Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood Chapter 16: Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood

In This Chapter Theories of social and personality development Relationships and personality Mid-life career issues

Theories of Social and Personality Development Generativity versus Stagnation Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage Generativity involves interest in establishing and guiding next generation Stagnation involves pervading sense of stagnation and personal impoverishment 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

Theories of Social and Personality Development Research on Generativity Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage Generativity associated with several positive outcomes: successful marriages work achievements close friendships altruistic behaviors overall mental health Bradley in cooperation with Marcia and Trafford propose positive outcomes. Read more at Suite101: Erikson's Concept, Leaving a Legacy http://www.suite101.com/content/leaving-a-legacy-a256233#ixzz1C3UsJ5U8


Theories of Social and Personality Development Research on Childlessness Impact of childlessness for men Earlier response to childlessness predictive of male psychological health at age 47 40-year longitudinal study of a group of inner-city, nondelinquent boys who had originally served as a comparison group in a study of delinquent boys. Of 343 married men in the study, 29 had fathered no children. Critics suggest early studies were of well-educated, white, middle-aged males. Researchers have found consistent patterns of generativity-related behaviors and attitudes among poor as well as across a variety of ethnic groups.

Stop and Think Is rearing one’s own or another’s child important for men’s psychological growth? Would you draw the same or similar conclusion for women? Why? Why not? Textbook author suggests that rearing one’s own or another’s child who calls forth one’s nurturing qualities may be important for psychological growth

Theories of Social and Personality Development Erikson’s Theory Revised Vaillant’s Theory “Career consolidation” stage (between intimacy and generativity) “Keeper of the meaning” (following generativity and stagnation) Research emphasized resilience and includes measures of change across domains 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

Mid-Life Crisis: Fact or Fiction? Levinson and Erikson Each person must confront a constellation of difficult tasks at mid-life Newer research offers different conclusions Serious problems experienced by the minority and may be triggered by life events Levinson and Erikson: Accepting one’s own mortality Recognizing new physical limitations and health risks Adapting to major changes in most roles Newer research: 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 parents Midlife does present some physical challenges Variations such as optimism can affect how one constructs their midlife “life story”

Theories in Social and Personality Development Role Transitions Each of us occupies multiple roles at the same time, which produces frictions of various kinds Role Conflict Role Strain Stress associated with events of mid-life often complicated by role conflict 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 Roles that shift include family roles.

Changes in Relationships Partnerships Mid-life Profile Marital stability and satisfaction increase in mid-life Less likely to divorce; more able to cope with divorce stress Mellowing of personality = more resilience Conflicts over child-rearing decline Increased sense of control Identification of successful problem-solving strategies Use of skilled diplomacy to ease tensions

Changes in Relationships Children and Parents In middle adulthood family role involves giving assistance in both directions of generational chain Care of Aging Parents Care of Adult Children Middle Adulthood Sometimes called the midlife “squeeze” and those being squeezed are called the sandwich generation. See Figure 16.1 to see the midlife squeeze. In middle adulthood family role involves giving assistance in both directions of 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

Figure 16.1 The “Middle Age Squeeze” The middle life squeeze or “sandwich generation” is illustrated in this graph of data from a national survey of adults . Middle aged adults give more help to both their adult children and their own parents then they receive.

Changes in Relationships Empty Nest and Revolving Door Women more often describe empty nest event as positive Revolving door event may be stressful for middle-aged parents 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

Changing Relationships Are you or someone you know experiencing “Peter Pandemonium”? More than half of adult children return home once a week for meals 1 in 5 receive mail at their parents’ home 13% bring laundry home for parent to wash PP happens when adult child does not want to grow up

Changing Relationships Grandparenting Overview New roles for middle-aged adults Grandparenting may be shifting to slightly later age Most grandparents express high levels of satisfaction with their role Grandparents can positively influence children’s development 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

Changing Relationships Categories of Grandparents Remote relationship Companionate relationship Involved relationship

Changing Relationships Grandparenting: Remote Relationships Characteristics 29% of grandparents Infrequent contact and little direct influence Most commonly created by physical distance

Changing Relationships Grandparenting: Involved Relationships Characteristics 16% report involved relationships Daily participation in rearing their grandchildren Often living in multi-generational housing 16% report involved relationships Daily participation in rearing their grandchildren Living in multi-generational housing Nearly full-time care More common in poor families

Changing Relationships 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

? ? Questions To Ponder 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.

