Chapter 13 Middle Adulthood

Socio-emotional Development

1. Eriksons Stage: _Generativity vs. Stagnation_

Generativity: _Happily making changes in routines, and in employment for their family_.

Example: _Volunteering after retirement-Giving back to the community_.

2. Maslows Hierarchy

A. Older adults are more likely to _reach self-actualization than younger adults_.

3. The Big Five

The Big 5 The Big 5 personality traits are apparent in every culture and era.
Personality traits

Imaginative, curious, artistic, creative, open to new experiences.

Openness IE-thrives on changing jobs

 The degree to which one is..Organized, deliberate, conforming,

Conscientiousness self-deisciplined.

The degree to which one is..Outgoing, assertive, active

Extroversion Marriage: Extroverts are likely to get married

The degree to which one is…Kind, helpful, easygoing, generous

Agreeableness Increases _with age_

Neuroticism The degree to which one is…Anxious, moody, self-punishing, critical

Dependence on others A 6th personality trait has been identified

4. Marriage Facts

1. A couple with strong religious views, lower their chance of divorce.

Average age for marriage in the United States: 27 years old for women & 29 years old for

2. men

5. Divorce

Before Marriage During Marriage After Marriage

Divorced parents. Either partner Divergent plans and practices Hig divorce rate in cohort. Laws

under age 21. Family opposed. regarding childbearing and child that make divorce easier.

Cohabitation before marriage. rearing. Financial stress, Men - Divorced men experiece

Previous divorce of either unemployment. SUbstance increased loneliness.

partner. Large discrepancy in abuse. Communication

age background, interested, difficulties. Lack of time

values together.
7. Intimacy in Marriage

The time in the lives of parents when their children have left the
Empty Nest
family home to pursue their own lives.

Happiness dips as children reach puberty

10-20 years of marriage
The quality of their marriage should improve because they have
20 - 30 years of Marriage
more time to spend together.
“Empty Nest”

8. Family Bonds

Familism: The belief that family members should support one another, sacrificing individual

freedom and success, if necessary, in order to preserve family unity.

Sibling Relationship Linked Lives Fictive Kin

Sibling relationships in adulthood Family situations that affect People who are not blood related

have the potential to improve once everyone at different ages. are figuratively adopted as part of

siblings are married and have separate IE-Father lost a job and couldn’t a family

residences. afford to help his daughter pay

for college.

Social Convoy:A group of friends, co-workers, and other people who become like family.

9. Generativity
Kinkeeper:A caregiver who takes responsibility for maintaining communication of information

among family members.

Example:gathering the family for Holidays

Caregiving aged parents

Caring for biological children Boomerang Children
Generativity:Pareting or guiding a Young adults who live with their Sandwich Generation: Middle-aged

younger generation parents for a while, while saving people who a supposedly squeezed

Example:Change routines and money to move out on their own. by the needs of the younger and

schedules to care for younger older members of their families. The

children. sandwich generation do not feel

burdened by their responsibilities.

10. Employment

Work Schedule Standard 9-5 work schedule is a increasingly usual

Psychosocial Health Employment is one factor contributing to adult psychosaocial health.

Work/Life Balance The idea that employment demands should be limited to protect the
rest of life.

Forced changes in 1. Losing work friends

employment at an 2. A cut in pay
older age can cause 3. A loss of Seniority
4. Age Discrimination

10. Employment Rewards

The intangible gratifications like job satisfaction and a sense of

Intrinsic Reward accomplishment that come from within oneself as a result of doing

a job.
 The tangible benefits, usually in the form of compensation such as
Extrinsic Reward
salary, health insurance, pension that one receives for doing a job.