Minimum of 300 words

Physiological changes occur throughout our lives and can have significant effects on our self-esteem. Some of these changes can be more significant than others. As argued in Chapter 4 of the course textbook, physical events that occur during our life (i.e., puberty, loss of senses, illness) may have physiological effects.

Using the theoretical knowledge you have gained from your required reading for this week, discuss a time in life, based on personal or vicarious experiences, when you felt that physical changes were most impactful to you (early childhood, middle childhood, young adulthood, middle age). Share only information that you are comfortable with, or you may use another’s experiences or a fictitious example.

Consider the following questions as you discuss:

• Do you believe neural plasticity was a significant variable during this chosen stage of your (or another’s) life? Why or why not?
• Did synaptic pruning, based on this event, alter the way you now view the world? If so, what about your worldview changed? Explain.
• Did the event shape who you are as a person (your identity)?
• Based on your knowledge and your experiences, indicate the advice you might give to someone who is experiencing something similar?
  • What ethical considerations are associated with the advice you give?

Be sure to cite the textbook within your writing, when appropriate, supporting your assertions and advice to another.

Community Psychology, Organizational Psychology, and Organizational Effectiveness

• Focus on 2 problems within that organization.
• Describe innovative or alternative programs that were implemented to address these two problems.
• What were the  indicators of effectiveness of the intervention?
• Using findings presented in the chapter and in your exploration above, what would you recommend to an organization working on change? Apply your knowledge of community psychology here.

Discussion 2: Memory and Aging

The human aging process brings natural changes to memory function. Recently-acquired declarative memory is most vulnerable, while procedural memory tends to remain intact longer. The name of a new acquaintance or movie title may slip, while one might recall precise details of childhood experiences that occurred decades in the past. These symptoms of memory loss are quite normal. Though they can cause frustration, they do not indicate pathology.

The types of memory loss caused by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, however, present cause for concern. Memory loss brought on by aging should not impede normal functioning, whereas pathological memory loss may. The experiences of individuals with dementia may demonstrate dramatic losses of procedural memory, such as ability to access frequently used words. Individuals may lack awareness that memory loss is occurring, which can cause significant confusion and disorientation. Ultimately, the ability to store new memories may also suffer.

In this Discussion, you describe memory changes that occur during the lifetime. You also examine differences between pathological and natural memory loss.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 4

Post a brief description of symptoms of memory changes during the lifetime. Then compare the implications of expected changes in aging such as declines in working memory capacity and speed of processing with pathological conditions such as anterograde amnesia and precipitous loss of semantic memory.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.