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Development Through the LifespanDevelopment Through the Lifespan
Chapter 16
Emotional and Social Development inMiddle Adulthood
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Chapter 16
Emotional and Social Development inMiddle Adulthood
This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:
Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network;
Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images;
Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Erikson’s Theory:Generativity versus StagnationErikson’s Theory:Generativity versus StagnationGenerativity
Reaching out to others in ways that give to and guide the next generation
Commitment extends beyond self
Typically realized through child rearing
Other family, work mentoring relationships also generative
Generativity Reaching out to others in
ways that give to and guide the next generation
Commitment extends beyond self
Typically realized through child rearing
Other family, work mentoring relationships also generative
Stagnation Place own comfort and
security above challenge and sacrifice
Self-centered, self-indulgent, self-absorbed
Lack of involvement or concern with young people
Little interest in work productivity, self-improvement
Stagnation Place own comfort and
security above challenge and sacrifice
Self-centered, self-indulgent, self-absorbed
Lack of involvement or concern with young people
Little interest in work productivity, self-improvement
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Aging, Generativity, and Self-PerceptionsAging, Generativity, and Self-Perceptions
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Levinson’s Middle Adult SeasonLevinson’s Middle Adult Season
Midlife transition (40–45) Sense of time running out in life
Evaluate early adulthood
Make drastic or small changes
Entry life structure (45–50)
Age 50 transition (50–55)
Culminating life structure (55–60)
Midlife transition (40–45) Sense of time running out in life
Evaluate early adulthood
Make drastic or small changes
Entry life structure (45–50)
Age 50 transition (50–55)
Culminating life structure (55–60)
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Levinson’s Four Tasks of Middle AdulthoodLevinson’s Four Tasks of Middle Adulthood
Young-OldFind new ways of being both young and old
Destruction-Creation
Acknowledge past destructiveness, try to create products of value
Masculinity-Femininity
Balance masculine and feminine parts of self
Engagement-Separateness
Balance involvement with external world and separateness from it
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Concern About Physical AgingConcern About Physical Aging
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Vaillant’s View of MidlifeVaillant’s View of Midlife
Keepers of meaning Guardians of culture Adults in 40s and 50s carry
responsibility for functioning of society
“Passing the torch” becomes important Focus on longer-term goals Prevents too rapid change
Keepers of meaning Guardians of culture Adults in 40s and 50s carry
responsibility for functioning of society
“Passing the torch” becomes important Focus on longer-term goals Prevents too rapid change
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Midlife Crisis?Midlife Crisis?
Research: Wide individual differences Gender differences
Men – changes in early 40s Women – late 40s–50s,
different directions Sharp disruption uncommon Differences in handling regrets
Changes or not Interpretation, acceptance
Research: Wide individual differences Gender differences
Men – changes in early 40s Women – late 40s–50s,
different directions Sharp disruption uncommon Differences in handling regrets
Changes or not Interpretation, acceptance
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Midlife: Stage or Life Events?Midlife: Stage or Life Events?
