11: Adult Development and Ageing Flashcards
Describe Erikson’s theory of development?
- 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
What are the key stages in Erikson’s theory that concern adulthood?
- intimacy v isolation (young adulthood) –> love
- generativity v stagnation (midlife) –> care
- integrity v despair (late adulthood) –> wisdom
What is the crisis in early adulthood? Describe.
Intimacy v isolation
- being able to create relationships without the loss of oneself/be comfortable with intimacy & able to express love
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
love
What is the crisis in middle adulthood? Describe
Generativity v Stagnation
- about leaving something meaningful
- ego strength = care
What does successful development in mid adulthood provide?
an ability to generate/produce something to show care for others
What are the dimensions of generativity?
- drive to reproduce
- need to care and be needed by others
- urge for transcendence
- wishing for eudaemonic wellbeing
What is the central crisis in older-adulthood? Describe.
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
- 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?
Wisdom from resolving integrity/despair conflict
What is the difference between review and regret?
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
According to Stewart & Vandewater (1999) -
- 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
Some people believe that there is a possible ninth stage in Erikson’s development - what is this stage called? Describe it.
Gerotranscendence - about decreased concern for self and increased focus on the flow of life
- achieves SPIRITUALITY and FAITH
Describe any empirical support behind Erikson’s conflict stage of identity & intimacy?
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
In a sentence, what does the research conclude about the identity and intimacy stages of Erikson’s model?
There is general support for the existence of developmental crises but the exact chronological ages are uncertain
Describe any empirical support behind the generativity stage of Erikson’s model completed by McAdams
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