© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers 16 Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Ageism Form of prejudice; beliefs that older adults less competent than younger ones –Not supported by research evidence A factor in job seeking for middle aged applicants –Employer worries that older workers won’t “fit in” with younger ones Appearance cues such as gray hair can trigger ageism, especially for middle aged women applicants

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Positive Overall Changes Social roles change in middle age Some workers at epitome of careers Children often grown and on their own Roles less constricting May have more time for oneself

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Theories of Social and Personality Development Erikson’s Generativity versus Stagnation Generativity involves an interest in establishing and guiding the next generation –Rearing children, teaching, mentoring, taking leadership roles in civic, religious or charitable organizations –May continue through old age Stagnation –Failure leads to pervading sense of stagnation and personal impoverishment; possible overindulgence

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Erikson’s Theory The impact of childlessness –How a man responded earlier to his childlessness was predictive of his psychological health at age 47 –Suggests that rearing one’s own or another’s child who calls forth one’s nurturing qualities may be important for psychological growth

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Erikson’s Theory Vaillant’s Revision Adds a “career consolidation” stage –Create a new social network –Generate satisfaction with work-related choices Another new stage: “keeper of the meaning” –Preserve values and institutions to benefit future generations

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Mid-Life Crisis: Fact or Fiction? Levinson and Erikson argue for a crisis Each person must confront a constellation of difficult tasks at mid-life –Accepting one’s own mortality –Recognizing new physical limitations and health risks –Adapting to major changes in most roles

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Mid-Life Crisis: Fact or Fiction? Research offers different conclusions Serious mid-life problems are experienced by a minority—maybe 25% at most Possibly triggered by life events rather than an age, for example, the death of a parent Midlife does present some physical challenges Variations such as optimism can affect how one constructs their midlife “life story”

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Role Transitions Each of us occupies multiple roles at the same time, which produces frictions of various kinds Role Conflict – any situation in which two or more roles are at least partially incompatible –For example, simultaneously caring for teenage children and aging parents (thus both parent and child) Role Strain – stress that occurs when a person lacks the resources needed to fulfill a role –Midlife adult may need to return to college to learn new work skills, provoking anxiety

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Changes in Relationships Partnerships Marital stability and satisfaction increase in mid-life. –Conflicts over child-rearing decline –Increased sense of control –Identification of successful problem-solving strategies Use of skilled diplomacy to ease tensions

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Children and Parents In middle adulthood the family role involves giving assistance in both directions of the generational chain –Helping grown children –Supporting aging parents –The “sandwich generation” Must shoulder responsibility for maintaining affectional bonds Between 40 and 65, adults give help more than they receive in both directions within the family

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Figure 16.1 The “Middle Age Squeeze”

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Emptying the Nest When women are asked about positive and negative transitions in their lives, they more often describe this event as positive “Boomerang” or “Adultescents”—adult children who use a “revolving door” in and out of parental home –Young adults marrying and having children later can foster this development The revolving door may be stressful for middle- aged parents

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Grandparenting New roles for middle-aged adults –Becoming in-laws as children marry –Becoming grandparents Grandparenting may shift to a slightly later age Most grandparents express high levels of satisfaction with this role. Grandparents can positively influence children’s development –Especially important source of stability for children of divorced parents

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Grandparenting 29% of grandparents have remote relationships See grandchildren infrequently Little direct influence on their development Most common reason cited is physical distance

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Grandparenting Just over half of grandparents report having a companionate relationship –Warm, pleasurable relationships –Glad they no longer have day-to-day responsibilities 16% report involved relationships –Everyday participants in rearing their grandchildren –Living in multi-generational housing –Nearly full-time care –More common in poor families

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Grandparenting Full-time custodial grandparenting more likely when grandchild’s mother is unmarried –Daughter can continue school or work Role of grandmother broader and more intimate than that of grandfather For most adults in middle age, grandparenthood not central to their lives, their sense of self, or to their overall morale

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Questions to Ponder Which kind of relationship do you have with your grandparents? What kinds of influence do they try to exert upon your life? From your viewpoint, do people go through a mid-life crisis? Are they major events or minor adjustments? Please give examples.

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Caring For Aging Parents Adults feel strong sense of filial responsibility – when parents need help, children try to provide it Parents symbolically important as “elders” Caregivers report more depression and less marital satisfaction than comparison groups: “caregiver burden”

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Caring For Aging Parents Caregivers more often don’t have children at home and live closer to aging parent 90% of caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s disease are daughters or daughters-in-law Intervention can help ease caregiver burden by providing information about resources or encouraging support groups

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Friends Total number of friends is less in middle adulthood than at earlier points Friendships may be more intimate and close at this age Friendships endure, even with less frequent contact

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Continuity and Change in Personality The “Big Five”: OCEAN Openness Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Continuity and Change in Personality The Big Five are relatively stable from childhood through old age Openness, extraversion, neuroticism decline as adults age Agreeableness and conscientiousness tend to increase through age 70

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Mid-Life Career Issues Work satisfaction is at its peak despite few work promotions in middle age Quality of work performance remains high in spite of declines in some cognitive or physical skills Middle aged workers experience less burnout than younger ones Careers are more stable in middle age

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Job Performance Remains high throughout middle adulthood –Exceptions are jobs that require speedy reactions or physical strength Baltes and Baltes argue that adults engage in selective optimization with compensation to remain highly productive Link between selection, optimization, and compensation and the quality of work performance strengthens with increasing age

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Unemployment and Career Transitions Can be more difficult in middle age –Must overcome ageism in obtaining new employment Involuntary career changers –Experience heightened anxiety, depression and health risks after job loss Changes in family relationships Loss of self-esteem Good coping skills are critical Reemployment restores sense of well-being

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Unemployment and Career Transitions Voluntary career changers May not wish to pursue advancement in current occupations Express a new side of their personality But the transition can still be stressful

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Voluntary Career Changers Twin studies suggest genetic basis for voluntary career changes in mid-life Studies suggest voluntary changes are a product of personality. –Better sense of control –Higher tolerance for risk-taking –Not stressed by job-seeking

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Preparing for Retirement Boomers projected to be the healthiest, best educated, and longest-living retirees in history Baby Boom cohorts who are now middle-aged make retirement plans for both wives and husbands –Expect to retire in early 60’s and live into the 80’s –May not have saved enough and have accumulated too much debt for their desired lifestyle

© 2009 Allyn & Bacon Publishers Planning for Retirement Dychtwald’s Survey of Baby Boomers Wealth Builders Idealists—interested in volunteer work Empowered Trailblazers—travel, courses Stretched and Stressed Boomers— concerned about sufficient finances Leisure Lifers—recreational pursuits