chapter 14; socioemotional development in middle adulthood Flashcards
whose two prominent theories define stages of adult development
Erik Erikson’s life span view and Daniel Levinson’s seasons of a man’s life
what is the name of the seventh stage in Erik Erikson’s lifespan theory where he proposed middle aged adults face a significant issue
generativity versus stagnation
what is generativity according to Erik Erikson’s seventh stage
adult’s desire to leave legacies to the next generation
what is stagnation
+
what is it sometimes called
develop when individuals sense that they have done little or nothing for the next generation
+
“self absorption”
what do generative adults commit themselves to
the continuation and improvement of society as a whole through their connection to the next generation
when generative adults develop a positive legacy of the self, what do they do
offer it as a gift to the next generation
what are the ways middle aged adults can achieve generativity
- biological generativity
(having offspring) - parental generativity
(nurture and guide children) - work generativity
(develop skills that are passed down to others) - cultural generativity
(create, renovate, or conserve some aspect of culture that ultimately survives)
through generativity, adults promote and guide the next generation by parenting, […], […], and […] things that benefit the community
teaching
leading
doing
in Erikson’s theory is generativity an important dimension of middle age
yes
in a longitudinal study of Smith College women, did the desire for generativity increase or decrease as the participants aged from their thirties to their fifties
increased
in one study, what did Carol Ruff (1984) find when examining the view of women and men at different ages regarding generativity
that middle aged adults especially were concerned about generativity
was generativity strongly linked to middle aged adult’s positive or negative social engagement in contexts such as family life and community activities
positive
in achievement of generativity in middle age is it related to better health in late adulthood for male or females
males
participating in an intergenerational civic engagement program enhanced older adult’s …
perceptions of generativity
what was a higher level of generatively in midlife link to
greater wisdom in late adulthood
what did clinical psychologist Daniel Levinson (1978) focus on in The Seasons of a Man’s Life
midlife change in men
what did Daniel Levinson in The Seasons of a Man’s Life describe
a number of stages and transitions during the period from 17 to 65 years of age
what did Daniel Levinson emphasize about developmental tasks
must be mastered at each stage
what are Daniel Levinson’s three main stages, that are surrounded by transition periods
early adult transition 17 to 22
culminating life structure for midlife: 33 to 40.
age 30 transition: 28 to 33.
entry life structure for early adulthood 22 to 28
middle adult transition 40 to 45
culminating life structure for midlife: 55 to 60.
age 50 transition: 50 to 55.
entry life structure for midlife: 45 to 50
late adult transition 60 to 65
era of late adulthood: 60 to ?
how is the transition from dependence to independence at the end of one’s teens marked by in Daniel Levinson’s Seasons of a Man’s Life
formation of a dream-an image of the kind of the kind of life the youth wants to have, especially in terms of a career and marriage
what does Daniel Levinson see the twenties as
novice phase of adult development
time of reasonably free experimentation and of testing the dream in the real world
what are the two major tasks to be mastered in early adulthood according to Daniel Levinson
exploring the possibilities for adult living and developing a stable life structure
What ages must the man face the more serious questions of determining his goals in their transition periods
From 28 to 23
during the thirties what does a man usually focus on in the transition period according to Daniel Levinson
usually focus on family and career development
laters years - enter phase of BOOM (Becoming One’s Own Man)
by age 40, what do men reach in Daniel Levinson’s transition period
stable point in his career, has outgrown his earlier, more tenuous attempts at learning to become an adult, and now must look forward to the kind of life he will lead as a middle aged adult
what are the conflicts of transition to middle adulthood
- Being young versus being old
- Being destructive versus being constructive
- Being masculine versus being feminine
- Being attached to others versus being separated from them
what did seventy to 80 percent of men that Levinson interviewed find about the midlife transition
tumultuous and psychologically painful, as many aspects of their lives came in to question
according to Levinson, what does the success of the midlife transition rest on
how effectively the individual reduces the polarities and accepts each of them as an integral part of his being
Daniel Levinson (1978) view midlife as a crisis, believing that the middle aged adult is suspended between the […] and the […], trying to cope with this gap that threatens life […]
past
future
continuity
what is George Vaillant (1977) different view than Daniel Levinson’s pervasive midlife crisis
“Grant Study”
involved men who were in their early thirties and in their late forties who initially had been interviewed as undergraduates at Harvard University
