Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 16 Emotional and Social...

Preview:

Citation preview

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Development Through the LifespanDevelopment Through the Lifespan

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.

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Aging, Generativity, and Self-PerceptionsAging, Generativity, and Self-Perceptions

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Concern About Physical AgingConcern About Physical Aging

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Aging and Daily StressorsAging and Daily Stressors

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Big Five Personality TraitsBig Five Personality Traits

Neuroticism Extroversion Openness to

Experience Agreeableness Conscientiousness

Neuroticism Extroversion Openness to

Experience Agreeableness Conscientiousness

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Changes in Big Five Personality Traits with AgeChanges in Big Five Personality Traits with Age

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Who is Caring for Aging ParentsWho is Caring for Aging Parents

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Age-Related Changein Job SatisfactionAge-Related Changein Job Satisfaction

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

The Glass CeilingThe Glass Ceiling

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

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

Recommended