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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Why is it more difficult to generalize about experiences in adulthood than it is earlier phases of life? |
There are no pre-established rites of passage, and normative events that mark important transitions in adulthood can happen at varying times, or not at all. |
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What is the life expectancy for men and women in Canada today? |
79.9, women longer than men. |
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What has happened to life expectancy for Canadians over the past century? |
The average life expectancy for Canadians has increased more than 20 years. |
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In what way is changing life expectancy associated with changing patterns of living late in life? |
- Children stay home longer - Live long enough to earn a pension plan - Retirement |
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In what ways can the “cohort effect” explain differences between generations? What are some limitations of this explanatory power? |
Each cohort faces changing expectations as society evolves, and responds to these expectations with the set of socialized responses it has learned. Some believe that other factors play a larger role in forming people experiences, such as religion, economic class, and geography. |
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How does Erik Erikson describe the central dilemma of midlife? |
The central task of midlife is seeking a sense of “generativity” - the capacity to make a meaningful contribution in the world. Adults who fail in this task experience the “stagnation” of self-indulgence.People in the middle age must confront how they will make contributions. |
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Why do women, in particular, often face more stress at midlife? |
Women, in particular, often find themselves in the role of “kin-keeper”, responsible for coordinating family communication, organizing events, and generally maintaining familial relationships. |
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Why is the role of “grandparent” difficult to summarize in our culture? |
It is relatively new |
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What roles can grandparents play in the family? |
- “family historian” - become mentors for grandchildren - provide physical care for younger children - serve as a financial resource as they get older - involvement depends on grandparents’ interests, and factors such as age, geographic proximity, health and work. |
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Give three examples of what anticipatory socialization for retirement might look like. |
- work: provides fundamental life structure, individuals need to find new opportunities for generativity. - finances: has to find new sources of income. |
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Describe generativity. |
- The capacity to make a meaningful contribution in the world. |
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Describe the Stability Template. |
There is a set of characteristics formed in childhood that remains constant. |
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Describe the Orderly Change Model. |
Experiences and behaviors are common to all people at a particular phase in life. There is a predictable set of changes involved in the aging process. |
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Describe the Theory of Random Change. |
Each person’s “non-normative” experiences create a unique and unpredictable experience of aging. The experiences of each person determines how she or he will age. |
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Describe the Social Construction Theory (symbolic interactionism). |
The experiences of aging change over time and across cultures not because behaviours are changing, but because society assigns new meanings. Ex. Many seek to hide signs of aging with cosmetics and plastic surgery. |
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Cite evidence for and against the assertion that “midlife crisis is just a myth”. |
Myth: - it is more likely a cohort effect and not a consistent reality Real: - new season of life makes people rethink their life dream (can be minor or major). - stop climbing the work ladder, no where left to go. - more options - empty nest syndrome, miss companionship - symbolic interactionist, social media portrays “midlife crisis” and individuals are affected by this representation. |
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What three categories of people at midlife does Daniel Levinson identify? |
- Little or no change to priorities and patterns as they pursue their “Dream”. - Decide to make changes in order to refocus on pursuing “the Dream” - They abandon “the Dream”, and create a new life structure around a new identity. |
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Age strata |
layers defined by chronological age |
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Cohort |
Individuals born within a particular defined period |
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Generation |
a distinct cohort |
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cohort effect |
each cohort faces changing expectations as society evolves, and responds to these expectations with the set of socialized responses it has learned. |
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Sandwich generation |
People facing the simultaneous dependence from the prior and latter generations. |
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Gerotranscendence |
pursue the ability to rise above the difficulties with calmness. |
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disengagement theory |
it is natural for aging people to gradually withdraw from society, to turn their focus inward as they prepare for death. |
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Why do many people need to rethink their career by midlife? |
- People’s careers are an important part of their self identity - Faced with the reality of “career plateauing” (can no longer perform their job). - They have risen as high as they will in the workplace hierarchy. |