what did George Valiant conclude in his “Grant Study” about the forties when just as adolescence being a time for detecting parental flaws and discovering the truth about childhood,
a decade of reassessing and recording the truth about adolescence and adult years
does George vaillant also believe as Daniel Levinson about seeing midlife as a crisis
no, only a minority of adults experience a midlife crisis
does happiness and positive affect have an upward trajectory from early adulthood to late adulthood
yes
in the early version of the life events approach, life events were viewed as taxing circumstances for individuals, forcing them to change their […]
personality
e.g
death of a spouse
divorce
marriage
involve varying degrees of stress
what were stressful life events associated with in midlife women
cardiovascular disease in middle aged women
what is there an association in between stressful life events and types of diseases
autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis
what do contemporary life events approach emphasize
how life events influence the individual’s development depends not only on the life event itself but also on medicating factors (e.g. physical health, family supports),
the individuals adaption to the life event (e.g. appraisal of the threat, coping strategies) the life stage context, and the sociohistorical context
(medicating factors, adaption to the life event, life stage context, sociohistorical context)
whatever the context or mediating variables are, do all individuals perceive a life events as highly stressful
no, another individual may perceive the same event as a challenge
what is one significant drawback about the life events approach
places too much emphasis on change
what is another drawback on the life events approach
failure to recognize that our daily experiences may be the primary sources of stress in our lives
what are some of the individual variations in life events in 1/3 of cases where individuals report experiencing a midlife crisis`
- Triggered by life events such as job loss, financial problems, or illness
middle aged adults interpret shape, alter, and give meaning to
their lives
what were stressful daily hassles linked to an increase and decrease of
increased anxiety and decreased physical well being
what did Margie Lachlan and her colleagues (2015) describe about personal control
changes when individuals move into middle age
Margie Lachlan and her colleagues view middle age as a time of when a person’s sense of control is frequently […] by many […] and […], as well as physical and cognitive aging
challenged
demands
responsibilities
according to Margie Lachlan and her colleagues, young people are more likely to have a sense of […], an unrealistic view of their personal control, and a […] of awareness regarding the aging process
invulnerability
lack
in middle age, is more or less attention given to self pursuits and more or less for others, including family members who are younger and older than they are
less
more
according to Margie Lachlan and her colleagues, how middle adulthood plays out is largely due to
one’s own hands, which can be stressful as individuals are faced with taking on and juggling responsibilities in different areas of their lives
did young and middle aged adults or older adults have more stressful days
young and middle aged adults
Middle-aged adults experience more overload stressors that involve
juggling too many activities at once
Some aspects of personal control […] with age while others […]
increase
(e.g. finances, work, marriage)
decrease
(e.g. sex life, children)
the older the women is, the more or fewer stressors and more or less frequent negative emotions was reported
fewer
less
what was a greater emotional reactivity to daily stressors linked to increase 10 years later
chronic physical health condition and anxiety/mood disorders
researchers have found that on average a sense of personal control […] in midlife and then […]
peaks
declines
what does having a sense of control in middle age as one of the most important modifiable factors in delaying
the onset of disease in middle adulthood and reducing the frequency of disease in late adulthood
to what do women experience higher levels of stress when things go wrong in their
romantic and marital relationships
are men or women more likely to become depressed when they encounter stressful life events such as divorce or the death of a friend
women
when coping with stress were men or women more likely to seek psychotherapy, talk to friends about the stress, read a self help book, take prescription medication, and engage in comfort eating
women
when coping with stress were men or women more likely o to attend a support group meeting, have sex or use pornography, try to fix problems themselves, and not admit to having problems
men
what is the fight or flight
type of behavior men engage in when they experience stress
such as;
become aggressive
socially withdraw
or drink alcohol
what is tend and befriend
type of behavior women engage in when they experience stress
such as;
seek social alliances with others. esp. friends
what does Shelley Taylor argue of when a women experiences stress,
their bodies produce elevated levels of the hormone oxytocin, which is liked to nurturing in animals
what are the three longitudinal studies that will help us understand the extent to which there is stability or change in adult personality development
