MODULE 7 (PSYC 140) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Give an overview of the types of physical changes that occur in early adulthood.
Some types of physical changes that occur in early adulthood include a gradual decrease in one's
maximum heart rate, respiratory capacity, and sensitivity to sound at high frequencies. Some other
changes that occur include lens of the eye stiffening or becoming thick and fast-twitch muscles declining
in size and amount.
What did this Module say about differences in sexual behavior between married and unmarried
couples?
This Module references a general social survey indicating that married couples in the US on average
have sexual intercourse 58 times a year. Based on these results, the myth about marriage and decreased
sex is debunked as it indicates that married couples engage in sex more frequently than singles or
unmarried couples.
Reflection question: Were you surprised by the information on divorce statistics? Why or why not?
No, I was not surprised by the information on divorce statistics. I was aware that the rates of divorce are
high but was shocked by the methods of the inaccurate statistics. However, the section describing how
the likelihood of divorce varies as well as factors that decrease rates seems very accurate.
How would you summarize postformal thought?
Postformal thought is a word utilized by Labouvie-Vief to describe adult thinking. This thinking is seen to
be more relativistic in that the individual sees shades of gray rather than just simple dichotomies. It is a
concept that works to anwser the question of "What, if anything, comes after formal operations".
Describe Sternberg's three components of love.
,Sternberg's three components of love are intimacy, passion, and commitment. Sternberg states that
couples can have loving relationships that are based on just one of these components but more
complete forms of love include two or all three components. He combined different components to
define different types of love and what they consist of.
Choose three of the 7 types of love discussed in this module and create a profile of a fictional couple
that exemplifies these types of love.
Type 6 is considered infatuation. This type of love runs off of passion. Kelsey and Ryan are obsessed with
each other and don't spend a minute apart. They are always expressing PDA and are over the moon
about their new partners.
Type 1 is considered consummate love and runs off of intimacy, passion, and commitment. Tanner and
Marie have been dating for several years. They moved in with each other and are now engaged. They
are happy, in love, have a good sex life, and are committed to taking the next steps in life together.
Type 3 is considered companionate love. This type of love runs off of intimacy and commitment. Richie
and Heather have been married for 35 years. They have three kids and a stable successful life. As they
are both aging their passion has declined but the love is warm, comfortable, and trusting.
How would you summarize the information on the likelihood of couples divorcing?
Couples who experience factors that increase strain on the relationship are more likely to get a divorce
vs couples who have low life strain. These factors include money, children, religion, education, and
family background.
Identify common symptoms of menopause.
Common symptoms of menopause include mood fluctuations, hot flashes, shrinking of reproductive
organs, difficulty becoming sexually aroused, decreased skin elasticity, loss of bone mass, raised blood
pressure, etc.
Why don't all women experience symptoms of menopause?
, Women experience symptoms of menopause in a great variety. Some women have difficulties with
menopausal symptoms, while others barely notice them. Differences in diet, ethnic background,
environment, cultural beliefs, and genetics may all play key roles in a women's experience with
symptoms of menopause.
What are the pros and cons of hormone therapy?
The pros of hormone therapy include treating hot flashes and vaginal discomfort, preventing bone loss,
reducing fractures in post-menopausal women, and many more. Overall, hormone therapy promotes a
greater quality of life and improves one's psychological well-being.
The cons of hormone therapy include an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast
cancer. The severity of the risk is dependent on the type of hormone therapy, the dose given, the length
of medication is taken, individual health risks, as well as family health history. This is why it is important
that a physician tailor hormone therapy specifically to each patient. Patients should be reevaluated
every so often to ensure the benefits still outweigh the risks. Another risk to be aware of is an increased
risk for mood instability, anxiety, and insomnia during the weening of treatment or right after stopping if
you choose to quit hormone therapy.
Given what you learned in this module, how would you respond to the claim, "everyone goes through a
mid-life crisis"?
It is atypical for individuals to have a mid-life crisis as research states that many people do not
experience this. It is more seen as a transition for many adults, as they become accustomed to the
changes that aging brings about and become ready for the next phase of life. Only a small portion of
adults actually experience a full-blown crisis. These tend to be in males who felt in early adulthood they
were prevented from fulfilling some personal goals.
What are your thoughts about whether most emerging adults are successfully launched?
I believe that emerging adults have a probability of not being successfully launched but that is not the
case for all. Emerging adults are defined as stuck in this in-between period during which individuals
leave adolescence but are not fully adults. Many individuals in this category assume adulthood before
they achieve full adult status. Some may be successfully launched with the help of their parents who
have great resources like financial stability, work-related resources, and business that can help an adult
to launch. Other that may not have these supporting resources may be unsuccessful launching their life
and careers.
