3. MIDLIFE CHALLENGES: Describe TWO of the theories of adult development discuss

Question

3. MIDLIFE CHALLENGES: Describe TWO of the theories of adult development discussed in class (e.g., Levinson’s Season’s of Life; Neugarten’s Time-of-Events Model; Heckhausen’s Theory of Control; Elder’s Life Course Theory; Erikson’s Generativity vs. Self-Absorption). Discuss how each of the theories that you have described supports or does not support the possible existence of a “midlife crisis”. Although the occurrence is rare, identify a physical, cognitive, and social-emotional factor that can make a mid-life crisis more or less likely. Give an example of how a midlife crisis, or a crisis at any point in the lifespan, can be functional in promoting development.

Explanation / Answer

Levinson's theory describes 7 stages of adulthood development, Early adulhood (from17 -22) - here a person leaves teens and think of entering into serious factor of relationship or career Enetring adulthood (22-25) Here a person makes more concerete decision, Age 30 transitions - (28-33) - There are lifestyle changes such as marraige or kids, Setlling down (33-40) - Here one tries to setlle down, and behaves like adult, sets goals future goals. Mid LIfe transition theory (40-45) - It can be a crisis like situation as there are value changes, soceital changes. Enetring middle adultood - in this a person thinks about retirement plans (45-50). Late adulthood - (60+) - Here one sees the reflection of the decision made.

Bernice Neugarten suggested that a behaviour is controlled by social or rather biological clock. Time of life events such as graduation, marraige, child bearing is social clock - this depends upon social conditions of the society. If these evets are 'on time' then people do not experience stress if these evets are 'off time' then people experience stress. This again depends upon persoality facrotrs to cope up with stress.

Mid life crisis is genrally seen, where children are independent and there is no old age. These people are in middle stage, wherein they are not contributing to society or cannot accept old age. There are also harmonal changes in women. Hence they experience hot flushes or sweats. This oftens leads to depression in mid life. Many people have tarted new business in this phase which has turned into success. There are many such exaples such as Biocon company, where the women started business in her mid life and it is sucessful. There can also be sudden career change.

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