Theme 9Theme 9

DevelopmentDevelopment of of Personality in AdulthoodPersonality in Adulthood

Do Our Personalities Change or Do Our Personalities Change or Remain Stable During Adulthood Remain Stable During Adulthood and Old Age?and Old Age?

Models of Models of featuresfeatures Continuity Continuity

Models of Models of Discontinuity DiscontinuityDevelopment of “I”Development of “I” Models of life historiesModels of life histories

Models of FeaturesModels of Features Kansas City Study (Neugarten) Kansas City Study (Neugarten)

Stability in lifestyleStability in lifestyle, attitudes and emotions, attitudes and emotions Persona’s dominance declines beginning at 50 Persona’s dominance declines beginning at 50

years old years old Theory of disconnectionTheory of disconnection

Tendency towards androgynyTendency towards androgyny Strong paternal tendency in early adulthood (Gutman Strong paternal tendency in early adulthood (Gutman

1987)1987) Androginy depends on cultural factorsAndroginy depends on cultural factors

Modelos de rasgosModelos de rasgos Baltimore Study Baltimore Study (Costa & MacCrae)(Costa & MacCrae)

High stability has been found in the big five High stability has been found in the big five personality traits:personality traits: Neuroticism (emotional instability)Neuroticism (emotional instability) Extroversion - IntroversionExtroversion - Introversion ConscientiousnessConscientiousness Openness to experienceOpenness to experience AgreeablenessAgreeableness

Emotional Instability and AgeEmotional Instability and Age

Transverse studies• Neuroticism• Extroversion• Openness to experience• Agreeableness• Conscientiousness

Longitudinal Studies• = Neuroticism• = Extroversion• = Openness to experience• ? Agreeableness• ? Conscientiousness

Results of Studies Focused on Big Five Traits

Related to life events

Models of Development of “I”Models of Development of “I”

Models that emphasize goals and objectives as Models that emphasize goals and objectives as directing our behavior throughout life :directing our behavior throughout life :

The “I” as essence: self-conceptionThe “I” as essence: self-conception The “I” as action: adaptation and self-regulationThe “I” as action: adaptation and self-regulation

Criteria: Criteria: ContinuityContinuity Discriminative RelevanceDiscriminative Relevance Biographical significanceBiographical significance

Diverse ContentDiverse Content Many DimensionsMany Dimensions

The self conception does not worsen:The self conception does not worsen:

Negative affect decreases, as does positive affectNegative affect decreases, as does positive affect

A Paradox of Aging?A Paradox of Aging?

Posible “I”s Sense of Control

Self-esteem

The “I” as content: Self-Conception

Hedonic Wellbeing, Happiness, and AgeHedonic Wellbeing, Happiness, and Age

Stability in hedonic wellbeing; decline in eudaimonic wellbeingStability in hedonic wellbeing; decline in eudaimonic wellbeing

““I” as a Process: I” as a Process: Self-regulation and Self-regulation and Adaptation Adaptation

Processes which regulate personal resources Processes which regulate personal resources decide life’s trajectory decide life’s trajectory

Continuity and positive valuation of self-Continuity and positive valuation of self-conception are possibleconception are possible

J. Brandtstädter and the Theory of J. Brandtstädter and the Theory of the Action of Selfthe Action of Self

We look for coherence between our present We look for coherence between our present

self-conception and our goalsself-conception and our goals Two fundamental mechanisms:Two fundamental mechanisms:

Assimilation and AccommodationAssimilation and Accommodation

ImportanceImportance Perception of control

Perception of control

Paliative significance

Paliative significance

Development of “I” and AgingDevelopment of “I” and Aging

Assimilation and accommodation during aging Assimilation and accommodation during aging maintain levels of wellbeingmaintain levels of wellbeing

Assimilation declines with ageAssimilation declines with age Accommodation augments with ageAccommodation augments with age

Assimilation, Accommodation and Assimilation, Accommodation and Continuity of “I” Throughout Continuity of “I” Throughout

the Life Cyclethe Life Cycle Strategies of Assimilation:Strategies of Assimilation:

Compensative activities:Compensative activities: External influences, External influences, alternative activitiesalternative activities

Strategies of accommodation: Strategies of accommodation: Change in the standards of comparison:Change in the standards of comparison:

Changes in reference groupsChanges in reference groups Pessimistic vision of normal agingPessimistic vision of normal aging Change in the vision of personal trajectoryChange in the vision of personal trajectory

Assimilation, Accommodation, Regulation of Assimilation, Accommodation, Regulation of the Loss and Reorganization of Self-the Loss and Reorganization of Self-

ConceptionConception Strategies of Accommodation: Strategies of Accommodation:

Reassessment of goals:Reassessment of goals: Tamping of idealsOlder people are more satisfied with their roles and

activities than younger people.

