Chapter 16

Question 1

for some (only about ¼)
 Stress, self-doubt, and big changes = triggers
 Feeling as if life is boring and stale
 Wanting to go back instead of forward
 Deny the realities of aging

Answer 1

Midlife crisis

Question 2

Caught between children’s and aging parents’ needs
Increased stress:
 Most often women bare the burden  role overload!
 Physically help aging parents
 Emotionally cope with their illnesses and declines in functioning
 Nursing home? $$$

Answer 2

The sandwich generation

Question 3

The 7th age-related conflict

Answer 3

Generativity vs. Stagnation
Contributing to society in various ways or NOT
 Having children…
 Or teaching other people’s children
 G = ↑ self-esteem and sense of meaning in life
 Well-adjusted vs. self-centered and self-indulgent
 Symbolic immortality

Question 4

Middle-aged adults must confront 4 developmental tasks:

Answer 4

Young—old
Destruction—creation
Masculinity—femininity
Engagement—separateness

Question 5

Gender development in middle adulthood

Answer 5

Increases in androgyny for both men and women
 Changes in social roles and life circumstances
 Feel free to express the “other-gender” side of their
personality
 Men and women may alter their behavior
 Men  emotionally sensitive, caring, considerate, dependent
 Women  assertive, confident, self-sufficient, forceful

Question 6

The Empty-Nest Syndrome

Answer 6

Are mom and dad sad?
“Failure to launch”

Question 7

Skipped-generation families

Answer 7

Grandparents take over as primary caregiver

Question 8

Work life

Answer 8

Burnout
Negative stereotypes about older workers
Glass ceiling for women and minorities
Retirement comes into focus