Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 16 Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Development Development Through the LifespanThrough the Lifespan

Chapter 16Chapter 16Emotional and Social Emotional and Social Development inDevelopment inLate AdulthoodLate Adulthood

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Erikson’s Theory:Erikson’s Theory:Generativity versus StagnationGenerativity versus Stagnation

GenerativityGenerativity Reaching out to others in Reaching out to others in

ways that give to and guide ways that give to and guide the next generationthe next generation

Commitment extends Commitment extends beyond selfbeyond self

Often realized through Often realized through child rearingchild rearing

Other family, work, Other family, work, mentoring relationships mentoring relationships also generativealso generative

StagnationStagnation Place own comfort and Place own comfort and

security above challenge and security above challenge and sacrificesacrifice

Self-centered, self-indulgent, Self-centered, self-indulgent, self-absorbedself-absorbed

Lack of involvement or Lack of involvement or concern with young peopleconcern with young people

Little interest in work Little interest in work productivity, self-productivity, self-improvementimprovement


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

Figure 16.1


Highly Generative AdultsHighly Generative Adults

Commitment story: family, community, Commitment story: family, community, societysociety turning bad life events into goodturning bad life events into good giving back, redemptiongiving back, redemption personal renewal or enlightenmentpersonal renewal or enlightenment

Interpretation of life events affects level of Interpretation of life events affects level of generativitiygenerativitiy high level leads to greater life satisfactionhigh level leads to greater life satisfaction


Levinson’s Levinson’s Middle Adulthood SeasonMiddle Adulthood Season

Midlife transition (40–45)Midlife transition (40–45) sense of time running out in lifesense of time running out in life evaluate early adulthoodevaluate early adulthood make drastic or small changesmake drastic or small changes

Entry life structure (45–50)Entry life structure (45–50)

Age-50 transition (50–55)Age-50 transition (50–55)

Culminating life structure (55–60)Culminating life structure (55–60)


Levinson’s Four Tasks Levinson’s Four Tasks of Middle Adulthoodof Middle Adulthood

YoungYoung––OldOld Find new ways of being both young Find new ways of being both young and old.and old.

DestructionDestruction––CreationCreation

Acknowledge past destructiveness; try Acknowledge past destructiveness; try to create products of value.to create products of value.

MasculinityMasculinity––FemininityFemininity

Balance masculine and feminine parts Balance masculine and feminine parts of self.of self.

EngagementEngagement––SeparatenessSeparateness

Balance involvement with external Balance involvement with external world and separateness from it.world and separateness from it.


Concern About Concern About Physical AgingPhysical Aging

Figure 16.2


Vaillant’s View of MidlifeVaillant’s View of Midlife

Keepers of meaningKeepers of meaning guardians of cultureguardians of culture adults in forties and fifties adults in forties and fifties

carry responsibility for carry responsibility for functioning of societyfunctioning of society

““Passing the torch” becomes Passing the torch” becomes importantimportant

focus on longer-term goalsfocus on longer-term goals prevents too rapid changeprevents too rapid change©Ron Chapple Studios/Dreamstime.com


Midlife Crisis?Midlife Crisis?

Research: wide individual differencesResearch: wide individual differences

Gender differencesGender differences men – midlifemen – midlife women – early adulthoodwomen – early adulthood

Sharp disruption uncommonSharp disruption uncommon

Differences in handling regrets Differences in handling regrets changes or notchanges or not interpretation, acceptanceinterpretation, acceptance

©Eti Swinford/Dreamstime.com


Midlife: Stage or Life Events?Midlife: Stage or Life Events?

Stage ViewStage ViewMidlife changes are Midlife changes are

developmental developmental transitions or crises.transitions or crises.

Life Events ViewLife Events ViewMidlife changes are Midlife changes are

simply adaptations simply adaptations to normal life events.to normal life events.

Many researchers suggest a Many researchers suggest a combination of continuity and combination of continuity and

stagewise change.stagewise change.


Possible SelvesPossible Selves

What one hopes or fears becomingWhat one hopes or fears becoming

Become fewer, more modest & concrete with Become fewer, more modest & concrete with ageage

May become more time-oriented with ageMay become more time-oriented with age compare to what you had plannedcompare to what you had planned permits reaffirmationpermits reaffirmation

May help with adjustment and self-esteemMay help with adjustment and self-esteem


Self-Perceptions in MidlifeSelf-Perceptions in Midlife

More complex, integrated self-descriptionsMore complex, integrated self-descriptions

Increases in feelings ofIncreases in feelings of self-acceptanceself-acceptance autonomyautonomy environmental masteryenvironmental mastery

Linked to increased Linked to increased well-being, happinesswell-being, happiness

varies with culturevaries with culture Senior Lifestyles


Factors in Midlife Factors in Midlife Psychological Well-BeingPsychological Well-Being