Substitution of some goals for othersSubstitution of some goals for othersMore realistic goalsMore realistic goals

Changes in the priorities of life domains: health and Changes in the priorities of life domains: health and physical environment. physical environment.

Assimilation, Assimilation, Accommodation, and Accommodation, and

Growth of “I”Growth of “I”Model of stages: EriksonModel of stages: Erikson Intimacy vs. Isolation (6th stage) 20-35 añosIntimacy vs. Isolation (6th stage) 20-35 años

Emotional compromise or the achievement of intimacyEmotional compromise or the achievement of intimacy

Generative vs. Stationary (7th stage) 35-60Generative vs. Stationary (7th stage) 35-60

The search for transcendence The search for transcendence

Not limited to the adult yearsNot limited to the adult years

Integrity vs. Desperation (8th stage) 60-Integrity vs. Desperation (8th stage) 60-

Preparing to die, evaluating one’s life’s trajectoryPreparing to die, evaluating one’s life’s trajectory

GenerativityGenerativity and Age and Age

Assimilation, Assimilation, Accommodation, and the Accommodation, and the

Growth of “I”Growth of “I”GerotranscendenceGerotranscendence: : A quality that some people achieve in the last A quality that some people achieve in the last

decades of their livesdecades of their lives Connected to concepts like interiority, wisdom, and Connected to concepts like interiority, wisdom, and

integrityintegrity Three Dimensions:Three Dimensions:

Cosmic DimensionCosmic Dimension Dimension of SelfDimension of Self Social DimensionSocial Dimension

Levinson’s Model of StagesLevinson’s Model of Stages Empirical study of 40 middle aged men (The seasons of a Empirical study of 40 middle aged men (The seasons of a

Man’s Life, 1978)Man’s Life, 1978)

Focus on mid-life crisisFocus on mid-life crisis

Meticulous interviews about family life, work, meaningful Meticulous interviews about family life, work, meaningful relationships, compromises, etc. relationships, compromises, etc.

Structure of lifeStructure of life

Follow-up study with female subjectsFollow-up study with female subjects

Early Adult Transition: Age 17-22Early Adult Transition: Age 17-22

Era of early adulthood 17-45

Mid-Life Transition: Age 40-45Mid-Life Transition: Age 40-45

Culminating life structure for early adulthood 33-40Age 30 transition 26-23Entry life structure for early adulthood 22-28

Culminating life structure for early adulthood 33-40Age 30 transition 26-23Entry life structure for early adulthood 22-28

Era of late adulthood 60-?

Late Adult Transition: Age 60-65Late Adult Transition: Age 60-65

Culminating life structure for middle adulthood: 55-60Age 50 transition: 50-55Entry life structure for middle adulthood 45-50

Era of late adulthood 60-?Changes in Changes in the structure the structure of one’s lifeof one’s life

Levinson’s Model of StagesLevinson’s Model of Stages

Mid-Life CrisisMid-Life Crisis

Occurs in many adults during some part of Occurs in many adults during some part of middle agemiddle age

Can last 2-5 yearsCan last 2-5 years Involves changes in friends, family and workInvolves changes in friends, family and work Subjects display depressive and Subjects display depressive and

addictive symptoms; renewed addictive symptoms; renewed focus on physical selffocus on physical self

Models of Life HistoryModels of Life History A person looks to narrate his own history in order to understand

himself, those around him, and project himself into the future.

This process allows an individual to better grasp life’s events and the transitions that provoke changes in our persona; provides a sense of individuality.

It facilitates normative transitions

There is a tendency to maintain a positive life history

Models of Life HistoryModels of Life History

Provides support fundamental to our identity

Directive Function

Social Function

Some ConceptsSome Concepts Reminiscence

Making memories of the past

Life Reflection Source of growth Not of daily life but decisive moments

Revision of life Evaluative and therapeutic Necessary?

Some ConceptsSome Concepts Continuity or Stability

Evolutionary Transitions

Turning Points

Chance Encounters (Bandura)

Beginning of the accentuation of psychological characteristics