TEOFILO KISANJI UNIVERSITY MBEYA - CAMPUS
[TEKU]
Training
for better life
PROJECT
ON “CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENTS & OLD PEOPLE AND FACTORS FOR THEIR
PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES”.
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: Mad, KABELEGE
TPS 601: COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
SUBMISSION DATE: 8TH APRIL, 2015
©2015
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………….…1
Personality………………………………………………………………....1
Adolescent
…………………………………………………………….…..1
Stages
of Adolescents……………………………………………………...1
Old
people…………………………………………………………………1
MAIN BODY…………………………………………………………………….2
Characteristics
of Adolescents……………………………………………..2
Characteristics
of Old people………………………………………………3
Factors
for their personality differences between Adolescents and Old people……………………………………………………………………….7
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………...9
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………10
RESPONSE BROUGHT BY AMAN MAKOYE,
+255655912580
+255764090319
+255788912581.
Personality can be defined as consistency in a person’s
way of being that is, long-term consistency in their particular
ways of perceiving, thinking, acting and reacting as a person. Organized
patterns of thought and feeling and behavior.
Adolescence
is from Latin adolescere meaning “to grow up” is a transitional age of physical
and psychological human development generally occurring during the period from
puberty to legal adulthood (age of majority). The period of adolescence is most
closely associated with the teenage years, though its physical, psychological
and cultural expressions can begin earlier and end later.
Three main stages of adolescence can
be discerned as early adolescence (9-13 years) characterized by a spurt of
growth and the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Mid adolescence
(14-15 years), this stage is distinguished by the development of a separate
identity from parents, of new relationships with peer groups and the opposite
sex, and of experimentation. Late adolescence (16-19 years). At this stage,
adolescents have fully developed physical characteristics (similar to adults),
and have formed a distinct identity and have well-formed opinions and ideas.
old age, also called senescence , in
human beings, the final stage of the normal life span. Definitions of old age
are not consistent from the standpoints of biology, demography (conditions of
mortality and morbidity), employment and retirement, and sociology. For
statistical and public administrative purposes, however, old age is frequently
defined as 60 or 65 years of age or older.
Characteristics of old age
comprise both physical and mental characteristics. old age are so unlike the
marks of middle age that it has been suggested that, as an individual
transitions into old age, he or she might well be thought of as different
persons “time-sharing” the same identity.
These
characteristics do not occur at the same chronological age for everyone. In
addition, they occur at different rates and order for different people.
The following are characteristics of
the Adolescent
Labile
Emotions. Adolescents
can shift moods rapidly, vacillating between happiness, distress,
self-confidence, and worry. Some of these mood changes stem from biological
sources. Increased hormones and changes to the brain structure arise from
normal physical growth. In addition, complex social interactions such as
conflicts with friends, school pressures and experimentation with romantic
relationships can exacerbate the labile emotional state of adolescents.
Personal
Identity. Adolescence
is a time when teenagers begin to explore and assert their personal identities.
During this developmental period, teenagers engage in a process of searching
for where they fit in with peers and society. It is common for adolescents to
have an unstable sense of self, try out new personal labels, and associate with
various peer groups.
Adolescent
is engaged in a struggle to create a stable and permanent sense of self-to
achieve a degree of self-awareness and self-acceptance. Again, play will be the
context within which this need for identity can often be met.
Peer
Relationships. During
adolescence, relationships with peers begin to take precedence over
relationships with the family. Although family interactions are still important
and essential for a teen’s development, adolescents often place a stronger
emphasis on their friends’ perceptions and values. Likewise, during the
adolescent years, teens might be strongly influenced by their peers
beliefs and behaviors. Paired with adolescents' limited life experience and
under developed decision-making skills, teenagers are often vulnerable to
negative peer pressure.
Adolescent is experiencing a transition from
the concrete form of reasoning that typifies the middle childhood years to a
reasoning that is abstract and hypothetical. The intellectual need of the
adolescent is a need for abstract conceptualization.
Independence and Testing Boundaries. Adolescents often test parents’ and teachers’ rules and boundaries. Although this rebellious behavior might seem oppositional to parents, in most cases, this behavior is driven by the adolescent’s need to develop autonomy, experience new activities and earn more independence, explains the American Psychological Association. Even though teenagers can benefit from testing boundaries during adolescence, they still require rules and boundaries if they are to avoid negative influences and achieve their potential.
Self centered Attitudes. It is often difficult for adolescents to look at circumstances from other people’s perspectives. This is due, in part, to their still-developing brain structures. Thus, adolescents might come off as self-centered and focused on their own needs without considering how those needs affect others. This apparent lack of empathy is normal and typically resolves itself once a teen reaches the end of adolescence. However, a complete lack of empathy in adolescents could mean a more significant underlying mental health issue exists. If that is the case, consult a mental health worker.
. The following are the general characteristics of old people;
Bone and
joint.
Old bones are marked by “thinning and shrinkage.” This results in a loss of
height (about two inches by age 80), a stooping posture in many people, and a
greater susceptibility to bone and joint diseases such as osteoarthritis and
osteoporosis.
Chronic
diseases. Most older persons have at least one chronic
condition and many have multiple conditions. In 2007-2009, the most frequently
occurring conditions among older persons in the United States were uncontrolled
hypertension (34%), diagnosed arthritis (50%), and heart disease (32%).
Dental
problems. Less saliva and less ability for oral hygiene in
old age increase the chance of tooth decay and infection.
Digestive
system.
About 40% of the time, old age is marked by digestive disorders such as
difficulty in swallowing, inability to eat enough and to absorb nutrition,
constipation and bleeding.
Eyesight.
Diminished eyesight makes it more difficult to read in low lighting and in smaller
print. Speed with which an individual reads and the ability to locate objects
may also be impaired.