Changes in Relationships Caring For Aging Parents Strong sense of filial responsibility Caregiver burden may occur Responsibility negotiated along several dimensions 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”

Caring For Aging Parents How is caregiving responsibility determined? Influenced by competing demands of all children/family members Most likely caregivers have specific life circumstances Female gender bias Intervention can help ease caregiver burden Most likely caregivers have no children; live at home; not working; not married; lives closest Daughters/daughters-in-law=90% of caregivers Intervention can help ease caregiver burden by providing information about resources or encouraging support groups

Changing Relationships How do friendships change? Total number of friends less Friendships more intimate and close Friendships endure, even with less frequent contact Scant research on middle adulthood friendships 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

Continuity and Change in Personality A Brief Review The “Big Five”: OCEAN Openness Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism Increases in prosocial behaviors. Seems to be linked to secure attachment. This demonstrates both continuity and change at midlife. Subtle age-related changes in five factors across the years of adulthood Traits follow general pattern of stability in most people but that they are also subject to some degree of modification Personality is important contribution to adult’s capacity for managing stress

Continuity and Change in Personality Three Ideas About the Big Five 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

Mid-Life Career Issues Work Satisfaction At its peak despite few work promotions in middle age Work performance quality high Experience less burnout than younger adults More career stability 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

True or False? Men and women have the same source of job satisfaction but deal with it differently. True Both genders use the same criteria to assess job satisfaction. Both genders share similar preferences for performance awards and management style Men and women think differently about work. Women worry about the effect of children on career development.

Mid-life Career Issues Job Performance Remains high throughout middle adulthood May 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 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 Longshoremen, air traffic controllers, truck drivers, all lose performance with age. Baltes and Baltes Selection: Narrowing of a worker’s range of activities, focusing on only the central tasks, delegating more to others. Optimization: Exercising crucial abilities with added training or polishing rusty skills. Compensation: Adopting pragmatic strategies for overcoming specific obstacles – getting glasses or hearing aids.

Mid-Life Career Issues Unemployment and Career Transitions Unemployement Can be more difficult in middle age Often involves ageism Unemployement 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 Potential employees believe in productivity of younger workers. Their skills have become obsolete, their jobs have been eliminated. See Figure 16.3 on page 444 for employment data. Reemployment tends to restore health, emotional stability, and a sense of well-being. Marital satisfaction deteriorates when a job loss occurs.

Mid-Life Career Issues Unemployment and Career Transitions Involuntary career changers Voluntary 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 May not wish to pursue advancement in current occupations Express a new side of their personality But the transition can still be stressful “Honeymoon hangover effect” may emerge

Mid-Life Career Issues Voluntary Career Changers Genetic Basis for Career Change Twin studies suggest genetic basis Voluntary changes product of personality What personality characteristics influence do you think influence such a voluntary change? 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

Mid-Life Career Issues Preparing for Retirement Baby Boomers Projected to be healthiest, best educated, and longest-living retirees in history Make retirement plans for both wives and husbands May not have saved enough and have accumulated too much debt for their desired lifestyle 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

Mid-Life Career Issues Planning for Retirement Dychtwald’s Survey of Baby Boomers Wealth Builders Idealists Empowered Trailblazers Stretched and Stressed Boomers Leisure Lifers Wealth Builders Idealists: interested in volunteer work Empowered Trailblazers: travel, courses Stretched and Stressed Boomers: concerned about sufficient finances Leisure Lifers: recreational pursuits