THE ADULT IN SOCIETYTHE ADULT IN SOCIETY

EARLY AND MIDDLE EARLY AND MIDDLE ADULTHOODADULTHOOD

THE WORLD OF WORKTHE WORLD OF WORK

THE LATER YEARSTHE LATER YEARS

LIFE IN SOCIETYLIFE IN SOCIETY► Socialization does not end Socialization does not end

with adolescence.with adolescence.► At every age, we are faced At every age, we are faced

with new experiences and with new experiences and new demands that affect the new demands that affect the ways that we view ourselves ways that we view ourselves and the society we live in.and the society we live in.

► Our first job, marriage, the Our first job, marriage, the birth of a first child, our first birth of a first child, our first home, triumphs and home, triumphs and disappointments, retirement, disappointments, retirement, and approaching death are all and approaching death are all events we experience.events we experience.

EARLY AND MIDDLE EARLY AND MIDDLE ADULTHOODADULTHOOD

► The life patterns of The life patterns of adult males and adult males and females in American females in American society are somewhat society are somewhat different.different.

► Almost 69% of women Almost 69% of women with children under with children under the age of 18 work at the age of 18 work at least part-time.least part-time.

► Men generally remain Men generally remain in the labor force for in the labor force for most of adulthood.most of adulthood.

ADULT MALE DEVELOPMENTADULT MALE DEVELOPMENT

► Psychologist Daniel Psychologist Daniel Levinson undertook an Levinson undertook an intensive study to intensive study to determine the adult male determine the adult male developmental stages.developmental stages.

► Life Structure- Life Structure- the the combination of statuses, combination of statuses, roles, activities, goals, roles, activities, goals, values, beliefs, and life values, beliefs, and life circumstances that circumstances that characterize an characterize an individual.individual.

17-22 Early Adult Transition

Early Adulthood Era

23-27 Entering the Adult World

28-32 Age 30 Transition

33-39 Settling Down Period

40-44 Midlife Transition

Middle AdulthoodEra

45-49 Entering Middle Adulthood

50-54 Age 50 Transition

55-59 Culmination of Middle Adulthood

60-64 Late Adult Transition Late AdulthoodEra65-75+ Late Adult Transition

EARLY ADULT TRANSITIONEARLY ADULT TRANSITION

► Ages 17-22Ages 17-22► Bridge between Bridge between

adolescence and adolescence and adulthood.adulthood.

► Breaking ties with Breaking ties with parents parents

► Moving out on your Moving out on your ownown

► CollegeCollege► Entering the Entering the

workforceworkforce

ENTERING THE ADULT WORLDENTERING THE ADULT WORLD

► Ages 23-27Ages 23-27► The individual is The individual is

expected to explore expected to explore a variety of a variety of relationship and relationship and career opportunities.career opportunities.

► Expected to become Expected to become a responsible a responsible member of society member of society and form a stable and form a stable life structure.life structure.

AGE 30 TRANSITIONAGE 30 TRANSITION

► Ages 28-32Ages 28-32►Difficult period for Difficult period for

many people as they many people as they look back on the look back on the choices they have choices they have mademade

►Divorce is commonDivorce is common► Vital phase for men to Vital phase for men to

make a place for make a place for themselves in the themselves in the adult world.adult world.

THE SETTLING DOWN PERIODTHE SETTLING DOWN PERIOD► Ages 33-39Ages 33-39► Major task is what Levinson Major task is what Levinson

called “making it” in the adult called “making it” in the adult worldworld

► Form commitments to things Form commitments to things such as work, family, leisure, such as work, family, leisure, friendship, and community.friendship, and community.

► Mentor-Mentor- someone who fosters someone who fosters an individual’s development an individual’s development by believing in the person, by believing in the person, sharing dreams, and helping sharing dreams, and helping them to achieve those dreamsthem to achieve those dreams

During the age 30 transition and settling

down periods, young men often seek older role

models for advice and guidance.

THE MIDLIFE TRANSITIONTHE MIDLIFE TRANSITION

► Ages 40-44Ages 40-44► Bridge between early Bridge between early

and middle adulthoodand middle adulthood► Individuals often Individuals often

question their life question their life structures. structures.

► For about 80% of the For about 80% of the subjects in Levinson’s subjects in Levinson’s study, this was a study, this was a period of moderate to period of moderate to severe crisis.severe crisis.

