Ch 11: Middle Adulthood Flashcards
Why was early 1900’s not the study of middle adulthood?
lifespan/life expectancy has increased
Define midlife crisis
A time to reexamine lives, relationships, work, questions of the meaning of it all
The beginning of middle adulthood is a time to
think about life and reexamine social roles and responsibilities; possible triggers into this level of thinking (death of a close loved one); not so clear and concrete as some of the other stages
The central theme of middle adulthood
a time of consolidation and refinement; individuals tend to reassess their life goals in comparison with accomplishments they have obtained; beginning in the decline of physical development; continuing development: intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual
middle-aged clients often examine
expectations, dreams, accomplished and unaccomplished personal goals
outward changes in middle adulthood
physical appearance; aging process; age spots, thinning and graying hair, wrinkles, diminished eyesight, hearing loss, etc.
internal changes in middle adulthood
decline in major internal organs
physical changes for women during middle adulthood
menopause between 42-51; end of reproduction, decline in estrogen production (hormone changes-hot flashes, nausea, fatigue)
physical changes for men during middle adulthood
testosterone production declines 1% per year; sperm count declines, no loss of fertility; “male menopause” (more psychological)
define primary aging
changes that are inevitable and happen to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, SES
define secondary aging
changes caused by unhealthy behaviors (smoking, substance abuse, unhealthy eating, obesity, lack of exercise)
T/F: A healthy life can slow down negative physical changes related to middle adulthood
T; depends on life style behaviors
cognitive changes in middle adulthood
decline of cognitive resources; cognitively demanding activities; high levels of cognitive performance;
cognitive decline in middle adulthood
numerical ability and perceptual speed
cognitive improvement in middle adulthood
vocab, verbal memory, inductive reasoning
anxieties of middle adulthood result largely from difficulties in
balancing multiple roles and navigating through predictable and sudden role transitions
result of too many demands and expectations to be handled in the time allowed
role overload
occurs when the demands and expectations of various roles conflict with each other
role conflict
occurs when the demands of or pre-occupations with one’s role interfere with the ability to carry out another role
role spillover
four processes to focus on to clarify issues and find possible solutions in balancing life, family work
clarifying values
setting realistic goals and expectations
setting priorities and managing time
letting go and understand control
aside from family ___ is the most important domain for middle adulthood
career
with increased life expectancy there is also the opportunities for midlife
career changes; when desired and successful can support healthy middle adulthood development
work activities/goals may change for at least five reasons
- some careers end
- adults resolve conflicts between job demands and personal goals
- some individuals realize that they have succeeded as much as possible in a given career
- women may decide to withdraw from work due to parenting roles and re-enter the workforce later
- with the restructuring of the workforce, some workers are laid off and are unable to find work in the same field
what is midlife transition
opportunity to stop and reflect on what was, in light of what was hoped for, and implications for what is next; a time to adjust to lifestyles to fit better with emotional needs; deeper possibility to achieve dreams
a time of questioning every choice that was made
midlife crisis
midlife transition bridges two major eras of life ___ and ___ is a crucial period that impacts a person’s career, family and self
early adulthood and middle adulthood
describes the neurotic disturbances of adults as the common desire to prolong youth and restrain oneself from crossing the threshold into maturity
Jung’s neurotic crisis
feelings during a midlife crisis
depression, loss of interest in once important things, feeling a need for adventure or change in behavior, anger and blame, inability to make decisions about future, desire of new intimate relationships
The challenge is to decide where to direct one’s energies, either toward self (____) or toward improving life conditions for future generations (____) –Erikson stage
stagnation; generativity
components of generativity (Erikson)
a concern to establish and guide next generation; closely linked to parenting, teaching, mentoring; can benefit all people; care for someone or something
components of stagnation (Erikson)
lethargic stance toward the world; no longer participating in society and ceases to be productive; interested in themselves and own needs; no interest in others and don’t care about making the world a better place
In counseling stagnation has been referred to as
self-absorption (care for no one except self)
extreme level of stagnation defined as the unwillingness to include specific individuals or groups in one’s generative concern; one does not care to care for anyone
rejectivity
commonly seen as stagnation in employment
same job for a long time; feel threatened by younger workers; stuck in a routine job; passed over for promotion and leadership
an ongoing process of development as we are exposed to more and different sets of beliefs and values and may choose to adopt ones that were not part of our original upbringing
cultural identity; constantly influenced by the interaction among and between people, environment, and society
culture is ____ (not static) and consists of a combination of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior patterns that are shared by racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups of people
dynamic
cultivating an open attitude and acquiring new skills and it involved exploring and honoring our own culture while learning about and honoring other people’s cultures
cultural responsiveness; its a lifelong journey and part of ethical standards for counselors
a combination of education, occupation, and income and accumulated assets that n individual may possess
SES
T/F: individuals have a sense of their position relative to others on the social ladder
T; paying attention to the individuals SES is important to understand stressors and other related concerns
There is a ____ correlation between SES and depression that strengthens during the phases of middle adulthood
positive
covert discrimination is associated with
lower job satisfaction, reduced life satisfaction, multiple health problems, depression, general anxiety
framework for multicultural practice
awareness of own assumptions, values and biases; understand the worldview of the culturally different client; developing appropriate intervention strategies and techniques
cultural humility
never will be culturally competent, but will be humble in my own culture and go to lengths of learning and accepting others without biases
steps to counselor self-awarenses
think about yourself; identify the values of the dominant culture; examine alternative value orientations
type of stress that is due to physical evidences of aging
somatic stress
stress that stems from the high value placed on out, vigor, and success by the cultural group
cultural stress
stress that results from the financial burden of educating children and providing stats symbols for all family members
economic stress
stress that may be the result of the death of a spouse, the departure of children from the home, boredom with marriage, or a sense of lost youth and approaching death
psychological stress
for women the stressors build in their 40s
menopause, physiological changes, children leaving the home
for men the stressors build in their 50s
imminence of retirement with its necessary role changes
