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Middle AdulthoodPersonality & Sociocultural Development

• Generativity

• Midlife Crisis

• A Unique Generation

• Marriage/Divorce/Remarriage

• Work Change

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Erik Erikson

Generativity

Versus

Stagnation

(Self-Absorption)

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GenerativityPeople Act within 3 Domains

1- Procreative Domain

By giving and responding to the needs of the next generation

2- Productive Domain

By integrating work with family life and caring for the next generation

3- Creative Domain

By contributing to society on a larger scale

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StagnationSelf-Absorption

• People focus on the triviality of their life, and feel that they have made only a limited contribution to the world.

• People devalue whatever accomplishments they have.

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Robert Peck (1968)7 Issues of Adult Conflict

Middle Adulthood

1- Valuing wisdom vs. valuing physical powers.

2- Socializing vs. sexualizing in human relationships

3- Cathectic (emotional) flexibility vs. cathectic impoverishment

4- Mental flexibility vs. mental rigidity.

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Robert Peck (1968)7 Issues of Adult Conflict

Older Adulthood

1- Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation

2- Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation

3- Ego transcendence vs. ego preoccupation

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George Vaillant

• Middle adulthood is “keeping the meaning vs. rigidity”

• Adults seek to extract the meaning from their lives by accepting the strengths and weaknesses of others.

• Those who are rigid become increasingly isolated from others.

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Daniel Levinson

Early Adulthood (20s) – leaving the family and having “the dream”

Late 30s – men settle down and establish themselves moving toward the dream

Between 40 & 45 – people move into “the midlife transition” or a time of questioning

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Daniel Levinson

Between 40 & 45 – people move into “the midlife transition” or a time of questioning

They focus on finite nature of life

They realize they will not live forever

They concentrate on the present

They begin to doubt the value of their accomplishments

They experience their first signs of aging

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Daniel Levinson

This period of assessment may lead to a MIDLIFE CRISIS, a stage of uncertainty and indecision brought about by the realization that life is finite.

Success: taking new roles, mentoring younger children, and changing careers

Failure: stagnation and decline

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Well-Being in MidlifeCarol Ryff

1- Self-Acceptance

2- Positive Relations with People

3- Autonomy

4- Environmental Mastery

5- Purpose in Life

6- Personal Growth

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What is your dream?

Have you accomplished it?

What are the factors that will help you avoid midlife crisis?

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Men and Middle AgeFour General Paths

1- Transcendent – generative man

2- pseudo developed man

3- A man in midlife crisis

4- Punitive – disenchanted man

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Four Types of Midlife WomenTerri Apter (1995)

1- Traditional women

2- Innovative women

3- Expansive women

4- Protesters

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Menopause

• Marks the point at which a traditional pregnancy is no longer possible.

• Marks the ceasing of menstruation

• The production of estrogen and progesterone begin to drop

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Symptoms with the Change in Hormone Production

• Aching joints

• Feeling of dizziness

• Heart palpitations

• Severe distress

• Hot flashes

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Estrogen Replacement TherapyPros Cons

Reduces hot flashesReduces loss of skin elasticityDecreases the thinning of the

bonesMay reduce risk of

osteoporosisMay reduce the risk of stroke

and colon cancerMay slow the mental

deterioration in Alzheimer’sReduces coronary heart

disease

Risk of breast cancer risesMore incidents of cancer of

the uterine liningIncreases in benign fibroid

tumors in the uterusAssociated with abnormal

blood clots

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Does menopause produce psychological problems?

Expectations

Culture

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Can women get pregnant after menopause?

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Group Activity

Assign a doctor in each group.Discuss the family history of each woman

regarding:stroke, heart disease, colon cancer,

Alzheimer’s disease, high cholesterol, cancer in the uterine lining, breast cancer

Decide whether these women should go for estrogen replacement therapy or not.

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A Unique Generation

The Kinkeepers

The Empty Nest Syndrome

The Sandwich Generation

Boomerang Children

Grandparenting

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Three Types of Grandparents

1- Involved

2- Companionate

3- Remote

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Four Symbolic Roles for Grandparents

1- Being There

2- Family National Guard

3- Arbitrator

4- Maintaining the Family’s Biography

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Satisfaction in Marriage

• The frequent pattern is U-shaped• Marital satisfaction begins to decline

after marriage• It falls to its lowest point following the

birth of children• It begins to grow after the children

leave adolescence• It reaches its highest when the kids

have left home

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Myths of Marriage• Everything will work out fine if we love each other.• Always consider the other person first.• Emphasize the positive; keep criticisms to oneself.• If things go wrong, focus on the future.• See oneself as a couple first and then as an

individual.• What’s mine is yours.• Marriage makes people happier than they were

before.• What is best for the children will be best for us.

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Myths of Divorce

• Because we no longer love each other, nothing can work out any more.

• Always consider oneself first.• Emphasize the negative and criticize everything• If things go wrong, focus on the past.• See oneself as an individual first and then as

part of a couple.• What’s yours is mine.• Divorce makes people unhappy.• What is best for us must be devastating for the

children

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Divorce

• The breakup of marriage is usually the culmination of a long process of emotional distancing.

• The final decision is usually done by one partner.• Divorce is usually associated with misconception of

marriage.• Divorce is usually conceived as a kind of failure.• Divorced men and women have higher rates of

alcoholism, physical illness, and depression.• Divorced men have the highest rate of remarriage.

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Job Change and Stress

• Individuals often react to career loss in ways that are similar to the grief response triggered by the death of a loved one.– Shock and disbelief– Anger and protest– Bargaining– Depression

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Job Change and Stress

• Individuals often react to career loss in ways that are similar to the grief response triggered by the death of a loved one.– Shock and disbelief– Anger and protest– Bargaining– Depression

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Job Change and Stress

• Job loss is more difficult for middle-aged people.– They may have more identity invested in it/– They may be the target of age discrimination.– They may have to take a job that is lower in

status and pay.

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Job Change and Stress

• Burnout and emotional exhaustion– Working hard to attain a goal and failing to do

so.– Lack of extrinsic or intrinsic reward.– Being realistic minimizes burn out.

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Research shows that older workers have less absenteeism, hold their jobs

longer, are more reliable, and more willing to learn new skills.

• Who would you rather hire

Young adults

middle-aged adults

old adults