chapter 13: physical and cognitive development
in middle adulthood
middle adulthood: developmental period beginning about 40 and
extending to 60-65 years
•"40 is the old age for your youth. 50 is the youth age of your
old"
•carl jung - "the afternoon of life"
•a time of reflection, evaluation, anticipation
midlife age identity:
•A consistent finding is that as adults become older, their
perceived age identity is younger than their chronological age.
•Studies (2) indicate that approximately 50% of people between
ages 65 and 69, as well as between 60 and 75 view
themselves as being middle age
midlife transitions:
•grown children leave home/launching
•financial and career stability but sometimes career changes
•marriages undergo reevaluation
•"sandwich generation" (may still be caring for, financially
supporting and parenting their own offspring, but may also be
caring for and to some degree financially helping and
"parenting" their parents)
•a period of deepening roots (family and friends ascend in
importance)
•generativity vs stagnation (erickson's 7th stage)
•best educated and most affluent cohort
•community and political prowess
in middle adulthood
middle adulthood: developmental period beginning about 40 and
extending to 60-65 years
•"40 is the old age for your youth. 50 is the youth age of your
old"
•carl jung - "the afternoon of life"
•a time of reflection, evaluation, anticipation
midlife age identity:
•A consistent finding is that as adults become older, their
perceived age identity is younger than their chronological age.
•Studies (2) indicate that approximately 50% of people between
ages 65 and 69, as well as between 60 and 75 view
themselves as being middle age
midlife transitions:
•grown children leave home/launching
•financial and career stability but sometimes career changes
•marriages undergo reevaluation
•"sandwich generation" (may still be caring for, financially
supporting and parenting their own offspring, but may also be
caring for and to some degree financially helping and
"parenting" their parents)
•a period of deepening roots (family and friends ascend in
importance)
•generativity vs stagnation (erickson's 7th stage)
•best educated and most affluent cohort
•community and political prowess