- Costa and McCrae’s Baltimore Study
- The Berkeley Longitudinal Studies
- the Vaillant’s studies
what are Paul Costa and Robert McCrae’s “big five” factors of personality (OCEAN)
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism (emotional stability)
what is ‘Openness’ in Paul Costa and Robert McCrae’s Big Five factors of personality
- imaginative or practical
- interested in variety or routine
- independent or conforming
what is ‘Conscientiousness’ in Paul Costa and Robert McCrae’s Big Five factors or personality
- organized or disorganized
- careful or careless
- disciplined or impulsive
what is ‘Extraversion’ in Paul Costa and Robert McCrae’s Big Five factors of personality
- sociable or retiring
- fun loving or somber
- affectionate or reserved
what is ‘agreeableness’ in Paul Costa and Robert McCrae’s Big Five factors or personality
- soft hearted or ruthless
- trusting or suspicious
- helpful or uncooperative
what is ‘Neuroticism (emotional stability)’ in Paul Costa and Robert McCrae’s Big Five factors or personality
- calm or anxious
- secure or insecure
- self satisfied or self pitying
Costa and McCrae concluded that considerable […] exists across the adult years for the five personality factors
stability
when do most research studies find the greatest changes in personality occur in
early adulthood
which of the big five factors or personality were lower in early adulthood, peaked between 40 and 60 years of age, and decreased in late adulthood
Neuroticism (emotional stability)
extraversion
openness
and agreeableness
which from the big five factors of personality showed a continuous increase from early adulthood to late adulthood
conscientiousness
how are the big five factors of personality related to maker aspects of a person’s life such as health, intelligence, achievement, and relationships
- openness to experience
- conscientiousness
- extraversion
- agreeableness
- neuroticism
how does ‘openness to experience’ relate to health, intelligence, achievement, and relationships’
- superior cognitive function, achievement, and IQ across the life span
- show creative achievement in the arts
- experience less negative affect to stressor
- have better health and well being
- more likely to eat fruits and vegetables
how doe ‘conscientiousness’ relate to health, intelligence, achievement, and relationships
- likely to live longer
- better health and less stress
- less likely to have an alcohol addiction
- experience less cognitive decline in aging
- more successful at accomplishing goals
- more likely to perform well academically in medical school
- less likely to be addicted to Instagram
how does ‘extraversion’ relate to health, intelligence, achievement, and relationships
- more likely than others to be satisfied in relationships
- show less negative affect to stressors
- have more positive sense of well being in the future
how does ‘agreeableness’ relate to health, intelligence, achievement, and relationships
- tend to live longer
- more likely to be generous and altruistic
- more satisfying romantic relationships
- more positive affect to stressors
- lower risk of dementia
how does ‘neuroticism’ relate to heath, intelligence, achievement, and relationships
- more likely to die at a younger age than average
- worse health and report having more health complaints
- more likely to be drug dependent
- higher risk of coronary heart disease
- lower sense of well being 40 years later
is optimism linked to better or worse adjustment, decreased or improved health, and increased or reduced longevity
better
improved
increased
what mood and symptoms do college students who were more pessimistic show
anxious mood
stress symptoms
what did adults who were 50 years of age and older reveal of being optimistic an having an optimistic spouse to be associated with
better health and physical functioning
for married couples the worst health outcomes occurred when both spouses decreased in […] across a four year time frame
optimism
what did having a higher level of optimism following an acute coronary event link to
engaging in more physical activity and having fewer cardiac readmissions
what did lonely individuals who were optimistic have lower than their counterparts who were more pessimistic
suicide risk
the positive influence of optimism on outcomes for people with chronic diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease) may reflect either or both of the following factors:
- a direct effect on the neuroendocrine system and on immune system function and
- an indirect effect on health outcomes as a result of proactive health behaviors, adaptive coping strategies, and enhanced positive mood
what were the most stable characteristics in Berkeley Longitudinal Studies
- intellectually oriented
- self confident
- and open to new experiences
what were the characteristics that changed the most in Berkeley’s Longitudonal Studies
- the extent to which the individuals were nurturant or hostile
and - whether they had strong or weak self control
in the Berkeley Longitudinal Studies, were the extremes in the stability change argument supported or not
no supported
according to the cumulative personality model of personality development do people get better or worse at interacting in ways that promote stability with their environment as they age
better
