(CHAP 9) Psychosocial development in adulthood

(CHAP 9) Psychosocial development in adulthood

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN ADULTHOOD

MODEL OF NORMATIVE STAGES OR CRISIS

Applied by ERIKSON

Core sequence of age-related policy changes

• they are common to most

• Successive periods or stages.

• Emotional crises that pave the way for new developments.

Emerging adulthood > intimacy vs. isolation

• Need for intimate relationships > establishment of deep commitments.

• Risk of isolation and self-absorption.

• Virtue > love in the form of mutual devotion.

Criticism of the theory intimacy vs. isolation

exclusion of singles, homosexuals and childless people in its conception of healthy development.

Middle adulthood > generativity vs. stagnation

• Generativity > interest in guiding and helping the next generation and perpetuating by influencing the younger ones.

• Risk of stagnation.

• Virtue > concern for others.

Generativity (Erikson)

Refers to making a significant contribution to society and can be expressed as parent, grandparent, boss, volunteer.

Generativity (McAdams model)

A multifaceted construct that exists in different forms, that connects different activities and outcomes, and that manifests both individual and social characteristics.

McAdams model

5 Characteristics of the most generative adults:

• The awareness of enjoying a kind of early advantage or "blessing";

• Early sensitivity also to the suffering of others;

• The presence of a clear ideology and moral firmness from adolescence onwards.

• The articulation of a greater number of "redemption sequences", i.e. life episodes where pain and hardship have been transformed into positive outcomes.

• The presence of future pro-social goals that will have an impact on a wide area of society .

MODEL OF THE TIMING OF EVENTS

• SOCIAL CLOCK

• Development depends on the timing of certain events in

  people's lives.

• Normative life events normally occur at certain times of life.

• Existence of a social clock > societal norms and what is

  considered appropriate.

Existence of a social clock

societal norms and what is considered appropriate.

What can influence the model of the timing of events (the social clock)?

• Cultural and generational influence on the social clock.

• If events in time > uniform development.

• If unexpected, untimely or non-occurring events > stress.

FEATURE MODEL

Trait models

Five-factor model = Personality is explained by five Core dimensions:

• Neuroticism

• Extroversion

• Openness to experience

• Responsibility/Scrupulousness

• Agreeableness/kindness 

Neuroticism

emotional instability, mood swings: anxiety, hostility, depression, impulsivity and vulnerability

Extroversion

cordial, assertive, active, excitement and positive emotion seekers.

Openness to experience

willing to try new things and adopt new ideas.

Responsibility/Scrupulousness

Competent, orderly, compliant, decisive and disciplined.

Agreeableness/kindness

reliable, trustworthy, frank, unselfish, obedient, modest, sensitive to others.

Traits during emerging adulthood

Increases in assertiveness, conscientiousness and emotional

stability, and decrease in neurotism.

Lack of evidence of genetic or maturational causes can lead to various outcomes, importance of life experiences (emerging adulthood)

- People with prosperous and rewarding careers > increases in emotional stability and conscientiousness.

- People who are slacking in their careers > deterioration of these traits.

Slow changes during middle adulthood and old age

• Increases in agreeableness and conscientiousness.

• Decreases in neuroticism, extroversion and openness to experience

High scrupulousness in middle adulthood and old ages

hygienic behaviours that contribute to a longer life.

High neuroticism in middle adulthood and old ages

will cause anxiety and depression

Low extroversion in middle adulthood and old ages

might cause agoraphobia and social phobia

moratorium

a time-out, without the pressures of development and with the freedom to experiment with different roles and lifestyles

IDENTITY IN EMERGING ADULTHOOD

• a turning point in moratorium =  gradual crystallisation of adult role commitments

• Contemporary moratorium = the change to an adult identity

• Recentering = shift in an adult identity

Contemporary moratorium

moment of uncertainty prior to the change to an adult identity.

Recentering

process that underpins the shift to an adult identity

Main task in emerging adulthood

Power, responsibility and decision-making transferred from the family of origin to the independent early adult.

Recentralisation (3 steps)

Stage 1: beginning of emerging adulthood, expectations of self-confidence and autonomy.

Stage 2: during emerging adulthood, temporary activities and exploration of various school subjects, jobs and with various partners.

Stage 3: around the age of 30, independence from family of origin and dedication to career, partner and children or own family.

Stage 1 of Recentralisation

beginning of emerging adulthood, expectations of self-confidence and autonomy.

Step 2 of Recentralisation

during emerging adulthood, temporary activities and exploration of various school subjects, jobs and with various partners

Step 3 of Recentralisation

around the age of 30, independence from family of origin and dedication to career, partner and children or own family.

Identity process theory (Susan Krauss)

• Identity composed of the accumulation of perceptions of the self.

• Placed into Identity schemas

  • Self-perceptions are confirmed or revised in response to new information (intimate experiences, work experiences, etc.

Identity schemas

physical characteristics, cognitive skills and personality traits.

• Self-perceptions are confirmed or revised in response to new information

 Identity assimilation

• attempt to maintain a coherent sense of self in the face of new experiences that do not conform to an existing schema.

• It tends to maintain the continuity of the self.

Example of Identity assimilation

I am not changing the my self-perception because of the environment, but change perception of the environment (the environment is the once which is wrong not me)

Identity accommodation

• adjustment of the schema to accommodate new experiences.

• It tends to bring about the necessary change.

Example of Identity accommodation

i will change the self-perception and identity in order to be equal with the environment

Excessive use of assimilation

people who are inflexible and do not learn from experience.

Excessive use of accommodation

people who are weak and vulnerable to criticism.

Maintaining identity balance

stable people between continuity and adjustment

Narrative psychology: identity as life story

• Development of the self as a process of constructing one's own life story.

• Mid-life as a time of life history review.

• Use of the standardised interview to collect information

Dramatic narrative or personal myth

making sense of our life and connecting past and present with future = a narrative identity.

Identity crisis in mid-life

• known as the turning points in half of life

• Shaped by psychological transitions that lead to major changes in life meaning, purpose or direction.

• The crisis of TIME DOES NOT DEPEND ON AGE, BUT ON INDIVIDUAL LIFE EVENTS.

what are identity crisis in mid-life triggered by?

major life events, normative changes or a new understanding of previous experience.

How can identity crisi in mid-life have an impact?

• It sheds new light on the self.

• Stimulates mid-course corrections on vital design and trajectory.

• Existence of mortality awareness