Stage View Midlife changes are
developmental transitions or crises
Stage View Midlife changes are
developmental transitions or crises
Life Events View Midlife changes
simply adaptation to normal life events
Life Events View Midlife changes
simply adaptation to normal life events
Many researchers suggest a combination of continuity and
stagewise change
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Possible SelvesPossible Selves
What one hopes or fears becoming Become fewer, more modest & concrete with age May become more
time-oriented with age Compare to what
you had planned
May help with adjustment and self-esteem
What one hopes or fears becoming Become fewer, more modest & concrete with age May become more
time-oriented with age Compare to what
you had planned
May help with adjustment and self-esteem
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Self-Perceptions in MidlifeSelf-Perceptions in Midlife
More complex, integrated self-descriptions Increases in feelings of
Self-acceptance Autonomy Environmental mastery
Linked to increased well-being, happiness Varies with culture
More complex, integrated self-descriptions Increases in feelings of
Self-acceptance Autonomy Environmental mastery
Linked to increased well-being, happiness Varies with culture
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Factors in Midlife Psychological Well-BeingFactors in Midlife Psychological Well-Being
Good Health Exercise Sense of Control Personal Life Investment Positive Social Relationships Good Marriage Mastery of Multiple Roles
Good Health Exercise Sense of Control Personal Life Investment Positive Social Relationships Good Marriage Mastery of Multiple Roles
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Aging and Daily StressorsAging and Daily Stressors
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Coping Improvements in Middle AdulthoodCoping Improvements in Middle Adulthood
Identifying positives Postponing action during evaluation Anticipation and planning Humor Integrating strengths
and weaknesses Confidence, experience
Identifying positives Postponing action during evaluation Anticipation and planning Humor Integrating strengths
and weaknesses Confidence, experience
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Gender Identity in Middle AdulthoodGender Identity in Middle Adulthood
Women: Increase in “masculine” traits
Men: Increase in “feminine” traits
Theories Parental Imperative Decline in sex hormones Demands of midlife
Women: Increase in “masculine” traits
Men: Increase in “feminine” traits
Theories Parental Imperative Decline in sex hormones Demands of midlife
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Big Five Personality TraitsBig Five Personality Traits
Neuroticism Extroversion Openness to
Experience Agreeableness Conscientiousness
Neuroticism Extroversion Openness to
Experience Agreeableness Conscientiousness
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Changes in Big Five Personality Traits with AgeChanges in Big Five Personality Traits with Age
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Relationships at MidlifeRelationships at Midlife
Many people have more close relationships than any other period of life Children
“launching”
Parents Friends
Many people have more close relationships than any other period of life Children
“launching”
Parents Friends
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Marriage in Middle AdulthoodMarriage in Middle Adulthood
Economic well-being and time between parenting and retirement allow focus on marriage
Review and adjust marriage Many strengthen relationship Some divorce
Strong marriage linked to psychological well-being
Economic well-being and time between parenting and retirement allow focus on marriage
Review and adjust marriage Many strengthen relationship Some divorce
Strong marriage linked to psychological well-being
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Divorce in MidlifeDivorce in Midlife
More likely among Remarried Highly educated
Midlifers adjust more easily than young adults Practical problem solving Effective coping strategies
Feminization of poverty
More likely among Remarried Highly educated
Midlifers adjust more easily than young adults Practical problem solving Effective coping strategies
Feminization of poverty
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Parenting in Middle AdulthoodParenting in Middle Adulthood
Launching - culminates “letting go” process Decline in parental authority Continued contact, support to children Adjusting to in-laws - kinkeepers
Affected by Investment in nonparental roles Children’s characteristics
“Off time” children stress parents Cultural social clocks
Launching - culminates “letting go” process Decline in parental authority Continued contact, support to children Adjusting to in-laws - kinkeepers
Affected by Investment in nonparental roles Children’s characteristics
“Off time” children stress parents Cultural social clocks
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Promoting Positive Ties with Adult ChildrenPromoting Positive Ties with Adult Children
Positive communication Avoid leftover childhood comments Accept changes in cultural values, practices Rest urge to “fix” problems Be clear about own needs
Positive communication Avoid leftover childhood comments Accept changes in cultural values, practices Rest urge to “fix” problems Be clear about own needs
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GrandparenthoodGrandparenthood
Trends in grandparenting Raising grandchildren Coping with divorce of
grandchildren’s parents
Trends in grandparenting Raising grandchildren Coping with divorce of
grandchildren’s parents
Become grandparent average late 40s Can spend one-third of life