according to the cumulative personality model of personality develop, is there more or less stability in personality at midlife
more
George Vaillant’s three longitudinal studies were
conducted on sample of
- 268 socially advantaged Harvard graduates born about 1920
- 456 socially disadvantaged inner-city men born about 1930
- 90 middle-SES, intellectually gifted women born about 1910
what were the best predictors at age 50 to end up dead at 75 to 80 years old
alcohol abuse and smoking
facts at age 50 that were linked with being in the “happy well” category at age 75 to 80 years of age:
- getting regular exercise
- avoiding being overweight
- being well educated
- having a stable marriage
- being future oriented
- being thankful and forgiving
- empathizing with others,
- being active with other people
- having good coping skills
were wealth and income at age 50 linked with being in the “happy-well” category at 75 to 80 years of age
no
generativity in middle age (defined in this study as “taking care of the next generation”) was more strongly related than intimacy to
whether individuals would have an enduring and happy marriage at 75 to 80 years of age
In the results for one of Vaillant’s studies, the Grant Study of Harvard men, indicated that when individuals 50 years of age were not heavy smokers, did not abuse alcohol, had a stable marriage, exercised, maintained a normal weight, and had good coping skills, were more likely to
be alive and happy at 75 to 80 years of age
what did Avshalom Caspi and Brent Roberts (2001) conclude of the evidence not supporting
does not support the view that personality traits become completely fixed at a certain age in adulthood
what do Avshalom Capsi and Brent Roberts (2001), however, argue that change
is typically limited, and in some cases the changes in personality are small
Avshalom Caspi ad Brent Roberts (2001)say that age is positively related to
stability and that stability peaks in the fifties and sixties
people show greater stability in their personality when they reach […] than when they were […] adults
midlife
younger
what is a cumulative personality model of development, states that with time and age
people become more adept at interacting with their environment in ways that promote stability of personality
can social contexts, new experiences, and sociohistorical changes affect personality development
yes
what did Capsi and Roberts (2001) conclude that as people get older, stability increasingly […] change
outweighs
what was the personality that changed the most as a result of psychotherapy intervention
was emotional stability, followed by extraversion
between individuals with anxiety disorders and those with substance use disorders, whose personality traits changed the most
anxiety
over time, “people become more confident, warm, […], and […]
responsible
calm
such positive changes equate with becoming more socially […]
mature
recent research contradicts the old view that stability in personality begins to set in at about […] years of age
30
at the individual level pole can show […] patterns of personality traits- and these patterns often reflect life experiences related to themes for their particular developmental period
unique
researchers have found that individuals who are in a stable marriage and on a solid career track become more
socially dominant, conscientious, and emotionally stable as they go through early adulthood
for some individuals, there is greater change in their
personality traits than for other individuals
what are close relationships
- Love and marriage at midlife
- The empty nest and its refilling
- Sibling relationships and friendships
- Grandparenting
- Intergenerational relationships
what are the two major forms of love
romantic and affectionate love
what fire burns strongly in early adulthood
romantic love
what types of love increases during midlife
affectionate, or companionate
physical attraction, romance, and passion are more important in
new relationships, especially those begun in early adulthood
what becomes more important as relationships mature, especially in midlife
security, loyalty, and mutual emotional interest
did marital satisfaction increase or decrease in middle age
increase
even some marriages that were difficult and rocky during early adulthood;
become more stable during middle adulthood
in middle adulthood do the partners have more or fewer financial worries, more or less housework and chores, and more or less time with each other
fewer
less
more
if middle aged partners engage in mutual activities are they more or less likely to view their marriage as positive
more
do middle aged married individuals have a higher or lower likelihood of work related health limitations
lower
what does having a positive marital quality for middle aged adults link to regarding health for both spouses
better health
are most individuals in midlife who are married voice considerable satisfaction with being married
yes
72% - “ excellent” or “very good”
by middle age, have many of the worst marriages remained or dissolved
dissolved
has the divorce rates for young adults increased or decreased
decreased
have the divorce rates for midlife adults increased or decreased
increased
what is “gray divorce”
the trend toward increasing rates of divorce after age 50. in reference to marital breakups that occur in this age group
have women had a role in the increasing of middle age divorce
one explanation’
