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Developmental Psychology > 11: Adult Development and Ageing > Flashcards

11: Adult Development and Ageing Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe Erikson’s theory of development?

A
  • stage theory
  • qualitative changes
  • certain emotional conflicts more emphasised at each sensitive period
  • resolving more stages = increased ego strength
  • not resolving one stage may impact others - can also revisit stages
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2
Q

What are the key stages in Erikson’s theory that concern adulthood?

A
  • intimacy v isolation (young adulthood) –> love
  • generativity v stagnation (midlife) –> care
  • integrity v despair (late adulthood) –> wisdom
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3
Q

What is the crisis in early adulthood? Describe.

A

Intimacy v isolation

- being able to create relationships without the loss of oneself/be comfortable with intimacy & able to express love

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4
Q

what ego strength comes out these attitudes:

  • I am ok and others are too
  • Others can generally be trusted
  • life can be difficult but through mutual interdependence we can make it
A

love

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5
Q

What is the crisis in middle adulthood? Describe

A

Generativity v Stagnation

  • about leaving something meaningful
  • ego strength = care
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6
Q

What does successful development in mid adulthood provide?

A

an ability to generate/produce something to show care for others

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7
Q

What are the dimensions of generativity?

A
  • drive to reproduce
  • need to care and be needed by others
  • urge for transcendence
  • wishing for eudaemonic wellbeing
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8
Q

What is the central crisis in older-adulthood? Describe.

A

Integrity v despair

  • comes as a result of introspection//a sense of coherence in one’s life
  • finding meaning in past experiences
  • ego strength: wisdom
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9
Q
  • I have much to be thankful for
  • I am in control of my life
  • I accept myself for who I am & others for who they are

What is the person above demonstrating?

A

Wisdom from resolving integrity/despair conflict

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10
Q

What is the difference between review and regret?

A

Review is the process of looking back on your life whereas regret is an emotional state.
This emotional state can lead to rumination, which may motivate us to change our lives and our interpretations. Which may be a reflection of our situation/disposition

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11
Q

According to Stewart & Vandewater (1999) -

A
  • acknowledging regrets may begin in early middle age (ie. earlier than Erikson thought)
  • may lead to revisiting conflicts
  • may motivate goal setting
    BUT if changes are NOT FOLLOWED through, can lead to unhappiness
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12
Q

Some people believe that there is a possible ninth stage in Erikson’s development - what is this stage called? Describe it.

A

Gerotranscendence - about decreased concern for self and increased focus on the flow of life
- achieves SPIRITUALITY and FAITH

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13
Q

Describe any empirical support behind Erikson’s conflict stage of identity & intimacy?

A

Yes. Sneed (2006) and Whitbourne et al. (2012) completed a longitudinal study over 34 years and found that:

  • identity development occurred in 20s
  • identity development CONTINUED throughout late 20s and early 30s
  • resolving identity & intimacy predicted a healthier midlife
  • ego integrity increased from 31-54 years of age
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14
Q

In a sentence, what does the research conclude about the identity and intimacy stages of Erikson’s model?

A

There is general support for the existence of developmental crises but the exact chronological ages are uncertain

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15
Q

Describe any empirical support behind the generativity stage of Erikson’s model completed by McAdams

A

McAdams & Colleagues created the Loyola Generativity Scale, Generative Behaviour Checklist and asked people about their generative work.
Found that:
- generativity was positively correlated w life satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem, sense of coherence, midlife wellbeing
- negatively correlated with depression and neuroticism

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16
Q

Describe any empirical support behind the generativity stage of Erikson’s model completed by Westermeyer (2004; 2013)

A

studied men from 21-69 years old and found:

  • 56% were successfully generative by midlife
  • generativity was predicted by earlier warm families, mentors, friendships (earlier stages completion) at 53 - also present at 69 but to a lesser extent
  • strongly related to career success
  • increasing physical health problems =/= increasing mental health problems
17
Q

Is there cross-cultural support for generativity?

A

Yes, Cheng (2009) used a HK sample at 2 time points, 1 year apart in older adults and found

  • the effects of generative action were mediated by PERCEIVED respect
  • generativity leads to higher wellbeing
  • people will not continue to be generative if they feel it won’t be valued
18
Q

Describe the current research regarding the link between ego integrity, personality and mood.

A

Westermeyer, Bohlmeijer & McAdams (2017)
- cross sectional study of dutch adults aged 5-95
Found that:
- Wellbeing mediated the association between extraversion/OTE and integrity
- Ego integrity is related to our mental health
- higher levels of rumination found in more neurotic people predicted despair

19
Q

How does ego integrity relate to forgiveness and mood?

A

Derdaile, Toussaint, Thauvoye & Dezutter (2019) studied elderly people (MA= 87) and found that:

  • FORGIVING is predictive of achievement of integrity
  • forgiveness increases with age
  • forgiveness predicted lower levels of depression
  • deep introspection and review can lead to integrity
20
Q

How are ego integrity and self compassion related?

A

AUSTRALIAN study by Phillips & Ferguson

  • Adults over 65
  • found that self compassion was related to ego integrity, PA, NA, and meaning in life (indicators of successful ageing)
21
Q

Strengths of Erikson’s theory

A
  • provided framework for studying adult development
  • focused on healthy dev., not pathology
  • integrates social structures as well
  • emphasises importance of healthy ego development
  • provided framework for psych. interventions
  • understands why ppl struggle with identity crises
  • allows us to understand the tension between persons and society
22
Q

Limitations of Erikson’s psychosocial theory

A
  • theory is largely descriptive
  • needs more empirical support (which generally does not support rigid chronological age structure of theory)
  • too much emphasis on the ‘individual’
  • culture bound
23
Q

How did Valliant revise Erikson’s theory?

A

Added further stages so that it would be more accurate with work demands:

  • intimacy
  • career consolidation ***
  • generativity
  • ‘keeper of the meaning’ - holding onto meaning
  • integrity
24
Q

what is the difference between a life course model and a life cycle model?

A
  • life course model is influenced by social, cultural, historical factors (eg. Neugarten timing of events)
  • life cycle models are set stages unfolding

Developmental Psychology (11 decks)

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