CH. 7: The Adult in Society Section 1: Early & Middle Adulthood Section 3: The Later Years

The Adult in Society Socialization does not end with adolescence- it continues throughout life. At every age there are new experiences and new demands. Sociologists and social psychologists are interested in the ways in which people adapt to the changing statuses & roles that accompany each stage of adult development.

I. Early & Middle Adulthood The life patterns of adult males and females in American society are somewhat different. For many women, a typical pattern is to enter the labor force, take time out to have children, then return to work when the children are grown. Men generally remain in the labor force for most of adulthood.

A. Adult Male Development Psychologist Daniel Levinson & Co. come up with the theory of life structure. Developed by conducting in-depth interviews with 40 participants aged from 4 broad categories. Each were interviewed for hrs during a 2-3 month period to determine how each experienced personal development as an adult and focused on education, work, leisure, politics, relationships with family & friends. Life Structure: the combination of statuses roles, activities, goals, values, beliefs, & life circumstances that characterize an individual.

A. Adult Male Development Levinson concluded that there are three basic stages in the life structure: early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood. Each era begins with a transitional period, followed by alternating stable and transitional periods. Transitional period last from 4-5 yrs. Stable periods last from 6-8 yrs. Levinson placed the greatest stress in the first five periods of adulthood.

1. Early Adulthood Begins with transitional period (17-22), represents he bridge between adolescence and adulthood. Most important task= leaving home physically & psychologically. The process begins when young adults go away to college or take on a full time employment & move out of their parents’ homes. The break with parents is not abrupt or total.

2. Entering the Adult World Ages Objectives: (1) Explore a variety of relationships & opportunities (must NOT make strong commitments that will make it difficult to take advantage of new opportunities). (2) Become a responsible member of society & form a stable life structure.

3. The Age 30 Transition Ages 28-32, 30 being the transition 30 transition is important to future development. Levinson referred to the first 3 periods of the adulthood era as the novice phase.

4. The Settling Down Period Last stage of Early Adulthood: ages Major Task= “Making It” in the adult world, try to establish oneself in society, form true commitments to things such as work, family, leisure, friendship, & community. Fulfill dreams.

4. The Settling Down Period Toward the end of the “Settling Down” period, men realize how much they rely on role models for advice & guidance. Feeling constrained, they begin a conscious efforts to establish their own identities. Levinson referred to this process as Being Ones Own Man a.k.a BOOM. First step of this process involves separating from the mentor (someone who fosters an individuals development by believing in the person, sharing the person’s dreams, & helping the person achieve those dreams.) Mentor acts as a role model & helps the individual get started in adult life.

5. The Middle Transition First stage in Middle Adulthood era is midlife transition- ages 40-44, serves as a bridge between Early Adulthood and Middle Adulthood. Characterized by self-examining, question ones life structure. A.K.A Mid-life Crisis.

B. Adult Female Development Levinson later suggested that his findings were equally valid for women. Applied same interview method, studied 45 women from three broad categories. Levinson concluded men and women go through the same stages of adult development. Men and Women differ from their social roles and identities. Men and Women deal with the developmental tasks in each stage differently.

B. Adult Female Development Some people argue that the differences Levinson noted exist because the developmental processes for men and women are different. Irene Frieze and Esther Sales have done work to support this argument. Their research suggests there are three phases in adult female development: Leaving the family, entering the adult world, & entering the adult world again.

1. Phase I: Leaving the Family Similar to that of the men, involves leaving the home, make a physical and psychological break from parents and developing a life plan. Emphasis on career is less then on marriage. Marriage is considered the more important step. Specifics of the plan are likely to be determined by marriage. This likelihood is particularly seen in relationships in which the husbands career plans take priority. Emphasis on marriage over career is one factor that distinguishes female development from male development during adulthood.

2. Phase II: Entering the Adult World Age at first marriage in the U.S. has been rising since the 1960s. Today avg. marital age for women is 25.1 yrs compared to 26.8 yrs for men. Many women still become mothers during their 20s. According to Sales, women’s job advancement possibilities become limited when they remain out of the labor force while their children are young. This break in employment is another factor that distinguishes female development from male development during adulthood.

3. Phase III: Entering the Adult World Again Once their children reach school age- mothers who left the labor force again seek employment. Early 30s Fewer obligations at home= possibility to pursue career goals. Women begin a commitment to their careers at the time when their husbands are beginning to have serious doubts about their own careers.

3. Phase III: Entering the Adult World Again Americans are delaying marriage– or are simply not getting married. Marriage rate has dropped more than 30 percent since the 1960s Women are delaying parenting The number of women in full-time executive, administrative, & managerial positions is increasing In one- third of all working couples, the wife earns more than her husband.

II. The Later Years People age 65 and older are the fastest- growing segment of the world’s population. Gerontology: The scientific study of the process & phenomena of aging. Social Gerontology: the study of the non- physical aspects of the aging process.

A. Change Continues Gerontologists place individuals aged 65 and older into 3 groups: young-old, middle- old, & old- old. Young- old= Middle- Old= Old-Old= 85+ Up

1. Adjustment to Retirement Retirement is among the LEAST stressful events people experience. Income, health, social networks (Not media!), & identity affect adjustment to retirement. Retirees need enough income to live comfortably. Retirees need to have good health. Sickness makes adjustment at any stage of life difficult. Income & health are related to one of the strongest desires on senior citizens to remain independent.

1. Adjustment to Retirement Retirees also adjust better to their new situation if they remain liked to the larger social world to which the belong. Remaining active in the community helps retirees’ adjust because it helps boost their sense of identity within society. Failure to adapt to retirement can have negative affects. Suicide rates are high among people over the age of 65- specifically with white males.

2. Physical & Mental Functioning As an individual ages, body cells begin to die. Muscles and tissues shrink, skin develops wrinkles, the entire body slowly loses weight. Weakened muscles lessen a persons strength & endurance. Nervous system functions more slowly & less accurately. Hair gradually turns gray/ white- as cells in the roots produce less & less pigment. All organs & functions of the body slow down and eventual begin to shut down.

2. Physical & Mental Functioning People tend to slow down as the age- most remain mentally alert. Elderly people retain the intellectual abilities throughout life. Certain kinds of intelligence can be improved with training in thinking skills and strategies.

2. Physical & Mental Functioning Aging is accompanied by mental decline or dementia. The most common form of dementia among elderly people is Alzheimer’s Disease, an organic condition that results in the progressive deterioration of brain cells. The progress of the disease is slow but steady, usually lasting 8-10yrs from the first symptoms to death.

2. Physical & Mental Functioning Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s: inability to remember current events, memories from the past cannot not be recalled, trouble performing simple tasks such as driving. Alzheimer’s suffers become hostile and disoriented. Eventually eyesight, speech, and muscle coordination begin to fail. Final stages of Alzheimer’s= regressing to a child like state- unable to control bodily functions.

B. New Opportunities Retirement is usually accompanied by the feeling of freedom; time to do more leisure activities! Travel? Take classes? Second career? Volunteer work?