Adulthood and AutonomyAdulthood and Autonomy

• THE STRUGGLE TOWARD AUTONOMYTHE STRUGGLE TOWARD AUTONOMY– Process of autonomy begins in early childhood Process of autonomy begins in early childhood

and continues throughout lifeand continues throughout life– Ultimate goal is the development of a mature Ultimate goal is the development of a mature

and interdependent selfand interdependent self– Autonomy means knowing yourself and Autonomy means knowing yourself and

having significant connections with othershaving significant connections with others– Cultural factors play a key role in determining Cultural factors play a key role in determining

the kind of relationships that govern one’s lifethe kind of relationships that govern one’s life

Challenging Early Messages Challenging Early Messages (or Parental Injunctions)(or Parental Injunctions)

•Examples of parental injunctions Examples of parental injunctions that we incorporate into our lives:that we incorporate into our lives:– Don’t make mistakesDon’t make mistakes– Don’t be closeDon’t be close– Don’t be a childDon’t be a child– Don’t succeedDon’t succeed– Don’t be youDon’t be you

Albert Ellis and Uprooting Albert Ellis and Uprooting Irrational BeliefsIrrational Beliefs

• Your faulty thinking is what leads to your Your faulty thinking is what leads to your emotional upsetsemotional upsets

• You can best change your feelings and actions You can best change your feelings and actions by changing your beliefsby changing your beliefs

• It is essential to identify and challenge self-It is essential to identify and challenge self-defeating beliefsdefeating beliefs

• Become aware of your should’s, ought’s, and Become aware of your should’s, ought’s, and must’smust’s

• Learn ways of challenging your internal dialogue Learn ways of challenging your internal dialogue and your inner criticand your inner critic

Early AdulthoodEarly Adulthood

• There are wide variations in the way people There are wide variations in the way people experience early adulthoodexperience early adulthood

• Erikson’s core struggle: Intimacy versus IsolationErikson’s core struggle: Intimacy versus Isolation

• Emerging adulthood: a distinct period from both Emerging adulthood: a distinct period from both adolescence and young adulthoodadolescence and young adulthood

• Emerging adulthood offers rich opportunities for Emerging adulthood offers rich opportunities for exploring personal identity in the areas of love, exploring personal identity in the areas of love, work, and valueswork, and values

Middle AdulthoodMiddle Adulthood

•A time of going outside of ourselvesA time of going outside of ourselves

•This can be a time of great productivityThis can be a time of great productivity

•Erikson’s core struggle: Generativity Erikson’s core struggle: Generativity versus Stagnationversus Stagnation

•When we reach middle age, we come to a When we reach middle age, we come to a crossroadscrossroads

Late Middle AgeLate Middle Age

• People often think of what they want to do with People often think of what they want to do with the rest of their livesthe rest of their lives

• There are many positive and creative dimensions There are many positive and creative dimensions of middle ageof middle age

• A time to consider new sources of meaning in A time to consider new sources of meaning in our livesour lives

• A time to examine priorities and make new A time to examine priorities and make new decisionsdecisions

Late AdulthoodLate Adulthood

• Erikson’s core struggle: Integrity versus DespairErikson’s core struggle: Integrity versus Despair

• Prevalent themes often include loss, loneliness, Prevalent themes often include loss, loneliness, dependency, regrets over past events and dependency, regrets over past events and decisions decisions

• It is essential to challenge the stereotypes of It is essential to challenge the stereotypes of late adulthoodlate adulthood

• The attitude an older person has about aging The attitude an older person has about aging may be more important than chronological agemay be more important than chronological age