NURS2003 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Fluid And Crystallized Intelligence, Ovulation, Estrogen
CHAPTER 12 – MIDLIFE
The Evolving Self
Although the boundaries of middle age span about age 40 to the early sixties,
many older adults describe themselves as middle aged
Diversity – among people and change processes – plus consistency are the
defining characteristics of the middle years
Big Five: five core psychological predispositions – neuroticism, extraversion,
openness to experience, conscientiousness and agreeableness – that underlie
personality
Research on the Big Five traits shows our scores on these core dimensions of
personality predict a variety of life outcomes
Also, our relative rankings on these traits don’t change much after age 30,
unless we experience other major life changes
Interviews paint a different picture, suggesting that we change a good deal as we
travel through life
Generativity: in Erikson’s theory, the seventh psychosocial task, in which people
in midlife find meaning from nurturing the next generation, caring for others or
enriching the lives of others through their work. According to Erikson, when
midlife adults have not achieved generativity, they feel stagnant without a sense
of purpose in life
Dan McAdams’ research exploring generativity shows that our priorities shift
to “other-centred concerns” during midlife
Generativity grows into the sixties, can be “activated” by parenthood and while
not necessarily relate to hedonic pleasure, produces eudaimonic happiness
Hedonic happiness: well-being defined as pure pleasure
Eudaimonic happiness: well-being defined as having a sense of meaning and life
purpose
The sense of living a meaningful, fulfilling adult life
Commitment script: in Dan McAdams’ research, a type of autobiography
produced by highly generative adults that involves childhood memories of feeling
special; being unusually sensitive to others’ misfortunes; having a strong,
enduring generative mission from adolescence and redemption sequences
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Although the boundaries of middle age span about age 40 to the early sixties, many older adults describe themselves as middle aged. Diversity among people and change processes plus consistency are the defining characteristics of the middle years. Big five: five core psychological predispositions neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness and agreeableness that underlie personality. Research on the big five traits shows our scores on these core dimensions of personality predict a variety of life outcomes. Also, our relative rankings on these traits don"t change much after age 30, unless we experience other major life changes. Interviews paint a different picture, suggesting that we change a good deal as we travel through life. Generativity: in erikson"s theory, the seventh psychosocial task, in which people in midlife find meaning from nurturing the next generation, caring for others or enriching the lives of others through their work.