ADULT FEMALE DEVELOPMENTADULT FEMALE DEVELOPMENT► Levinson Levinson

suggested that his suggested that his findings were findings were equally valid for equally valid for women.women.

► Three stages Three stages include:include:Leaving the Family

Entering the Adult WorldEntering the Adult World Again

LEAVING THE FAMILYLEAVING THE FAMILY

► Involves leaving Involves leaving home, making a home, making a psychological break psychological break from parents, and from parents, and developing a life plan.developing a life plan.

► Emphasis less on Emphasis less on career and more on career and more on marriage.marriage.

► Even when combined, Even when combined, the marriage tends to the marriage tends to take priority over take priority over career.career.

ENTERING THE ADULT WORLDENTERING THE ADULT WORLD

► Age at first marriage in the Age at first marriage in the U.S. has been rising since U.S. has been rising since 1960. 1960.

► Today the average age is 27 Today the average age is 27 for men and 25 for women.for men and 25 for women.

► Most women marry and have Most women marry and have their first child in their their first child in their twenties.twenties.

► Many women find Many women find motherhood and a career to motherhood and a career to be a workable combination, be a workable combination, but it is often an added strain.but it is often an added strain.

ENTERING THE ADULT ENTERING THE ADULT WORLD AGAINWORLD AGAIN

► Once their Once their children reach children reach school age, many school age, many mothers who left mothers who left the labor force the labor force again seek again seek employment.employment.

► Fewer obligations Fewer obligations at home make it at home make it possible for them possible for them to actively pursue to actively pursue career goalscareer goals

THE WORLD OF WORKTHE WORLD OF WORK

► Work is an important Work is an important aspect of adult life. aspect of adult life.

► If you begin working at If you begin working at age 18 and retire at age age 18 and retire at age 65, you will have spent 47 65, you will have spent 47 years in the labor force.years in the labor force.

► Labor Force- Labor Force- consists of consists of all individuals age 16 and all individuals age 16 and older who are employed older who are employed in paid positions or who in paid positions or who are seeking paid are seeking paid employment.employment.

COMPOSITION OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE LABOR FORCELABOR FORCE

► The composition of the The composition of the American labor force is American labor force is changing.changing.

► In 1970, women made up In 1970, women made up 38% of the labor force. In 38% of the labor force. In 2000, it was 47%.2000, it was 47%.

► Profession-Profession- high status high status occupation that requires occupation that requires specialized skills obtained specialized skills obtained through formal education.through formal education.

► Women now hold about Women now hold about half of the professional half of the professional jobs in the United States.jobs in the United States.

UNEMPLOYMENTUNEMPLOYMENT

► Unemployment-Unemployment- the the situation that occurs situation that occurs when a person does when a person does not have a job but is not have a job but is seeking employment.seeking employment.

► Unemployment Rate- Unemployment Rate- the percentage of the the percentage of the civilian labor force that civilian labor force that is unemployed but is unemployed but seeking employmentseeking employment

► In the United States the In the United States the unemployment rate unemployment rate hovers around 5%.hovers around 5%.

Executive, Administrative, Managerial

Business executives, office managers, sales managers, credit managers, personnel managers, public relations, store managers

Professional Specialty Doctors, lawyers, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, engineers, vets, social workers, teachers, accountants

Technical Lab technicians, dental hygienists, medical assistant, nurse, x-ray technicians

Sales Retail sales, insurance sales, real-estate agents

Administrative Support Bookkeepers, office clerks, secretaries, cashiers, telephone operators, postal workers, bank workers

Service Cooks, butlers, nursemaids

Precision Production, Craft, Repair Workers

Mechanics, dressmakers, tailors, printers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, concrete workers

Operators, Fabricators, and Laborers

Packagers, welders, heavy equipment operators, freight handlers

Farming, Forestry, and Fishing

Farm owners, lumberjacks, fishers, hunters, and trappers

Transportation Truck and bus drivers

THE LATER YEARSTHE LATER YEARS

► Improved health care Improved health care has enabled more and has enabled more and more people around the more people around the world to live longer than world to live longer than ever before.ever before.

► Gerontology-Gerontology- the the scientific study of the scientific study of the processes and processes and phenomena of agingphenomena of aging

► Young-OldYoung-Old 65 to 74 65 to 74► Middle-OldMiddle-Old 75 to 84 75 to 84► Old-OldOld-Old 85 and older 85 and older