Discussion Post: Middle Adulthood, Essay Example

Describe how middle adulthood provides stability in a person’s life. Explain some of the factors that would lead to stability in a person’s life as he or she moves through middle age.

A number of factors goes to a sense of stability in middle adulthood. It may be that the most fundamental is how the individual’s entire perspective on life changes. Younger, people tend to see the future as a time of unlimited opportunity. If their lives are not satisfying, there is time to make changes or experience different circumstances which will lead to happiness. In the middle years, however, it is more usual to look back and reflect (Santrock, 2012, p. 483). This may then easily create a feeling of stability and one based on actual reality. The person often has a career, home, and family in place for years, and skills developed to compensate for weaker, other abilities (SUO, 2015, p. 1). All these may combine to provide the security of knowing that life is ordered and going along in a stable, satisfying way.

Also, it is not unusual for middle adulthood to provide expertise that is stronger than in early adulthood. This goes beyond career expertise, and because the older person has the life experience to better evaluate situations and solve problems (Santrock, 2012, p. 498). With these skills in place, it is likely that the individual has greater confidence, which reinforces a sense of stability.  Then, a number of studies support that the idea of the midlife crisis is exaggerated as a reality for middle adulthood, as both experts and ordinary people do not support this as inevitable or even common (Santrock, 2012, p. 512). Middle adulthood may then often be a life stage of contentment and stability.

Describe some of the more common lifestyle issues that have a negative impact on a person’s continued development. Explain how a person may be able to reverse some of the lifestyle influences.

One lifestyle issue that may present problems in this life stage goes to employment. The middle-aged person often has a long history of working but the idea of impending retirement may create feelings of conflict. Connected to this is the reality that middle adulthood is usually when large financial burdens must be faced, as in mortgages, medical expenses, and preparing for a unemployed future (Santrock, 2012, p. 499). Then, and as experienced by many in the recent recession, middle age may translate to the need to secure a new job, which creates stress (SUO, 2015, p. 3). Lifestyle itself is based on a variety of functions, expectations, and circumstances, so how the person lives is subject to negative change as the years pass.

Negative developments, however, may be countered by certain approaches. One goes to the important factor of maintaining good health, as poor health will increase stress levels when unwanted life events occur (Santrock, 2012, p. 513). Then, the “empty nest syndrome,” when parents become depressed as their adult children leave the home, is a negative event, but a different point of view may make this a positive time. For example, the middle-aged couple could then take advantage of the new freedom to travel and rekindle their own relationship (SUO, 2015, p. 2).  In many ways, in fact, how middle adulthood exists largely depending upon how the individual perceives it.

On the basis of your readings, describe what is meant by a midlife crisis. Explain why a midlife crisis may or may not be critical.

In general terms, the midlife crisis is seen as the period when the individual questions the value of their life. They look back and feel that they have not accomplished what they wanted and/or are not a fulfilled as they expected to be. Given this idea of the past, the future then become uncertain and frightening (Santrock, 2012, p. 512).  Connected to this is how both men and women undergo biological changes with aging, and women in particular experience stress due to menopause (SUO, 2015, p. 1). Essentially, the “crisis” is the stage when physical and external realities combine to make the person question their direction and purpose in life.

The reality of the midlife crisis, however, is not as threatening as many believe. Evidence strongly supports that this is more a “pop culture” concept than an inevitable experience (Santrock, 2012, p. 512). Aside from this, the actual midlife crisis is by no means critical, and because the individual need only confront the stressors they believe to be creating the crisis. A sense of control is extremely important to all adults and, as those in middle adulthood tend to feel they have greater control over practical realities (Santrock, 2012, p. 514), they are better equipped to examine the emotions and uncertainties experienced. It is a matter of perspective, rather than any actual crisis, and this alone goes to the person’s ability to weaken any crisis state.

Describe Erikson’s, Helson’s, and Levinson’s theories as each applies to middle adulthood.

Erikson essentially takes an “external” view regarding middle adulthood. His theory holds that, in these years, people will experience either generativity, or the ability and willingness to nurture the generation following them, or stagnation, in which they do not feel that they have accomplished anything worth passing on (Santrock, 2012, p. 510). In other words, the person’s ability to positively affect those following them in life greatly defines this phase. Levinson, conversely, bases his thinking on men and sees the midlife stage as one in which the person must confront the realities of this “season” of life. It is a transitional stage and the man faces polarities. Conflict exists between ideas of youth and older age, being constructive or destructive, masculine or feminine identity, and whether connection to others is more important than separation. The man must then directly address these polarities to lessen their negative impacts (Santrock, 2012, p. 511).  Finally, Helson, focusing on women, identifies that most middle-aged women achieve “midlife consciousness,” and are more empowered to be independent, achieve goals, and develop more successful interpersonal relationships (Santrock, 2012, p. 519).  Each theory then appears to take a specific perspective regarding middle adulthood, and it is important to note that only Erikson does not distinguish between male and female experience.

On the basis of your readings, compare and contrast these theories. Which one gives a better explanation of middle adulthood?

As the work of both Levinson and Helson is based on studies, they each validity in their theories. Helson’s theory also goes to how external challenges are crucial in providing middle-aged women with greater strength (Stanrock, 2012, p. 519), just as her focus on women reveals gender dimensions to aging men do not face. Then, Erikson is notably important as having developed life stage structures with clear and realistic ideas of how behavior changes over time. He also notes that generativity occurs in cultural, work-related, and biological forms (Stanrock, 2012, p. 510).  All three theories are then valuable, even as they greatly differ in their thinking.

Nonetheless, Levinson’s theory seems to be the most valid, and because it is the most complex. Generativity, stagnation, and a woman’s need to achieve independence in later life are all important ideas, but they are also too based on perceptions of external forces. Levinson’s thinking expand beyond this, just as his theory,like Erikson’s, traces all lifespan development (Stanrock, 2012, p. 511).  Levinson’s work, for example, reveals that a large percentage of men find middle adulthood to be psychologically painful (Santrock, 2012, p. 511).  His theory then addresses both internal and external factors as creating polarities and conflicts in middle adulthood, and this appears to be the most rational point of view.

References

Santrock, J. (2012). Life-Span Development, 14th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/#/books/0077733908/

South University Online (SUO), (2015). Week 4: Physiologic Changes. In PSY2022: Online Course. Retrieved from myeclassroom.com.