Falls.
Old age spells risk for injury from falls that might not cause injury to a
younger person. Every year, about one-third of those 65 years old
and over half of those 80 years old fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury and
death for old people.
Hair
usually becomes thinner and grayer.
Hearing.
By age 75 and older, 48% of men and 37% of women encounter impairments in
hearing. Of the 26.7 million people over age 50 with a hearing impairment, only
one in seven uses a hearing aid.
Hearts
are less efficient in old age with a resulting loss of stamina. In addition,
atherosclerosis can constrict blood flow.
Lungs
expand less well; thus, they provide less oxygen.
Pain
afflicts old people at least 25% of the time, increasing with age up to 80% for
those in nursing homes. Most pains are rheumatologic or malignant.
Sexual
activity
decreases significantly with age, especially after age 60, for both women and
men. Sexual drive in both men and women
decreases as they age.
Skin
loses elasticity, becomes drier, and more lined and wrinkled.
Sleep
trouble holds a chronic prevalence of over 50% in old age and results in
daytime sleepiness. In a study of 9,000 persons with a mean age of
74, only 12% reported no sleep complaints. By age 65, deep sleep
goes down to about 5%.
Taste
buds
diminish so that by age 80 taste buds are down to 50% of normal. Food becomes
less appealing and nutrition can suffer.
Voice.
In old age, vocal cords weaken and vibrate more slowly. This results in a
weakened, breathy voice that is sometimes called an “old person’s voice.
Adaptable
describes most people in their old age. In spite the stressfulness of old age,
they are described as “agreeable” and “accepting.” However, old age dependence
induces feelings of incompetence and worthlessness in a minority.
Depressed
mood.
According to Cox, Abramson, Devine, and Hollon (2012), old age is a risk factor
for depression caused by prejudice (i.e., “deprejudice”). When people are
prejudiced against the elderly and then become old themselves, their
anti-elderly prejudice turns inward, causing depression. “People with more
negative age stereotypes will likely have higher rates of depression as they get
older. Old age depression results in the over-65 population having the highest
suicide rate.
Fear
of crime in old age, especially among the frail, sometimes weighs more heavily
than concerns about finances or health and restricts what they do. The fear persists
in spite of the fact that old people are victims of crime less often than
younger people.
Mental
disorders afflict about 15% of people aged 60+ according to
estimates by the World Health Organization. Another survey taken in
15 countries reported that mental disorders of adults interfered with their
daily activities more than physical problems.
Reduced
mental and cognitive ability afflicts old age. Memory loss is
common in old age due to the decrease in speed of information being encoded,
stored, and retrieved. It takes more time to learn new information. Dementia
is a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious
enough to interfere with daily life. Its prevalence increases in old age from
about 10% at age 65 to about 50% over age 85. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80
percent of dementia cases. Demented behavior can include wandering, physical
aggression, verbal outbursts, depression, and psychosis.
Set in
one’s ways describes a mindset of old age. A study
of over 400 distinguished men and women in old age found a “preference for the
routine.” Explanations include old age’s toll on the “fluid
intelligence” and the “more deeply entrenched” ways of the old.
The following are the factors of the old people and adolescents for their personality differences, that includes,
Adolescents
are not very experienced in life whereas old people are very much experienced
in their life. This is the reason why many youngsters sought their advice
regarding important matters concerned with their lives.
Adolescents
are after fashion and anything new in the market whereas old people are
generally not after fashion and anything new in the market. This is because of
the fact that they had already satisfied themselves with most of their wants.
Adolescents
work by probability whereas old people work by their experience. Young people
take many chances in their lives whereas old people do not take many chances.
They bank upon their life long experience.
Adolescents
are more enthusiastic and strong when compared to old people. This is because
of the fact that young people are characterized by young blood. On the other hand,
old people are characterized by old blood and hence they generally lose their
strength when they get advanced in their age.
Adolescents
generally tolerate errors and blemishes. On the other hand, old people do not
generally tolerate mistakes and blemishes. They always try to correct the
mistakes and errors in others. This behavior of the old people may irritate the
young people to some extent.
Diseases
do not usually attack adolescents whereas diseases easily attack old people.
The immunity level in young people is generally high whereas old people have
reduced levels of immunity.
The brain of adolescent tends to
work faster and quicker than that of the old people. This is because of the
fact that the human brain tends to lose its activity when the individual
advances in age. One spouse has reached the age of 50 to join, regardless of
the age of the other spouse.
Environment. It is highly contributing to the personality differences between old people and adolescents. For example, who are living in cold climate areas between old people and adolescents tend to have different personalities. Old people will be highly affected by the climate than the adolescent.
Therefore, old people and adolescent can be concluded that every stage of life has to be passed as analyzed when a person reach to that stage. According to the findings adolescence is the time of testing and desire of mastering things, also it is the time of being independent in their decision making, while old people are more likely to have better emotion well being and mostly are living by experience. The caregivers of these two groups have to identify their characteristics so that to avoid the unnecessary conflicts between them.
Butler R. N. (1975).Why
Survive? Being Old in America. New York: Harper &
Row Publishers
Branje, S. J. T., van Lieshout, C. F. M., and van Aken, M. A. G. (2004). Relations between
Big
Five personality characteristics and perceived support in
adolescents. Cambridge. Cambridge Publishers.
Caspi, A., Roberts, B. W., and Shiner, R. L. (2005). Personality development.
London.
Chapman Publishers.
Pew
Research Center, “Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality,”
“Old age starts at 54 (and youth ends at 32) that's
if you ask young people” at
Zizza,
C. A., Ellison, K. J. and Wernette, C. M. (2009). Total Water Intakes of
Community-
Living Middle-Old and
Oldest Adults. New York. McGraw-Hill.
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