Developmental Psychology - Assignment Example

Developmental Psychology Developmental Psychology During adulthood, there are some age related changes that take place in the adult; these changes signify that a person is an adult. One of the age-related changes that take place during adulthood includes reaching full height among adults, especially in the early stages of adulthood, which mainly include the mid-twenties. Other changes experienced during the adulthood include sagging skin and wrinkles, as well as thinning and graying hair. During middle adulthood, the physical changes taking place in the adult’s body include loss of strength and vision.

In late adulthood, the age related changes in appearance include less elasticity of the skin, loss of the muscle mass, and an increase in the amount of body fats (Connolly & Valsiner, 2003).#2Cross-cultural and longitudinal studies of intelligence tend to reach different conclusions owing to a number of reasons. One of the reasons why these studies reach at different conclusions is because the ability to learn differs from one person to another. People acquire both formal and informal skills through education, experience, and training.

The ability to acquire these aspects tends to vary from one person to another; thus, studies in intelligence reach at different conclusions. Another factor responsible for the varying conclusions includes the conditions in which the researcher subjects the subjects. The varying conditions, under which the experiments are carried out, result to different conclusions (Connolly & Valsiner, 2003). Another reason why these studies yield different conclusions is because problem solving capacities and abilities differ from one person to another.

In addition, the time taken to complete the studies also means that various researchers will reach at different conclusions.#3Stenberg’s fundamental forms of intelligence tend to vary with age, given that they explain various characteristics exhibited at each level. The three fundamental forms of intelligence advanced by Stenberg include practical intelligence, experimental intelligence, and componential intelligence. Practical intelligence refers to a person’s ability to do well in formal and informal education settings.

Experimental details a person’s ability to deal with novel situations and develop ways of dealing with such situations in the future. Componential intelligence entails the effective processing of information, including executive, metacognitive, knowledge acquisition and performance components (Connolly & Valsiner, 2003). The three forms of intelligence describe the intrinsic nature of intelligence and define intelligence among children and adults.#4Various theorists have come up with approaches that address the basic needs of adults.

One of the theorists is Erik Erikson with his theory of psychosocial development. Erikson identified intimacy as one of the basic needs of adults. This takes place from the age of around nineteen years to forty years. Adults need to have intimate and loving relationships with other people. Another theorist who talks about the basic needs of adults is David McClelland. According to him, achievement is a basic need in adults; this centers on the desire of adults to set and accomplish tasks that may seem challenging.

Achievement also dwells on the need of adults to receive feedback on the work they do. The other basic need of adults includes affiliation, whereby they want to belong to a certain group (Connolly & Valsiner, 2003).#5The model of sources of intimacy was developed by David Jay with the aim of addressing the disconnect that exists between asexual and sexual. Based on the model, the three main sources of intimacy include relationship with self, relationships with partners, and relationships with the community.

These three sources of intimacy can be compared in the sense that they identify both sexual and asexual sources of intimacy. The three sources of intimacy also indicate the interrelationship between asexual and sexual factors, which comprise intimacy. The three sources of intimacy are also similar in that they stress the role played by relationships in creating intimacy. Thus, the creation of relationships can be regarded as the core of intimacy (Connolly & Valsiner, 2003).ReferencesConnolly, K. J. & Valsiner, J. (2003). Handbook of Developmental Psychology.

London: SAGE.