Chapter 16: Socioemotional development in middle adulthood Flashcards
Generativity v. stagnation
Adults have the desire to leave a legacy
Levinson’s Seasons of a Man’s Life
Early adult transition (17-22)
Middle adult transition (40-45)
Late adult transition (60-65)
Criticism of Levinson
Too much emphasis on crises in development
Doesn’t account for individual variations
Contemporary life-events approach
Emphasizes that how a life event influences the individual’s development depends not only on the event but also on mediating factors
Stress in midlife
“overload” stressors, peak sense of personal control
Gender and stress
Women are more vulnerable to social stressors
Fight-or-flight
Stress response of men
Tend-and-befriend
Stress response of women
Social clock
Timetable according to which people are expected to accomplish certain things
T or F
Critics say stage theories have a male bias
True
T or F
Midlife is generally a negative period for all women
True
Big Five factors of personality
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
Berkeley Longitudinal Studies
John Clausen, anti-stage theories
Parents and children in 1920s and early 30s
People show _______ during midlife.
stability
Middle-aged couples view their marriage as positive if they engage in _______.
mutual activities
Divorce rates are _______.
increasing
Empty nest syndrome
Decrease in marital satisfaction after children leave the home
Sibling closeness in adulthood is related to _______.
sibling closeness in childhood
T or F
Friendships are no longer as important.
False
Three prominent meanings attached to being a grandparent
- Sense of biological reward and continuity
- Source of emotional self-fulfillment
- Remote role
Grandparents who are full-time caregivers for grandchildren are at heightened risk for _______.
health problems, depression, and stress
What are some sources of stress in middle adulthood?
Children, work, marriage, and aging parents
Intergenerational relationships are closer among _______.
women