- the changing view of women
- initiation approx. 60% of divorces after 40 years of age
compared with earlier decades, has stigma had more or less stigma (shame) for women, and are they more or less likely to leave an unhappy marriage
less
more
are more or less women employed and are they more or less dependent on their husband’s income
more
less
is there an increase or decrease in remarriages
increase
divorce rate; 2 1/2 times as high as it is for those in first marriages
in a survey by AARP (2004). why were 40 to 79 year olds who were divorced at least once in their forties, fifties, or sixties staying married hence taking a long time to get divorced
because of their children
despite the worry and stress involved in going through a divorce, what did three fourths of the divorcees say
they had made the right decision to dissolve their marriage and reported a positive outlook on life
what were the divorced women much more afraid of when divorcing
having financial problems
what are the main causes for women to divorce their partner
- verbal, physical, or emotional abuse (23%)
- alcohol or drug abuse (18%)
- cheating (17%)
what are the main causes for men to divorce their partner
- No obvious problems, just fell out of love (17%)
- cheating (14%)
- different values, lifestyles (14%)
what are factors that were not linked to divorce in older adults
onset of an empty next, the wife’s or husband’s retirement, and whether the wife or husband had a chronic health condition
what are the “gray divorce” factors in young adults that also reflect divorces among adults 50 yeas and older
- married fewer years
- marriage was of lower quality (e.g. less marital satisfaction)
- did not own a home
- had financial problems
in a recent Swiss study of middle aged adults, were divorcees more or less lonely and more or less resilient than their married and remarried counterparts.
did single divorcees have the highest or lowest self rated health
more
less
lowest
what is the empty nest syndrome
decrease in marital satisfaction after children leave the home
does marital satisfaction increase or decline for most parents after children have left the home
does not decline
why for most parents, marital satisfaction increases during the years after child rearing has ended
- marital partners have more time to pursue careers and other interest and more time for each other
- increase in the quality of time, but not the quantity of time
why might the refilling of the empty nest become a common occurrence in today, as adult children return to the family home after several years of college, after graduating from college, or to save money after taking a full-time job
due to uncertain economic climate
may young adults move back in with their parents after an unsuccessful career or a divorce
yes
why may individuals not leave home at all until their middle to late twenties
because they cannot financially support themselves
what are “boomerang kids’ and “B2B (Back-to-Bedroom)” adults
adults who return to their parent’s homes to live
how may middle aged adults provide support for the younger generation even if the nest is bare
- loans
- monetary gifts for education
- emotional support
what is one of the most common complaints voice by both adult children and their living with their parents
loss or privacy
what is the adult children’s complain when living in their parent’s home
- restriction of independence
- cramp their sex lives
- reduce their rock music listening
- treat them as children rather than adults
what do parents complain when their adult children live in their home
- quiet home has become noisy
- stay up late worrying until their adult children come home
- meals are difficult to plan because of conflicting schedules
- relationship as a married couple has been invaded
- have to shoulder too much responsibility for their adult children
in sum, when adult children return home to live, it causes a […] in family life that requires considerable adaption on the part of parents and their adult children
disequilibrium
when adult children ask to return home to live, what should parents and their adult children agree on whether the young adults will
- pay rent,
- wash their own clothes
- cook their own meals
- do any household chores
- pay their phone bills
- come and go as they please
- be sexually active or drink alcohol at home
what if conditions aren’t negotiated at the beginning, will conflict often rise
yes, because the expectations of parents and young adult children will likely be violated
with today’s adults how many alive siblings do 85% have
at least one
how may sibling relationships in adulthood be
- extremely close,
- apathetic
- or highly rivalrous
are majority of sibling relationships in adulthood close
yes
are the siblings who are psychologically close to each other in adulthood tended to be that way in childhood
yes
is it rare for sibling closeness to develop for the first time in adulthood
yes
what do adult siblings often provide to each other
often provide practical and emotional support to each other
what did men who had poor sibling relationships in childhood more likely to develop by age 50 than men who had more positive sibling relationships as children
depression
are friendships that have endured over the adults years often shallower or deeper than those tat have just been formed in middle adulthood
deeper
do friendships continue to be important in middle age
