Chapter 16: psychosocial development in middle adulthood

Question 1

Objective evaluation

Answer 1

life pathways

Question 2

subjective evaluation

Answer 2

how people construct their identities and structure their lives

Question 3

Developmental Scientists

Answer 3

Change and continuity should be viewed in context of the entire life

Question 4

Developmental Scientists

Answer 4

Lives do not progress in isolation

Question 5

Personality

Answer 5

some say is formed by middle adulthood

Question 6

theoretical appraches

Answer 6

growing consensus that midlife development changes as well as stability

Question 7

Theoretical Approaches

Maslow & Rogers

Answer 7

Humanistic theorists

Question 8

Theoretical Approaches

Maslow & Rogers

Answer 8

Middle age is an opportunity for positive change

more time/resources

Question 9

Theoretical Approaches

Jung

Answer 9

Men & women at midlife express previously suppressed aspects of personality

Question 10

Jung (I)

Answer 10

Necessary task

~ acknowledging mortality

Question 11

Jung (II)

Answer 11

Necessary task

~giving up the image of youth

Question 12

Erikson

7th psychosocial stage

Answer 12

GENERATIVITY (staying active) vs. STAGNATION (lazy)

~parenting/grandparenting, teaching or mentorship, productivity, creativity, self-development

Question 13

Erikson

virtue

Answer 13

care

Question 14

Vaillant & Levinson (I)

Answer 14

major midlife shifts in men

Question 15

Vaillant & Levinson (II)

Answer 15

occupational striving (30s) -> reevaluation & restructuring (40s) -> stability (50s)

Question 16

Vaillant & Levinson (III)

Answer 16

People still expect and evaluate certain events in terms of a social clock (end of reproductive years, retirement)

Question 17

Mid-life crisis

Answer 17

more like a midlife review -> may be psychological turning point (if dissatisfied, decided to switch things up)

Question 18

Identity development

Answer 18

people revise or confirm self-perceptions based on feedback from others & experiences

Question 19

Psychological well-being

Answer 19

~midlife is generally a period of positive mental health & well-being
~SES is a factor (poor = less positive mental health and well-being)

Question 20

Issues & Themes

Answer 20

generativity is related to psychological well-being (more things I do = better)
~Involvement in multiple roles (book club, parenting/grandparenting)

Question 21

Women (50s)

Answer 21

prime time of life

Question 22

Kahn & Antonucci

Answer 22

social convoy theory

(more social capital; friends, family, support = do better

Question 23

Carstensen

Answer 23

socioemotional selectivity theory

Question 24

Kahn & Antonucci / Carstensen

Answer 24

Both say social-emotional support is an important element in social interaction

Question 25

Changes in realtionships

Answer 25

relationships are important to mental & physical health, but can present stressful demands ~problems are more likely to be traumatic = stressful -parents, kids (stress)

Question 26

marital satisfaction

Answer 26

improved relationship after children leave home

Question 27

Cohabitation

Answer 27

half as common as in early adulthood

Question 28

Cohabitation

Answer 28

Men report ~rates of depression in married men about same as men without parents (same as single) ~trend for babyboomers increasing

Question 29

Divorce (women)

Answer 29

harder on middle-aged women | harder to find mate, more responsibilities

Question 30

Consensual relationships (Divorce)

Answer 30

less threatening to well-being than in young adulthood | ~abuse, differing values/lifestyles, infidelity

Question 31

Divorce on both men and women

Answer 31

uncommon but increasing ~marital capital (financial & emotional benefit), SES, effects of the empty nest all play a role (kids grown, dont have to worry about kids well-being)

Question 32

marital status & health

Answer 32

~better mental and physical health bc looking out for one another ~social support ~socioeconomic resources ~encouragement of health-promoting behaviors ~quality is important

Question 33

Gay and Lesbian relationships

Answer 33

~late intimate relationships due to delay in coming out ~more egalitarian (not going by typical gender roles) ~experience similar problems as heterosexuals ~friendship networks may provide more emotional support than family (not all families supportive)

Question 34

Friendships

Answer 34

less time invested in friendships than younger adults

Question 35

Social networks

Answer 35

smaller and more intimate

Question 36

Friendships

Answer 36

depend on friends for emotional supports and practical guidance ~social capital in every age group

Question 37

Relationships with maturing children

Answer 37

~must come to terms with loss of control over kids ~empty nest can be liberating or stressful ~more young adults are delaying departure from home

Question 38

Middle-aged parents

Answer 38

tend to remain involved with their adult children

Question 39

Children

Answer 39

most are happy with the way kids turned out (hand a hand in helping raise them)

Question 40

Parent child conflict

Answer 40

may arise over the kids's need to be treated like an adult and patent's continuing concern

Question 41

Parents relationships

Answer 41

~strong bond of affection with parents ~frequent contact ~Aid -> parent to child

Question 42

Sibling relationships

Answer 42

less contact, but remain in touch | ~relationships are important to well-being

Question 43

Parents

Answer 43

~chances of becoming a caregiver to an aging parent increases through middle age ~FILIAL MATURITY -> parents become dependent on middle-age child

Question 44

Caregiving for parent

Answer 44

source of stress and satisfaction | especially if they are living with you

Question 45

Grandparenthood

Answer 45

Most US adults become grandparents during middle age & have average of 6 grandchildren

Question 46

Grandparent involvement

Answer 46

less intimately involved than in past (distance)

Question 47

Grandmothers

Answer 47

more involved than grandfathers

Question 48

Affects of divorce on grandparents

Answer 48

doviorce and remarriage of an adult child can affect grandparent-grandchild relationships (may not see kids as often)

Question 49

Raising of grandchildren

Answer 49

more grandparents are raising grandchildren than in past | ~physical, emotional, financial strain may be created