13-*
Influences on Adult Development:
Sources of Stability
Stability in the Big 5 personality traits after age 30
– Neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, openness to experience
– Correlated with childhood temperament
Biological causes are implicated
– Related to brain-mediated systems of approach,
fear, irritability, effortful control, and reactivity
– Stable differences in reactivity, stress response
Environmental influences equally important
– Predictable responses from others
– Relatively stable environments for many
Broderick & Blewitt, The Life Span: Human Development for Helping
Professionals, 4th Ed.
13-*
Influences on Adult Development:
Sources of Age-graded Change
Age-graded change = change as a function of time
Physical changes in adulthood
– Declines in sensory ability, reproductive ability
– Changes in appearance, wrinkles, weight
Cognitive changes in adulthood
– Decline in fluid/mechanical processes, processing
speed and inhibition mechanisms
– Stable or increasing crystallized resources,
declarative and procedural knowledge
Life tasks and responsibilities
– Fairly predictable sequence of change in roles
Broderick & Blewitt, The Life Span: Human Development for Helping
Professionals, 4th Ed.…