The Psycho-social Challenge of Middle Adulthood - Essay Example

?Running head: MIDDLE ADULTHOOD The Psychosocial Challenge of Middle Adulthood The Psychosocial Challenge of Middle Adulthood Middle adulthood- A challenging time: Middle adulthood is the time between the ages of 34 to 60 years. After acquiring new social roles during young adulthood, existing roles are maintained and strengthened in this phase. It is the stage when prominent physical, cognitive, and social challenges are faced by adults (Newman & Newman, 2011). Physically, adults show signs aging through wrinkling of skin, obesity, thinning of hair, and weakened muscle strength (Newman & Newman, 2011). There is an increasing risk of developing chronic illnesses like heart diseases, digestive disorders, hypertension, obesity, and high blood pressure, etc. (Newman & Newman, 2011). Sexual proficiency is also challenged. Men experience sexual interferes such as delayed erection (Newman & Newman, 2011). For women, this stage is critical because at some point they usually reach menopause (Newman & Newman, 2011). Cognitively, the highlight of this phase is that practical problem solving increases (Newman & Newman, 2011). That is because by now, people have the benefit of life experience, due to which their reasoning, problem solving, and decision making abilities are enhanced (Newman & Newman, 2011). During this stage, people try to assess the impact of the contribution they are making on society through work, raising a family, and other social activities, and face social and cognitive challenges if they are unable to do so (Newman & Newman, 2011). Psychosocial crisis of Generativity and Stagnation- The similarity and difference: Middle adulthood, according to Erikson, involves the tussle between Generativity and Stagnation. Erikson described that “generativity encompasses procreativity, productivity, and creativity, and thus the generation of new beings, as well as of modern products and unique ideas, including a kind of self-generation concerned with further identity development” (Newman & Newman, 2011). For adults, generativity is a process of having a positive identity. It is their wish to leave a legacy of themselves to the next generation (Newman & Newman, 2011). They seek to promote and guide the following generation, and doing things that have a lasting impact on the society. Erikson believed that “parenting, teaching, mentoring, and leading are the perfect resources for providing such guidance” (Newman & Newman, 2011). In a study conducted to prove Erikson’s this point, Donna A. Van De Water and Dan P. McAdams examined 70 adults for the sake of understanding the relativity between generativity and serving humans through parenting or nurturing. Their results proved that “generativity is positively related to a belief in species, and that the personality trait of nurturance, leading, and generating products were positively related to all three generativity measures” (Van De Water & McAdams). The achievement of generativity involves two aspects, a willingness to care about the people and the things that one has produced, and to protect and improve the conditions of one’s society (Newman & Newman, 2011). Parenting is the most probable solution to the midlife urge for generativity, as it involves procreation, nurturing, and caring. However, contribution to society could be made by inventing, teaching, mentoring, and artistic creations, etc (Newman & Newman, 2011). Generative action could be monumental such as the contribution made by Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi in their struggle for equality. Alternatively, it could be of lesser stature, like the works done by volunteers for human services organizations (Newman & Newman, 2011). Stagnation theoretically is not just an opposite of generativity; it is a complete domain which implies negative effects on a person (Newman & Newman, 2011). It emerges when people sense that they have done nothing for the next generation. There are several factors that create such a negative emotion, like failure of any sort at workplace, monotonous routine, or troubled family life, etc (Newman & Newman, 2011). Such a scenario can rip meaning and purpose from an adult’s life. It is different from generativity because where generativity is a product of optimism, stagnation stems from pessimism. Individuals manifest stagnation in distinctive ways. A narcissistic individual, who generally relates to others in terms of how they can serve him, may feel contended (Newman & Newman, 2011). However, this satisfaction only lasts until the physical and psychological penalties of aging begin to occur. On the other hand, a depressed person is likely to perceive that he/she is having insufficient resources to make any contribution to society (Newman & Newman, 2011). Nevertheless, it is basically a reactionary condition when one feels incompatible with the social environment. The similarity between generativity and stagnation is that both these psychosocial conditions are influenced by culture and environmental situations. For example, in some societies, there prevails on gender segregation and women does not get due to exposure, as compared to men, especially at a workplace (Newman & Newman, 2011). Similarly past experiences, social environment, and familial background play an important role in enhancing generativity or producing stagnation (Newman & Newman, 2011). Social status or failures in life effect a person’s cognitive health severely, and enable him/her towards a depressed state (Newman & Newman, 2011). On the other hand, positive social and home environment, where one gets due to attention, proper upbringing, and gets to make his or her contribution enhance the generative process greatly.  