Dep 2000 Ch 16 Quiz 4

Front 1

Understand the Eriksonian conflict of middle adulthood?

Back 1

Generativity versus stagnation - Generativity involves reaching out to others in ways that give to and guide the next generation. The generative adult combines the need for self-expression with the need for communion, integrating personal goals with the welfare of the larger social world. The resulting strength is the capacity to care for others in a broader way that in previous stages. Erikson selected the term generativity to encompass everything generated that can outlive the self and ensure society's continuity and improvement: children, ideas, products, works of art. Parenting is not the only way of realizing generativity, also in other family relationships, as mentors in the workplace, in volunteer endeavors, and throug forms of productivity and creativity. Generativity brings together personal desires and cultural demands. Personally - middle aged adults feel the need to be needed - to make contribution that will survive their death. May stem from a deep seated evolutionary urge to protect and advance the nxt generation. Cultural - society imposes a social clock for generativity in midlife, requiring adults to take responsibility for the nxt generation through their roles as parents, teachers, mentors, leaders. etc. The negative of this stage is stagnation: once life goals like kids marriage etc. are attained , they may become self-centered and self-indulgent. They express stagnation through lack of interest in young people, focus on what they can get rather than give, and little interest in developing talents, being productive.

Front 2

What characterizes highly generative people?

Back 2

they appear well adjusted- low in anxiety and depression, high in autonomy, self-acceptance, and life satisfaction, and more likely to have successful marriages and close friends. They are more open to differing viewpoints, posess leadership qualities, desire more from work than financial rewards. They are also more involved in political activities, including voting, campaigning, and contacting public officials.

Front 3

How do the stories of generative adults differ from those of non-generative adults?

Back 3

Narratives of generative adults contained an orderly sequence of events that the researchers called a commitment story, in which adults give to others as a means of giving back to family, community and society. They typically describe an early advantage ( good family ) along with early awareness of suffering of others. The clash between blessing and suffering motivates the person to view themself as being commited to others. They describe scenes with negative life events followed by improvement and enlightenment - redemption is prominent. Less generative adults relate stories with themes of contamination, in which good scenes turn bad.

Front 4

what is the commitment story? Themes of contamination?

Back 4

The commitment stories are expressed by generativist adults. The theme is redemption. Bad scenes are redeemed by what follows. Themes of contamination are stories in which good scenes turn bad.

Front 5

What are the 4 major conflicts of Levinson’s theory of aging? Understand these!

Back 5

1. Young - old 2. destruction - creation 3. masculinity-femininity 4. engagement - separatedness

Front 6

Levinson's Seasons of life - young - old: .

Back 6

Middle aged person must seek ways to be both young and old. Means giving up certain youthful qualities, retaining and transforming others, and finding positive meaning in being older. Women have concern of being less attractive while men, specifically non college educated, are also highly sensitive to physical aging.

Front 7

Levinson's seasons of life - destruction - creation:

Back 7

with greater awareness of mortality, the middle aged person focuses on ways he or she has acted destructively and how others have done the same. Past hurtful acts towards people are countered by a strong desire to participate in activities that advance human welfare, thereby leaving a legacy for future generations.

Front 8

Levinson's Seasons of Life - Masculinity - femininity:

Back 8

Middle aged person must create a better balance between masculine and feminie parts of the self. For men, this means greater acceptance of feminine traits of nurturing and caring, which enhance close relationships and compassionate exercise of authority in the workplace. For women, it means being more open to "masculine" characteristics of autonomy and assertiveness.

Front 9

Levinson's Seasons of Life - Engagement- separatedness:

Back 9

Middle aged person must forge a better balance between engagement with the external world and separatedness. For many men, and for women who have had successful careers, this may mean reducing concern with ambition and achievement and attending more fully to the self. Women who have been devoted to child rearing or an unfulfilling job often feel compelled to go the other way.

Front 10

What happens to people’s gender roles in midlife?

Back 10

Increase in masculine traits in women - more confident, self-sufficient, and forceful. Men increase feminine traits - more emotionally caring, sensitive,considerat and dependant.

Front 11

What does Valliant’s research show in regards to the “midlife crisis?”

