Sociology Chapter 7

The Adult in Society

Preview

Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood

Section 2: The World of Work

Section 3: The Later Years

Chapter Wrap-Up

Sociology Chapter 7

Read to Discover

• What is Daniel Levinson’s theory of adult male development?

• What are the stages of adult female development?

Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood

Sociology Chapter 7

Levinson’s Developmental Stages of Adulthood for Males

Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood

Early AdulthoodEarly Adulthood Late AdulthoodLate AdulthoodMiddle AdulthoodMiddle Adulthood

17-22 Early Adult Transition

23-27 Entering the Adult World

28-32 Age 30 Transition

33-39 Settling Down Period

40-44 Midlife Transition

45-49 Entering Mid Adulthood

50-54 Age 50 Transition

55-59 End of Mid Adulthood

60-64 Late Adult Transition

65-75+ Late Adult Transition

Sociology Chapter 7

• Early Adulthood—ages 17-39, involves entering the adult world, choosing a career, establishing oneself in society, and making and re-evaluating commitments

• Middle Adulthood—ages 40-59, involves self-examination, reformulation of life goals, internal and external conflict, realization of one’s own mortality

• Late Adulthood—60 to 75+, involves transitions

Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood

Sociology Chapter 7

Question

What are the stages of adult female development?

Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood

Sociology Chapter 7

Phase 3: Entering the Adult World Again

Phase 2: Entering the Adult World

Phase 1: Leaving the FamilyCharacteristics: Young women leave home, break from their parents, and form a life plan, with an emphasis on marriage over establishing a career.

Characteristics: Many women, often in their twenties, marry and have children. More than half combine work and motherhood. Others leave work, which limits later job opportunities.

Characteristics: Many women, often in their early thirties, return to work after their children start school. They then pursue their career goals, similarly to men in their twenties.

Section 1: Early and Middle Adulthood

Sociology Chapter 7

Read to Discover

• How has the nature of work in the United States changed?

• How has the composition of the labor force in the United States changed?

Section 2: The World of Work

Sociology Chapter 7

Question

How have the nature of work and the composition of the labor force changed in the United States?

Section 2: The World of Work

Sociology Chapter 7

Section 2: The World of Work

Nature of Work in the U.S. 1900-2000

Farming & Manufacturing

Labor Force in 1900

Professional & Clerical

Farming & Manufacturing

Labor Force in 2000

Professional & Clerical

Sociology Chapter 7

• Farming and Manufacturing—fell from 80 percent of the U.S. labor force in 1900 to 27 percent in 2000; most work now is in professions, office work, sales, and service jobs

• Professional, Managerial, Administrative, Sales—now make up almost 73 percent of the labor force; increases can be attributed to the growth of bureaucracies and technological developments

Section 2: The World of Work

Sociology Chapter 7

Changes in the Labor Force

Section 2: The World of Work

• WomenIncreasing numbers

• EducationMore with higher levels

• MinoritiesIncreasing numbers

Sociology Chapter 7

• Women—have increased as a percentage of the total labor force; now hold about half of all professional jobs

• Minorities—have increased as a percentage of the total labor force; in particular Hispanics, who are the fastest growing group of American workers

• Education—workers’ education levels have increased; about 90 percent of workers aged 25 to 64 have high school diplomas; about one third have college degrees

Section 2: The World of Work

Sociology Chapter 7

Read to Discover

• What are the characteristics of life during late adulthood?

• What new challenges do older Americans face?

Section 3: The Later Years

Sociology Chapter 7

Question

What are characteristics of each stage of late adulthood?

Section 3: The Later Years

Sociology Chapter 7

THE THREE PHASES OF LATE ADULTHOOD

Young-OldMiddle-Old Old-Old

Ages 65 to 74Ages 65 to 74Issues related

to the adjustment to

retirement

Ages 75 to 84Ages 75 to 84 Issues related to

declining physical and

mental functioning, dependency,

and death

Ages 85+Ages 85+Issues related to

declining physical and

mental functioning,

dependency, and death

Section 3: The Later Years

Sociology Chapter 7

• Adjustment to Retirement—loss of the work role; lack of income; adjustment easier if social networks and community activity maintained

• Physical and Mental Functioning—body cells die; muscles and tissues shrink; organs and functions slow down; intelligence, learning, and memory decline

• Dependency and Death—need physical or financial assistance; status and role behaviors change; less fear of death than middle-aged

Section 3: The Later Years

Sociology Chapter 7

New Opportunities

• Feeling of freedom

• More time for interests and hobbies

• Possibility of new career

• Reaping the benefits of planning ahead

Financial planning

Developing interests and hobbies

Taking care of health

Cultivating patterns that make the most of life

Section 3: The Later Years

Sociology Chapter 7

Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas

1. Briefly describe Daniel Levinson’s views on adult male development.

2. How does adult female development differ from adult male development?

3. How has the composition of the American labor force changed?

4. In what ways did the nature of work in the United States change during the 1900s?

5. What challenges and opportunities are associated with the later stages of life?

6. What are the main characteristics of each stage of life during the later years of adulthood?