In a study by Holy M. Hart and her colleagues, 253 adults between ages 34 and 65, half African-American and half white American were examined for the relativity between generativity and social involvement. The results concluded that “Individual differences in generativity were positively associated with social support from family and friends, involvement in religious activities, and political participation. Between Blacks and Whites, African American adults scored significantly higher than whites on measures of generative concerns, productive acts, indices on social support, religious participation, and parenting as a role model and source of wisdom” (Hart, McAdams, Hirsch & Bauer, 2002). There are situations where families are childless, or children come from broken families; it is natural that adults coming from such backgrounds may feel helpless in performing the generativity process through nurturing or parenting (Newman & Newman, 2011). Nevertheless, this is also where generativity supersedes stagnation, because there are various alternatives for this process (Newman & Newman, 2011). This proves that SES circumstances, social structure of the society, and familial influences produce a profound effect on the challenges of generativity and stagnation during midlife (Newman & Newman, 2011). It also puts forth the conclusion, that generativity and stagnation though are differing conducts, but are the products of circumstances, and social environment. Observation of an adult: Observation is the most authentic tool for any counselor, as it is of paramount importance to evaluate the knowledge with reality. To observe a person in middle adulthood, the best choice would be one’s own parents or peers. I have observed my father while he is undergoing the phase of generativity. Although he has manifested most of the above mentioned physical challenges and illnesses, but the courage and determination that reside within him are phenomenal.  The urge of passing on the family values, traditions, and knowledge, which he has gained, to us’ the next generation” is what generativity desire is all about. In our family, cultural values have played a very important role in satisfying this urge of middle adulthood. There is a tradition of respecting and caring for grandparents, and involving the young ones too. This is what I have learned is a natural procedure, known as Filial obligation, i.e., to care for one’s parents along with preparing the next generation for this process (Newman & Newman, 2011). In my family, my father makes it a point to involve my grandparents for their input in critical family matters, which is how their urge for “Grand-Generativity” is served, along with his desire of making a contribution through caring, and nurturing (Newman & Newman, 2011). The main challenge attached to this phase of human life is related to workplace problems. Situations like the fear of incompetence, monotony of routine, joblessness, deadlines, and various derogatory situations that may arise at the workplace also contribute to the crisis of stagnation. My father as well passed through this phase and never let this “Role Stagnation” plague his cognitive environment (Newman & Newman, 2011). People have the tendency to either change their perception towards such situations in a positive way, just as my father did through indulging in creative and social works like helping the poor and needy ones (Newman & Newman, 2011). On the other hand, they can react resentfully, and become avoidant or withdrawn. What I have learned from my father is to always put forth a positive and brave effort in maintaining a fair balance between work, family, and social activities. References Hart, H. M. McAdams, D. P. Hirsch, B. J. & Bauer, J. J. (2002). Generativity and social involvement among African Americans and white adults. Journal of Research in Personality, 35(2), 208-230. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.library.capella.edu/science/article/pii/S0092656601923189 Van De Water, D. A. & McAdams, D. P. (2004). Generativity and Erikson. Journal of Research in Personality, 23(4), 435-449. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.library.capella.edu/science/article/pii/0092656689900135 Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2011). Development through life: A psychosocial approach. Cengage Learning. Read More