity (Van Gelder, Tijhuis, Kalmijn, et al., 2004) are empirically associated with reduced cognitive decline in old age. More specifically, adults who remain mentally active in ways that involve cognitive abilities such as linguistic recall, social conversation, reading, and problem solving tend to retain better cognitive abilities than similarly-aged individuals who do not continue to use their mental faculties as much in their advanced years (Anstey, 1999). Likewise, elderly individuals who remain physically active in old age also retain batter cognitive functions (as well as physical abilities) as compared with individuals who do not remain physically active in old age (Van Gelder, Tijhuis, Kalmijn, et al., 2004).

Naturally, there biological (i.e. hereditary) factors involved as well and that is illustrated inter-generationally within families (Van Gelder, Tijhuis, Kalmijn, et al., 2004). However, one of the most interesting aspects of the relationship between continued mental and physical activity in old age and comparative rates of cognitive decline is that it is the maintenance or reduction in previous levels (in both cases) that is more...

Specifically, in that regard, elderly individuals who were never particularly inclined toward mental challenges or who were never particularly physically active do not exhibit significant differences in cognitive decline as a function of low levels of those activities, respectively. However, in both cases, individuals who were previously frequently engaged in mental challenges or in physical activity (respectively) exhibit the largest degree of difference in cognitive decline as compared with similarly active individuals who maintained their prior levels of activity (whether mental of physical) as they aged (Anstey, 1999; Van Gelder, Tijhuis, Kalmijn, et al., 2004). Naturally, the implications are that irrespective of how mentally and physically active the individual was prior to old age, it is crucial that they avoid decreasing their activity level as much as possible to minimize cognitive decline as a function of the aging process.
References

Anstey, K. "How important is mental activity in old age?" Australian Psychologist, Vol.

34; (1999): 128-131.

Brugha, T.S., Sharp, H.M., and Cooper, S.A. "The Leicester 500 Project. Social support and the development of postnatal depressive symptoms, a prospective cohort survey." Psychological Medicine, Vol. 28; (1998): 63 -- 79.

De Wolff, M.S. And van Ijzendoorn, M.H. "Sensitivity and attachment: A meta-analysis on parental antecedents of infant attachment." Child Development, Vol. 68;

(1997): 571-591.

Helson, R., Kwan, V.S., John, O.P., and Jones, C. "The growing evidence for personality change in adulthood: Findings from research with personality inventories." Journal of Research in Personality, Vol. 36, No. 4; (2002): 287-306.

Loxton, D., Mooney, R., and Young, A.F. "The psychological health of sole mothers in Australia." Medical Journal of Australia, Vol. 184; (2006): 265-268.

Roberts, B.W., and Mroczek, D. "Personality trait change in adulthood." Current

Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 17; (2008): 31-35.

Steele, H., Steele, M., and Fonagy, P. "Associations among attachment classifications of mothers, fathers, and their infants." Child Development, Vol. 67; (1996): 541-555.

Van Gelder, B.M. Tijhuis, A.R., Kalmijn, S., Giampaoli, S., Nissinen, A., and Kromhout, D. "Physical activity in relation to cognitive decline in elderly men

The FINE…

Sources used in this document:
References

Anstey, K. "How important is mental activity in old age?" Australian Psychologist, Vol.

34; (1999): 128-131.

Brugha, T.S., Sharp, H.M., and Cooper, S.A. "The Leicester 500 Project. Social support and the development of postnatal depressive symptoms, a prospective cohort survey." Psychological Medicine, Vol. 28; (1998): 63 -- 79.

De Wolff, M.S. And van Ijzendoorn, M.H. "Sensitivity and attachment: A meta-analysis on parental antecedents of infant attachment." Child Development, Vol. 68;
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Cognitive Psychology Comparison of Freud,
Words: 661 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

However, just like Maslow, Rogers is just as interested in describing the healthy person. Positive regard is self-esteem, self-worth, and a positive self-image which are achieved through experiencing the positive regard that others show us over our years of growing up; without this, we feel small and helpless. Under Roger's theory, this "small" and "helplessness" is exactly what John is feeling, most likely as a result of the manner

Buddhist Psychology Compared to Western
Words: 3167 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

In this field attachment is seen, as it is in Buddhism, as a continual pattern of never-ending desire for further attainment and objects. "Social psychological research on subjective well-being supports the assertion that people's desires consistently outpace their ability to satisfy their desires." McIntosh 39) further issue that relates to Western psychology and the Buddhist view of attachment is the nature of existence as impermanent. The nature of existence is that

Sexual Education Compare Contrast Sexuality Education Social
Words: 496 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Sexual Education Compare contrast Sexuality education Social learning theory views education as an inculcation in social norms. Sexuality education requires the individual to learn the biological mechanics of sexuality, but also to understand the social assumptions connected to this facet of human life. Sexuality is not acquired instinctively, even though puberty is a biological phenomenon all adolescents experience. Sexuality is also about acquiring social norms and knowledge. Learning never takes place in isolation.

Thomas/Updike Compare/Contrast the Fight for Life in
Words: 2865 Length: 8 Document Type: Thesis

Thomas/Updike Compare/Contrast The Fight for Life in Dylan Thomas' "Do not go gentle into that good night" and John Updike's "Dog's Death" Death has proven to be an inspiration for many poets and has been written about throughout history. These poets look at death from differing perspectives and many have argued that it should be fought against while others are more submissive to the concept. In "Do not go gentle into that

Developmental Psychology: Compare & Contrast
Words: 2058 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

VIII. SUMMARY and DISCUSSION It is not possible that the child or adolescent will be positively affected by development that fails to include each of the primary developmental areas and specifically development of the child or adolescent's: (1) cognitive thinking growth; (2) physical growth; or (3) growth as an emotional individual. All of these areas of the individual must experience development in unison in order that the child or adolescent develop

Psychology - Personality Comparing Myers briggs,
Words: 1518 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

The Rorschach test is comparatively less useful in the context of understanding ordinary psychological differences among individuals within the normal range of behavior, but may contribute more directly to identifying various organic psychological dysfunctions related to biochemical processes. Because of its subjective nature, (both in terms of the test itself as well as with respect to its analysis), it is not particularly well- regarded or widely used within the overall

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now