1. Middle Adulthood Personality & Sociocultural Development
Generativity
Midlife Crisis
A Unique Generation
Marriage/Divorce/Remarriage
Work Change

2. Erik Erikson
Generativity
Versus
Stagnation
(Self-Absorption)

3. Generativity People Act within 3 Domains
1- Procreative Domain
By giving and responding to the needs of the next generation
2- Productive Domain
By integrating work with family life and caring for the next generation
3- Creative Domain
By contributing to society on a larger scale

4. Stagnation Self-Absorption
People focus on the triviality of their life, and feel that they have made only a limited contribution to the world.
People devalue whatever accomplishments they have.

5. Robert Peck (1968) 7 Issues of Adult Conflict
Middle Adulthood
1- Valuing wisdom vs. valuing physical powers.
2- Socializing vs. sexualizing in human relationships
3- Cathectic (emotional) flexibility vs. cathectic impoverishment
4- Mental flexibility vs. mental rigidity.

6. Robert Peck (1968) 7 Issues of Adult Conflict
Older Adulthood
1- Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation
2- Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation
3- Ego transcendence vs. ego preoccupation

7. George Vaillant Middle adulthood is “keeping the meaning vs. rigidity”
Adults seek to extract the meaning from their lives by accepting the strengths and weaknesses of others.
Those who are rigid become increasingly isolated from others.

8. Daniel Levinson
Early Adulthood (20s) – leaving the family and having “the dream”
Late 30s – men settle down and establish themselves moving toward the dream
Between 40 & 45 – people move into “the midlife transition” or a time of questioning

9. Daniel Levinson
Between 40 & 45 – people move into “the midlife transition” or a time of questioning
They focus on finite nature of life
They realize they will not live forever
They concentrate on the present
They begin to doubt the value of their accomplishments
They experience their first signs of aging

10. Daniel Levinson
This period of assessment may lead to a MIDLIFE CRISIS, a stage of uncertainty and indecision brought about by the realization that life is finite.
Success: taking new roles, mentoring younger children, and changing careers
Failure: stagnation and decline

11. Well-Being in Midlife Carol Ryff
1- Self-Acceptance
2- Positive Relations with People
3- Autonomy
4- Environmental Mastery
5- Purpose in Life
6- Personal Growth

12. What is your dream?
Have you accomplished it?
What are the factors that will help you avoid midlife crisis?

13. Men and Middle Age Four General Paths
1- Transcendent – generative man
2- pseudo developed man
3- A man in midlife crisis
4- Punitive – disenchanted man

14. Four Types of Midlife Women Terri Apter (1995)
1- Traditional women
2- Innovative women
3- Expansive women
4- Protesters

15. Menopause
Marks the point at which a traditional pregnancy is no longer possible.
Marks the ceasing of menstruation
The production of estrogen and progesterone begin to drop

16. Symptoms with the Change in Hormone Production
Aching joints
Feeling of dizziness
Heart palpitations
Severe distress
Hot flashes

17. Estrogen Replacement Therapy Pros Cons
Reduces hot flashes
Reduces loss of skin elasticity
Decreases the thinning of the bones
May reduce risk of osteoporosis
May reduce the risk of stroke and colon cancer
May slow the mental deterioration in Alzheimer’s
Reduces coronary heart disease
Risk of breast cancer rises
More incidents of cancer of the uterine lining
Increases in benign fibroid tumors in the uterus
Associated with abnormal blood clots

18. Does menopause produce psychological problems?
Expectations
Culture

19. Can women get pregnant after menopause?

20. Group Activity Assign a doctor in each group.
Discuss the family history of each woman regarding:
stroke, heart disease, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, high cholesterol, cancer in the uterine lining, breast cancer
Decide whether these women should go for estrogen replacement therapy or not.

21. A Unique Generation The Kinkeepers The Empty Nest Syndrome
The Sandwich Generation
Boomerang Children
Grandparenting

22. Three Types of Grandparents
1- Involved
2- Companionate
3- Remote

23. Four Symbolic Roles for Grandparents
1- Being There
2- Family National Guard
3- Arbitrator
4- Maintaining the Family’s Biography

24. Satisfaction in Marriage
The frequent pattern is U-shaped
Marital satisfaction begins to decline after marriage
It falls to its lowest point following the birth of children
It begins to grow after the children leave adolescence
It reaches its highest when the kids have left home

25. Myths of Marriage Everything will work out fine if we love each other.
Always consider the other person first.
Emphasize the positive; keep criticisms to oneself.
If things go wrong, focus on the future.
See oneself as a couple first and then as an individual.
What’s mine is yours.
Marriage makes people happier than they were before.
What is best for the children will be best for us.

26. Myths of Divorce
Because we no longer love each other, nothing can work out any more.
Always consider oneself first.
Emphasize the negative and criticize everything
If things go wrong, focus on the past.
See oneself as an individual first and then as part of a couple.
What’s yours is mine.
Divorce makes people unhappy.
What is best for us must be devastating for the children

27. Divorce
The breakup of marriage is usually the culmination of a long process of emotional distancing.
The final decision is usually done by one partner.
Divorce is usually associated with misconception of marriage.
Divorce is usually conceived as a kind of failure.
Divorced men and women have higher rates of alcoholism, physical illness, and depression.
Divorced men have the highest rate of remarriage.

28. Job Change and Stress
Individuals often react to career loss in ways that are similar to the grief response triggered by the death of a loved one.
Shock and disbelief
Anger and protest
Bargaining
Depression

29. Job Change and Stress
Individuals often react to career loss in ways that are similar to the grief response triggered by the death of a loved one.
Shock and disbelief
Anger and protest
Bargaining
Depression

30. Job Change and Stress
Job loss is more difficult for middle-aged people.
They may have more identity invested in it/
They may be the target of age discrimination.
They may have to take a job that is lower in status and pay.

31. Job Change and Stress Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Working hard to attain a goal and failing to do so.
Lack of extrinsic or intrinsic reward.
Being realistic minimizes burn out.

32. Research shows that older workers have less absenteeism, hold their jobs longer, are more reliable, and more willing to learn new skills.
Who would you rather hire
Young adults
middle-aged adults
old adults