Good healthGood health

ExerciseExercise

Sense of controlSense of control

Personal life investmentPersonal life investment

Positive social relationshipsPositive social relationships

Good marriageGood marriage

Mastery of multiple rolesMastery of multiple roles©Ron Chapple Studios/Dreamstime.com


Aging and Daily StressorsAging and Daily Stressors

Figure 16.3


Coping Improvements Coping Improvements in Middle Adulthoodin Middle Adulthood

Identifying positivesIdentifying positives

Postponing action during evaluationPostponing action during evaluation

Anticipation and planningAnticipation and planning

HumorHumor

Integrating strengths and weaknessesIntegrating strengths and weaknesses

Confidence, experienceConfidence, experience

Emotional stabilityEmotional stability


Gender Identity in Gender Identity in Middle AdulthoodMiddle Adulthood

Women: increase in “masculine” traitsWomen: increase in “masculine” traits

Men: increase in “feminine” traitsMen: increase in “feminine” traits

TheoriesTheories parental imperativeparental imperative decline in sex hormonesdecline in sex hormones demands of midlifedemands of midlife

©Yuri Arcurs/Dreamstime.com


Big Five Personality TraitsBig Five Personality Traits

NeuroticismNeuroticism

ExtroversionExtroversion

AgreeablenessAgreeableness

ConscientiousnessConscientiousness

Openness to experienceOpenness to experience©Yuri Arcurs/Dreamstime.com


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

Figure 16.4


Relationships at MidlifeRelationships at Midlife

Many people have more close Many people have more close relationships than in any other period of relationships than in any other period of life.life.

childrenchildren ““launching”launching”

parentsparents friendsfriends

©Monkey Business Images/Dreamstime.com


Marriage in Middle AdulthoodMarriage in Middle Adulthood

Economic well-being and time between Economic well-being and time between parenting and retirement allow focus parenting and retirement allow focus on marriage.on marriage.

Review and adjust marriageReview and adjust marriage many strengthen relationshipmany strengthen relationship some divorcesome divorce

Strong marriage linked to Strong marriage linked to psychological well-beingpsychological well-being Absolute Family


Divorce in MidlifeDivorce in Midlife

More likely amongMore likely among remarriedremarried highly educatedhighly educated

Midlifers adjust more easily than Midlifers adjust more easily than young adults.young adults. practical problem solvingpractical problem solving effective coping strategieseffective coping strategies

Feminization of povertyFeminization of poverty


Parenting in Middle Parenting in Middle AdulthoodAdulthood

Launching Launching –– culminates “letting go” process culminates “letting go” process decline in parental authoritydecline in parental authority continued contact, support to childrencontinued contact, support to children adjusting to in-lawsadjusting to in-laws kinkeeper rolekinkeeper role

Affected byAffected by investment in nonparental rolesinvestment in nonparental roles children’s characteristicschildren’s characteristics

““off time” children stress parentsoff time” children stress parents cultural social clockscultural social clocks


Promoting Positive Ties Promoting Positive Ties with Adult Childrenwith Adult Children

Communicate positively.Communicate positively. Avoid leftover childhood comments.Avoid leftover childhood comments. Accept changes in cultural values, Accept changes in cultural values,

practices, and lifestyle.practices, and lifestyle. Resist urge to “fix” problems.Resist urge to “fix” problems. Be clear about own needs.Be clear about own needs.


GrandparenthoodGrandparenthood

Become grandparent generally occurs inBecome grandparent generally occurs in early early fiftiesfifties

can spend one-third of lifecan spend one-third of life

Highly meaningful to mostHighly meaningful to most

Grandparenting styles varyGrandparenting styles vary geography, age, gender, SES, ethnicity are factorsgeography, age, gender, SES, ethnicity are factors

Trends in grandparentingTrends in grandparenting extended family householdextended family household raising grandchildren (skipped generation family)raising grandchildren (skipped generation family) coping with divorce of grandchildren’s parentscoping with divorce of grandchildren’s parents


Meanings of Meanings of GrandparenthoodGrandparenthood

Valued elderValued elder

Immortality through descendentsImmortality through descendents

Reinvolvement with Reinvolvement with

personal pastpersonal past

IndulgenceIndulgence

Senior Lifestyles


Influences on Frequency of Influences on Frequency of Grandchildren’s VisitsGrandchildren’s Visits

Figure 16.5


Middle-Aged Children andMiddle-Aged Children andTheir Aging ParentsTheir Aging Parents

More likely than in past to have living More likely than in past to have living parentsparents

