Chapter 16

1. Chapter 16 Psychosocial Development in Middle Adulthood

2. Cohort, gender, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic impact loss/continued skills Maslow & Rogers Viewed middle age as an opportunity for positive change Maslow- self-actualization (realizing full human potential) only comes with maturity. Rogersbelieved that full human functioning requires a constant, lifelong process of bringing the self in harmony with experience Women emphasize expressiveness and nurturance; men emphasize achievement

3. Erikson Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle adulthood) • Characterized by concern with what is generated, and establishing and setting forth guidelines for up-coming generations. As aspect of identity formation. • This push for values is generated by the psychosexual and psychosocial aspects of personality enrichment. • When generativity is weak or not given expression the personality regresses, takes on a sense of impoverishment and stagnation

4. Erikson Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle adulthood) • Virtue of CARE develops here. • Care is expressed by one’s concern for others, by wanting to take care of those who need it and to share one’s knowledge and experience with others • This is accomplished through childrearing and teaching, demonstrating, and supervising. • Humans have an inherent need to teach. • Humans achieve satisfaction and fulfillment by teaching children, adults, employees, and even animals.

5. Erikson Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle adulthood) • Facts, logic, and truths are preserved throughout generations by this passion to teach. • Caring and teaching are responsible for the survival of the cultures, through reiteration of their customs, rituals, and legends. • Teaching also instills a vital sense of feeling needs by others, a sense of important, which deters them from becoming too engrossed and absorbed with themselves.

6. Erikson Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle adulthood) • Teaching also instills a vital sense of feeling needs by others, a sense of important, which deters them from becoming too engrossed and absorbed with themselves. • “CARE is the widening concern for what has been generated by love, necessity, or accident; it overcomes the ambivalence adhering to irreversible obligation”. • Ritualization: generational: ritualization of parenthood, production, teaching, healing, etc. the adult acts in the role of transmitter of ideal values to the young

7. Vaillant & Jung- lessening of gender differences • Men become more nurturing and expressive • Less obsessed with personal achievement and more concerned with relationships • Become mentors • Also turning inward and introspection

8. Timing of Events: The Social Clock Theory • Focus on important life events • Restructuring of social roles • Launching children • Becoming grandparents • Changing jobs/careers • Retirement • Women now focus less on childcare, entered workforce

9. The Self • Midlife Crisis- triggered by review and reevaluation of one’s life • May not actualize all of their dreams • May want to change life’s direction • Some experience this crisis, others feel at peak of their power • Really just a turning point, psychological transitions • Changes in meaning, purpose, or direction of one’s life • May be positive or negative

10. Midlife review- new insights into the self, spurring corrections, some regret • Depends on individuals circumstances and personal resources • People high on neuroticism likely to experience more crisis • People with ego-resiliency (ability to adapt flexibly and resourcefully) and those with sense of mastery do better (see Table 16-1 (page 593))

11. Piaget Identity assimilation- attempt to fit new experiences into existing schema Tends to maintain continuity of the self Identity accommodation- adjustment of schema to fit new experience Tends to bring about needed change

12. Whitbourne How deals with assimilation/accommodation is their identity style- balanced identity style results with flexibility to make changes but new experience does not cause the person to question fundamental assumptions about the self. Deal with physical, mental, emotional changes associated with aging same as they deal with other experiences that challenge the identity schema

13. Erikson saw gender identity as being closely related to social roles and commitments. Changing roles and relationships at midlife may affect gender identity, but the most profound midlife revisions may be internal, how understands and thinks about himself. Studies suggest that men become more open about feelings, more interested in intimate relationships, more nurturing (more feminine characteristics) Women become more assertive, self-confident, achievement orientated

14. Jung saw these changes as part of the process of individuation, or balancing the personality. Gender crossover- role reversals to some degree

15. Psychological Well-Being • Emotionally and life satisfaction tended to be good • Social support and religiosity are important factors Ryff- Multiple Dimensions of Well-Being • Self-acceptance • Positive relations with others • Autonomy • Environmental mastery • Purpose in life • Personal growth

16. Generativity Erikson- a sign of both psychological maturity and psychological health Challenges of this period require generative responses Theories of Social Contact Social convoy theory- people move through life surrounded by convoys of people This is stable over life-span

17. Carstensen’s socioemotional theory • How people choose whom to spend time with: • Social interaction has three main goals: • Source of information • Helps people develop and maintain sense of self • Source of pleasure and comfort, or emotional well-being

18. Marriage & Cohabitation • Marriage offers major benefits: • Social support • Encouragement of health-promoting behaviors • Greater socioeconomic resources • Wealth accumulation • Better physical and mental health

19. Marriage & Cohabitation • Divorced and noncohabitating men/women- more negative emotionality • The longer a couple married, the less satisfied they are (20-24 years of marriage) • At 35-40 years of marriage, more satisfied • Reason: teenage children have grown and in careers; satisfaction increases when children are grown. • Cohabitating men over 50 are more depressed, same as single men • Women may enjoy it more, without commitment of marriage to care for elderly spouse

20. Midlife divorce • More emotionally devastating than losing a job; same as major illness; more so for women • Marital capitol may be why long-term marriages survive • Primary reason for divorce- abuse; then differing values or lifestyles, infidelity, substance abuse, or falling out of love • Most do bounce back. • Emotional problems follow divorce

21. Gay/Lesbian Relationships • Due to earlier stigmas, may now be able to search for partners • May have guilt, prolonged search for identity, conflicted relationships with both sexes, other barriers • Same principles for maintaining heterosexual relationships apply • If known to their support network, gay/lesbian relationships tend to be stronger, more egalitarian than heterosexual

22. Friendships • Strong source of support, especially for women • Quality of relationships makes up for lack in quantity of time spent • Friends offer a lot of emotional support

23. Empty nest • Most parents, even mothers, adjust just fine! • Depends on quality of marriage • If strong marriage, children leaving fosters a second honeymoon • If shaky marriage, especially if remained together for the children’s sake, may divorce • For some women, empty nest brings relief from the chronic emergency of parenthood. • Continue to parent adult children, supportive.

24. Empty nest • Revolving door syndrome: young adults returning to live at home. More men than women • Creates tension, impedes growth • Most middle-aged parents and their children have warm and supportive relationships

25. Some problems with caring for one’s parents Caregiver burnout- physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that can affect adults who care for their aged relatives Sandwich generation: caring for own children while having to care for own parents- stresses resources

26. Grandparent role • Some continue to work • Some play integral role in child raising and family decisions • Grandmothers tend to keep in touch with everyone • Spend grandparents money on the grandchildren

27. Cohort, gender, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic impact loss/continued skills Maslow & Rogers Viewed middle age as an opportunity for positive change Maslow- self-actualization (realizing full human potential) only comes with maturity. Rogersbelieved that full human functioning requires a constant, lifelong process of bringing the self in harmony with experience