yes
is the increase in longevity influencing the nature of grandparenting
yes
depending on the family’s culture an situation, do grandparents assume different roles
yes , the profile of grandparents is changing
in what scenarios may grandparents especially play important roles in grandchildren’s lives
family crisis;
divorce, death, illness, abandonment, poverty
worldwide more than […] million grandparents are raising grandchildren
160
when do many adults become grandparents for the first time
during middle age
do grandmothers or grandfathers have more contact with grandchildren
grandmothers
how may women define their role as grandmothers
part of their responsibility for maintaining ties between family members across generations
do men have more or fewer expectations about the grandfather role
fewer and see it as more voluntary
what do grandparent’s affective connections with teir adult children involve
- frequent listening
- emotional support
- companionship
when did grandparents provide more frequent emotional support and frequent financial support to their adult grandchildren
when parents were having life problems
when parents were unemployed
what are the most common reason’s grandparents step in as parents
- their child’s divorce
- adolescent pregnancy
- and/or drug use
grandparent involvement was linked with better adjustment when it occurred in single parent and stepparent families than in
two parent biological families
in many countries, when grandparents help take care of their grandchildren, does it often facilitate their daughters’ participation in the labor force
yes
grandparents who are full time caregivers for grandchildren are at a elevated risk for
- health problems,
- depression
- stress
what are grandparents raising grandchildren especially at risk for develop
depression
why may full time caring for grandchildren often be linked to problems
- low income,
- minority status
- not being married
are part time or full time caregivers less likely to have the negative health portrait
part time
what is a special concern of grandparents as divorce and remarriage have become more common regarding their grandchildren
visitation privileges
right to petition in court even if parent objects
what did more than 80 percent of the middle aged and older adults report of them having a duty
to care for their parents (and parents in law) in time of need later in life
why are middle aged adults been described as the “sandwich” “squeezed” or “overload” generation
because of the responsibilities they have for their adolescents and young adult children on the one hand and their aging parents on the other
In the US, a “sandwich” generation, in which the middle generation cares for both grown children and aging parents simultaneously occur less often than a
“pivot” generation, in which the middle generation alternates attention between the demands of grown children and aging parents
by middle age, more than […] percent of adult children (most of them […]) provide care for aging parents or parents in law
40
daughters
are middle aged parents more or less likely to provide support to their grown children than to their parents
more
when middle aged adults have a parent with a disability, does their support for that parent increase or decrease
increases
e.g.
- locating a nursing home and monitoring its quality
- procuring medical services
- arranging public service assistance
- handling finances
in some cases, how may adult children provide direct assistance with their parents daily living
- eating
- bathing
- dressing
even with less severely impaired older adults may need help with
- shopping
- housework
- transportation
- home maintenance
- bill paying
since relationships between aging parents and their children are often characterized by ambivalence, what perceptions does it include
- love
- reciprocal help
- shared values on the positive side and isolation
- family conflicts and problems
- abuse
- neglect
- caregiver stress on the negative side
if middle aged adults positively supported family responsibility to emerging adult children how did they view providing care for aging parents
more ambivalent
both a joy and a burden
as older family members die, what happens to their biological, intellectual, emotional, and personal legacies
carried on in the next generation
as adult children become middle aged, what often happens to their perception of their parents
develop more positive perceptions
what is there similarity and least similarity between parents and an adult child
similarity - religion and politics
least - gender roles, lifestyle, and work orientation
do family members usually maintain contact across generations
yes, middle aged generation plays an important role in linking generations
do women or men play an especially important role in maintaining family relationships across generations
women
women’s relationships across generations are typically closer than other …
family bonds
who had much closer relationships during adult years
mother and daughters
married men were more involved with their wives’ […] than with their own
families
who were cited twice as often as their counterparts as the most important or loved relative
maternal grandmothers and maternal aunts rather than on the paternal side of the family
whose intergenerational ties were more influential for grandparent-grandchild relationships
mothers than fathers’ were
