Chapter 14 Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood 1

  • Slides: 14
Download presentation
Chapter 14 Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood 1

Chapter 14 Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood 1

Learning goals Describe personality theories and development in middle adulthood. Discuss stability and change

Learning goals Describe personality theories and development in middle adulthood. Discuss stability and change in development during middle adulthood, including longitudinal studies. Identify some important aspects of close relationships in middle adulthood. 2

Stages Theory ERIKSONS STAGE SEVEN Generativity -- adults’ desire to leave legacies of themselves

Stages Theory ERIKSONS STAGE SEVEN Generativity -- adults’ desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation Commitment to continuation and improvement of society as a whole Biological generativity -- bearing offspring Parental generativity -- nurturing children Work generativity -- skills to pass on Cultural generativity -- creating, renovating, and conserving some aspect of culture Overextension-the maladaptive Erikson refers to too much work, activity, contribution to the society and neglect their personal care, do not have time to take care of self. Stagnation -- develops when individuals sense that they have done nothing for the next generation Scenario: As he looks back over his life, Chris realizes that his work was not as important to him as he believed, and that he lost too much valuable time with his children. If he could do it over again, he would work less and spend more time with his children. According to Erikson, Chris is experiencing some degree of stagnation-through selfabsorption 3

Levinson’s Seasons of a Man’s Life Early adult transition (17 -22): Leaving the adolescence,

Levinson’s Seasons of a Man’s Life Early adult transition (17 -22): Leaving the adolescence, starting and looking for choices to make (work/life) Entering the adult world (22 -28): Making initial choices in love, occupation, friendship, values, lifestyle Age 30 transition (28 -33) - Changes occur in life structure, (smooth, moderate change or, more often, a severe and stressful crisis) Culminating Life structure (33 -40): Establishing a niche in society, making progress on a timetable, in both family and career accomplishments Thinking and behaving like a parent due to the expectations and demanding roles Mid-life transition (40 -45): Reflecting about life structure usually a time of crisis in the meaning Questioning about direction, and value of life Neglecting some parts of the self such aspirations, talents, and seeking for expression. Being seen as a father or as parents than brother Being aware of death and the reality of life/life cycles Trying to leave a legacy and this usually forms the core of the second half of his life. Entering middle adulthood (45 -50): Making choices for the second half of life Culminating the life structure--Forming a new life structure and Committing to new tasks 4 Late adulthood stage (60 -65): Spending time reflecting on past achievements and regrets, and making peace with one's self and others

The Life-Events Approach Development is a result of life events, and adaptation to those

The Life-Events Approach Development is a result of life events, and adaptation to those events, and the life-stage context that encapsulates those events Scenario: At age 47, Rena is divorced and is moving to another state to find a new job. According to the life -events approach to understanding adult development, we can say that Rena is entering a new stage in life. The Contemporary life-events approach emphasizes that the manner in which life events influence an individual’s development depends not only on these events but also upon mediating factors. The criticize about contemporary life-events approach : Is placing too much emphasis on change focuses on major life events but not on daily experiences as stressors 5

Stress and Personal Control in Midlife Do middle-aged adults experience stress differently than young

Stress and Personal Control in Midlife Do middle-aged adults experience stress differently than young adults and older adults? Young and middle-aged adults had more stressful days than older adults Middle-aged adults experienced more “overload” stressors that involved juggling too many activities at once Female > Male, stress, depressed Fight-or-flight vs. tend-and-befriend 6

Contexts of Midlife Development Historical contexts -- cohort effects cohort -- individuals born in

Contexts of Midlife Development Historical contexts -- cohort effects cohort -- individuals born in the same year or time period cohort and context influence values, attitudes, expectations, and behavior social clock -- timetable according to which individuals are expected to accomplish life’s major tasks; provides a guide for life Cultural contexts midlife is unclear and/or absent in many non- industrialized cultures some cultures even divide the life course differently for males and females Freed/reduced domestic roles, exercise authority, pass on role to younger women, travel attending, statuses midlife is influenced by degree of modernity and society’s gender roles eligibility for certain statuses is influenced by gender 7

Stability and change in middle adulthood Big five factors of personality -- openness to

Stability and change in middle adulthood Big five factors of personality -- openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism Three longitudinal studies Costa and Mc. Crae’s Baltimore Study Personality traits stable 30, changed most during middle adulthood(40 -60), -Decline in late adults The Berkeley Longitudinal Studies Stable characteristics in middle adults: intellectually oriented, self-confident, openness to new expectations Valliant’s Studies Happy-well, sad- sick, and dead characteristics of men health who maintained good health and marriage-likely to be happy at 75 -80 Income is not linked to happy-well (50 s, 70 s, 80 s) Smokers and alcohol abuse used as the predictor –likely to be dead at 75 -80 8

Close Relationships Love and Marriage at Midlife affectionate, companionate love increases in middle adulthood

Close Relationships Love and Marriage at Midlife affectionate, companionate love increases in middle adulthood security, loyalty, and mutual emotional interest become more important as relationships mature difficult marriages become better adjusted in middle adulthood married people express satisfaction (72% excellent or very good) Divorce in middle adulthood Why now? ---stay married for children, females initiated divorce 60%, fear of financial situation marriages may have become “empty” -- lacking laughter, love, and interest in one another divorce may be more positive in some ways and more negative in others + -- often more resources + -- children less “damaged” and can cope better minus -- may be seen as personal failure or as betrayal 9

The Empty Nest and Its Refilling Empty nest syndrome -- decline in marital satisfaction

The Empty Nest and Its Refilling Empty nest syndrome -- decline in marital satisfaction after children leave the home; a time for pursuit of other interests, career, and time for each other Refilling of the nest when young adult children return home to save money or recover from career setback (B 2 B and boomerang Kids) Parents continue to provide emotional and/or financial support/arrangements needed Siblings relationship Sibling relationships persist over the entire life span Majority of adults have at least one living sibling Most have been found to be close Siblings who were not “close” tend not to become closer in midlife 10

The Changing Role of Grandparents Biological Reward & continuity, Females >males in roles/responsibilities Divorce,

The Changing Role of Grandparents Biological Reward & continuity, Females >males in roles/responsibilities Divorce, adolescent pregnancy, & parents drug use have contributed to increasing numbers of grandparents assuming parental roles Grandparents who are full-time caregivers for grandchildren are at elevated risk for health problems, depression, and stress Grandparent visitation issues in divorced and stepfamilies Grandparents’ legal rights for visitation 11

Intergenerational Relationships Middle-aged adults share experiences and transmit values to the younger generation As

Intergenerational Relationships Middle-aged adults share experiences and transmit values to the younger generation As children become middle aged, they develop more positive perceptions of parents Family members maintain contact across generations, strong feeling of responsibilities b/w generations Adjusting to grown up children and aging parents, supports to both parents & children Sandwich or Squeeze Generation -- responsibilities for adolescent and young adult children and for aging parents Relationships between aging parents and their children are usually characterized by ambivalence When necessary, responsibilities are assumed by daughters 12

End of Chapter Questions 1. Why have middle-aged adults been described as the “sandwich”

End of Chapter Questions 1. Why have middle-aged adults been described as the “sandwich” generation? What is an alternative to this view? 2. Describe how middle-aged adults perceive control over what happens to them. 3. Describe the transition to middle adulthood according to Levinson. 4. Explain the cumulative personality model. 5. Describe the advantages that middle-aged women in nonindustrialized societies may experience. 6. Explain the contemporary life-events approach to development 13

See you in again in chapter 15 14

See you in again in chapter 15 14