Back 11

He saw few examples of crisis but rather, slow and steady change.

Front 12

What does the term “possible selves” refer to?

Back 12

Future oriented representations of what one hopes to become and what one is afraid of becoming. Possible selves are the temporal dimension of self concept - what the individual is striving for and attempting to avoid. Adults in early twenties mention many possible selves but this declines with age and become more modest and concrete. Possible selves can be defined and redefined by the individual, as needed. Researchers feel that possible selves could be the key to continued well being in adulthood, as people revise these future images to achieve a better match between desired and achieved goals.

Front 13

What 3 personal traits increase as we move into the second half of our lives?

Back 13

1. Self acceptance - more than young adults, middle-aged people acknowledged and accepted both their good and bad qualities and felt positively about themselves and life. 2. Autonomy - middle aged adults saw themselves as less concerned about others expectations and evaluations and more concerned with following self chosen standards. 3. Environmental mastery - middle-aged people saw themselves as capable of managing a complex array of tasks easily and effectively.

Front 14

How do the coping strategies between younger and older adults differ?

Back 14

Midlife brings increase in effective coping strategies. Middle aged adults are more likely to identify the positive side of difficult situation, postpone action to permit evaluation of alternatives, anticipate and place ways to handle future discomforts, and use humor to express ideas and feelings without offending others. Complex, integrated self-descriptions - which increase in midlife, indicating an improved ability to blend strenghts and weaknesses into an organized picture - predicted good coping strategies. Also, midlife gains in emotional stability and confidence in handling lifes problems may also contribute.

Front 15

What is the theory of parental imperative?

Back 15

A well known evolutionary view which holds that identification with traditional gender roles is maintained during the active parenting years to help ensure the survival of children. Men become more goal oriented, while women emphasize nurturance. After children reach adulthood, parents are free to express the other gender side of their personalities.

Front 16

What are the big five factors of personality

Back 16

Neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness

Front 17

Desribe neuroticism

Back 17

Individuals who are high on this trait are worrying, temperamental, self-pitying, self-conscious, emotional and vulnerable. Individuals who are low are cal, even tempered, self content, comfortable, unemotional and hardy.

Front 18

Describe Extroversion

Back 18

Individuals who are high on this trait are affectionte, talkative, active, fun loving, and passionate. Individuals who are low on this trait are reserved, quiet, passive, sober, and emotionally unreactive.

Front 19

Describe Openness to experience

Back 19

Individuals who are high on this trait are imaginative, creative, original, curious and liberal. Individuals who are low are down to earth, uncreative, conventional, uncurious and conservative

Front 20

Describe Agreeableness

Back 20

Individuals who are high on this trait are soft hearted, trusting, generous, acquiescent, lenient, and good-natured. Individuals who are low are ruthless, suspicious, stingy, antagonistic, critical and irritable.

Front 21

Describe Conscientiousness

Back 21

Individuals who are high on this trait are conscientious, hard working, well-organized, punctual, ambitious, and perservering. Individuals who are low are negligent, lazy, disorganized, late, aimless, and nonpersistent.

Front 22

How does marriage change in midlife?

Back 22

Marriages can improve or get worse in middle age. It can be more conflicting if added strains come about and departure of children can make marital difficulties more obvious. Other marriages get better.

Front 23

What is the feminization of poverty?

Back 23

a trend in which women who support themselves or their families have become the majority of the adult population living in poverty, regardless of age and ethnic group.

Front 24

What are the gratifications of the grandparent role?

Back 24

1. Valued elder - being perceived as a wise helpful person 2. Immortality through descendants - leaving behind not just one but two generations after death. 3. Reinvolvement with personal past - being able to pass family history and values. 4. Indulgence - having fun with children without major child rearing responsibilites.

Front 25

What is the kinkeeping function?

Back 25

When the role is taken on to gather the family for celebrations and making sure everyone stays in touch.

Front 26

How do sibling relationships change in middle adulthood?

Back 26

Sibling support and contact decline from early to middle adulthood, rebounding only after age 70 for sibling living near each other. It is most likely due to the demands of middle-aged adults diverse roles.