Highly meaningful to most Grandparenting styles vary
Geography, age, gender, SES, ethnicity are factors
Become grandparent average late 40s Can spend one-third of life
Highly meaningful to most Grandparenting styles vary
Geography, age, gender, SES, ethnicity are factors
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Meanings of GrandparenthoodMeanings of Grandparenthood
Valued elder Immortality through descendents Reinvolvement with personal past Indulgence
Valued elder Immortality through descendents Reinvolvement with personal past Indulgence
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Middle-Age Children andTheir Aging ParentsMiddle-Age Children andTheir Aging Parents More likely than in past to have living parents Reassess relationships with parents Proximity increases with age
Move closer or move in together
Children provide more help
to parents Financial, household aid; caregiving Helping based on earlier relationships
More likely than in past to have living parents Reassess relationships with parents Proximity increases with age
Move closer or move in together
Children provide more help
to parents Financial, household aid; caregiving Helping based on earlier relationships
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Caring for Aging ParentsCaring for Aging Parents
“Sandwich generation” Finances, location, gender, culture are factors Highly stressful
Average 20 hours/week Often starts suddenly, duration uncertain Work and costs increase Hard to witness parent’s decline Support needed
“Sandwich generation” Finances, location, gender, culture are factors Highly stressful
Average 20 hours/week Often starts suddenly, duration uncertain Work and costs increase Hard to witness parent’s decline Support needed
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Who is Caring for Aging ParentsWho is Caring for Aging Parents
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Relieving Caregiving StressRelieving Caregiving Stress
Use effective coping strategies Seek social support Use community resources Get workplace help Work for helpful public
policies
Use effective coping strategies Seek social support Use community resources Get workplace help Work for helpful public
policies
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Siblings in Middle AdulthoodSiblings in Middle Adulthood
Contact and support decline during middle adulthood Demands of diverse roles
Still, often feel closer Share similar events
Affected by Earlier relations Culture
Contact and support decline during middle adulthood Demands of diverse roles
Still, often feel closer Share similar events
Affected by Earlier relations Culture
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Friendships in Middle AdulthoodFriendships in Middle Adulthood
Gender trends continue Men less expressive than women
Fewer friends; more selective More complex ideas of friendship
Rely on for pleasure more than support
Invest more time, effort in friends
Gender trends continue Men less expressive than women
Fewer friends; more selective More complex ideas of friendship
Rely on for pleasure more than support
Invest more time, effort in friends
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Age-Related Changein Job SatisfactionAge-Related Changein Job Satisfaction
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BurnoutBurnout
Result of long-term job stress Overload Common in helping
professions
Result of long-term job stress Overload Common in helping
professions
Linked to Mental exhaustion;
attention, memory problems
Loss of personal control, depression
Physical illness Reduced sense of
accomplishment, poor performance, absenteeism, turnover
Linked to Mental exhaustion;
attention, memory problems
Loss of personal control, depression
Physical illness Reduced sense of
accomplishment, poor performance, absenteeism, turnover
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Career Developmentin Middle Adulthood Career Developmentin Middle Adulthood Limits to advancement
Training Glass ceiling
Midlife career changes Few, not usually drastic Often for more relaxing career
Unemployment Middle age & older most affected by downsizing More stressful than for young adults
Retirement planning
Limits to advancement Training Glass ceiling
Midlife career changes Few, not usually drastic Often for more relaxing career
Unemployment Middle age & older most affected by downsizing More stressful than for young adults
Retirement planning
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Influences on Interest in Job TrainingInfluences on Interest in Job Training Personal
Desire to change Growth v. security needs
Coworkers, supervisor Stereotypes
Self-efficacy Job
Challenging tasks Co-workers, teams
Personal Desire to change
Growth v. security needs Coworkers, supervisor Stereotypes
Self-efficacy Job
Challenging tasks Co-workers, teams
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The Glass CeilingThe Glass Ceiling
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Coping with Midlife UnemploymentCoping with Midlife Unemployment Problem-centered coping Social support
From those who recognize abilities, share interests & values
Problem-centered coping Social support
From those who recognize abilities, share interests & values
Counseling Financial planning Coping with stigma Developing flexibility
Counseling Financial planning Coping with stigma Developing flexibility
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Ingredients in Effective Retirement PlanningIngredients in Effective Retirement Planning Finances Fitness Role adjustment Where to live Leisure activities Health insurance Legal affairs
Finances Fitness Role adjustment Where to live Leisure activities Health insurance Legal affairs