1. Chapter 12 Early and Middle Adulthood

2. Erikson: Psychosocial Development
Early Adulthood (20–40 years)
Challenge
Intimacy versus isolation
Necessary accomplishments
Choose relationship style, select occupation, build independence
Virtues
Affiliation, love

3. Erikson: Psychosocial Development (cont’d)
Middle Adulthood (40–65 years)
Challenge
Generativity versus stagnation
Necessary accomplishments
Develop self, plan retirement, raise family, enhance relationships
Virtues
Production, caring, cooperation

4. Question
Which of the following are accomplishments in early adulthood?
a. Establish intimacy
b. Climb corporate ladder
c. Learn new activities
d. Participate in recreation
e. Pass on learning

5. Answer a. Establish intimacy
In early adulthood, necessary accomplishments include choosing relationships, selecting an occupation, and building independence.
Climbing the corporate ladder, learning new activities, participating in recreation, and passing on learning are accomplishments in middle adulthood.

6. Life Choices Made During Early Adulthood
20 to 30 Years
Leaving home of origin
Choosing a career
Related to education, economic situation, goals, abilities, and interests
Establishing an adult identification
Influence of families, peers, and surrounding cultural attitudes

7. Life Choices Made During Early Adulthood (cont’d)
20 to 30 Years
Establishing adult relationships
For protection, to share expenses, or to escape the parental home
Starting a family
Establish careers, become financially secure before marriage or having children
Reappraising commitments
Restlessness, confusion, and doubt become common; may consider career change

8. Life Choices Made During Early Adulthood (cont’d)
30 to 40 Years
Settling in
Purchase home, comfortable with relationships
Making career decisions
Marital interaction time, family time, and childrearing responsibilities

9. Life Choices Made During Early Adulthood (cont’d)
30 to 40 Years
Addressing women’s issues
Career goals and motherhood can conflict
Facing transitions
Growing children spend more time away from home
Feelings of loss and loneliness

10. Question Is the following statement true or false?
Adults do not reappraise commitments until middle adulthood.

11. Answer
False
During early adulthood, from about ages 28 to 32, individuals often make new choices and reappraise previous commitments. Adults who married young may question staying with their partners.

12. Development in Middle Adulthood
Addressing midlife transitions or midlife crisis
Visualizing their own aging
Feeling they have failed to achieve goals
Failing to resolve this stage may result in
Brooding, physical illness, suicide, chemical dependency, and depression

13. Development in Middle Adulthood (cont’d)
Role changes
Children turn into adults
Former children become responsible caregivers
Sandwich generation
Perceiving one’s own mortality
Death becomes more of a reality

14. Development in Middle Adulthood (cont’d)
Re-establishing equilibrium
Life becomes more peaceful
Spend more time with grandchildren
Planning for retirement
Develop interests and hobbies
Plan finances
Move to simple living arrangements

15. Question
Which of the following refer to midlife crisis or midlife transition? (Select all that apply.)
a. Begin to feel panicky
b. Unable to accept aging
c. Care for aging parents and growing children
d. Set aside personal interests
e. Sense of failure

16. Answer a. Begin to feel panicky b. Unable to accept aging
e. Sense of failure
Individuals facing midlife crisis may be unable to accept aging, develop a sense of failure, and begin to feel panicky.
Individuals of the sandwich generation set aside their interests to care for aging parents and growing children.

17. End of Presentation