Reassess relationships with parentsReassess relationships with parentsProximity increases with ageProximity increases with age

move closer or move in togethermove closer or move in together

Children provide more help to parentsChildren provide more help to parents financial, household aid; caregivingfinancial, household aid; caregiving helping based on earlier relationshipshelping based on earlier relationships


Caring for Aging ParentsCaring for Aging Parents

““Sandwich generation”Sandwich generation”

Finances, location, gender, culture are factorsFinances, location, gender, culture are factors

Highly stressfulHighly stressful average 20 hours per weekaverage 20 hours per week often starts suddenly, duration uncertainoften starts suddenly, duration uncertain work and costs increasework and costs increase hard to witness parent’s declinehard to witness parent’s decline support needed support needed


Relieving Caregiving StressRelieving Caregiving Stress

Use effective coping Use effective coping strategies.strategies.

Seek social support.Seek social support.Use community resources.Use community resources.Get workplace help.Get workplace help.Work for helpful public Work for helpful public

policies.policies.©Absolut_photos/Dreamstime.com


Siblings in Middle AdulthoodSiblings in Middle Adulthood

Contact and support decline during middle Contact and support decline during middle adulthood.adulthood.

demands of diverse rolesdemands of diverse roles

Still, often feel closerStill, often feel closer baby-boom cohort more expressivebaby-boom cohort more expressive share similar eventsshare similar events

Affected by Affected by earlier relationsearlier relations culture culture

Senior Lifestyles


Friendships Friendships in Middle Adulthoodin Middle Adulthood

Gender trends continueGender trends continue men less expressive than womenmen less expressive than women

Fewer friends; more selectiveFewer friends; more selective

More complex ideas of friendshipMore complex ideas of friendship rely on for pleasure more than supportrely on for pleasure more than support

Invest more time, effort in friendsInvest more time, effort in friends


Vocational LifeVocational Life

Important component of satisfaction and Important component of satisfaction and self-esteemself-esteem trend to increase meaning in jobstrend to increase meaning in jobs improved job performance, low absenteeism, improved job performance, low absenteeism,

high productivityhigh productivity increased job satisfactionincreased job satisfaction

Negative stereotypes may hinder Negative stereotypes may hinder advancement.advancement.


Age-Related ChangeAge-Related Changein Job Satisfactionin Job Satisfaction

Figure 16.6


BurnoutBurnout

Result of long-term Result of long-term job stress job stress

overloadoverload common in helping common in helping

professionsprofessions

Linked toLinked to mental exhaustion; mental exhaustion;

attention, memory attention, memory problemsproblems

loss of personal loss of personal control, depressioncontrol, depression

physical illnessphysical illness reduced sense of reduced sense of

accomplishment, poor accomplishment, poor performance, performance, absenteeism, turnoverabsenteeism, turnover

Linked toLinked to mental exhaustion; mental exhaustion;

attention, memory attention, memory problemsproblems

loss of personal loss of personal control, depressioncontrol, depression

physical illnessphysical illness reduced sense of reduced sense of

accomplishment, poor accomplishment, poor performance, performance, absenteeism, turnoverabsenteeism, turnover


Career DevelopmentCareer Developmentin Middle Adulthood in Middle Adulthood

Limits to advancementLimits to advancement trainingtraining glass ceilingglass ceiling

Midlife career changesMidlife career changes few, not usually drasticfew, not usually drastic often for more relaxing careeroften for more relaxing career

UnemploymentUnemployment middle age and older most middle age and older most

affected by downsizingaffected by downsizing more stressful than for young more stressful than for young

adultsadults

Retirement planningRetirement planning

Meetings and Presentations


Influences on Influences on Interest in Job TrainingInterest in Job Training

PersonalPersonal desire to changedesire to change

growth vs. security needsgrowth vs. security needs co-workers, supervisorco-workers, supervisor stereotypesstereotypes

self-efficacyself-efficacy

JobJob challenging taskschallenging tasks co-workers, teamsco-workers, teams



The Glass CeilingThe Glass Ceiling

Figure 16.7


Coping with Coping with Midlife UnemploymentMidlife Unemployment

Problem-centered copingProblem-centered coping

Social supportSocial support from those who recognize abilities, share from those who recognize abilities, share

interests and valuesinterests and valuesCounselingCounseling

financial planningfinancial planning coping with stigmacoping with stigma developing flexibilitydeveloping flexibility

CounselingCounseling financial planningfinancial planning coping with stigmacoping with stigma developing flexibilitydeveloping flexibility



Ingredients in Effective Ingredients in Effective Retirement PlanningRetirement Planning

FinancesFinances

FitnessFitness

Role adjustmentRole adjustment

Where to liveWhere to live

Leisure activitiesLeisure activities

Volunteer activitiesVolunteer activities

Health insuranceHealth insurance

Legal affairsLegal affairs

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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 16 Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood