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Understanding Adulthood Stages and Challenges

The document discusses the concept of adulthood, defining it as a period of physical and psychological maturation, and outlines the stages of early, middle, and late adulthood. It emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships and various theories of adult development, including Erikson's intimacy vs. isolation stage and Levinson's Seasons of Life Theory. Additionally, it addresses midlife crises, their signs, and strategies for managing them.

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6 views26 pages

Understanding Adulthood Stages and Challenges

The document discusses the concept of adulthood, defining it as a period of physical and psychological maturation, and outlines the stages of early, middle, and late adulthood. It emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships and various theories of adult development, including Erikson's intimacy vs. isolation stage and Levinson's Seasons of Life Theory. Additionally, it addresses midlife crises, their signs, and strategies for managing them.

Uploaded by

usmanali0332166
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ADULTHOOD

by
Shahla Arshad
Lecturer
KMU-INS
OBJECTIVES

At the end of this presentation the students will be able to:


 Define adulthood.
 Explain Early , middle and late adulthood.
 Discuss Interpersonal relationships (work and family)
 Describe Erickson’s intimacy vs. isolation stage
 Explore Mid-life crises and life satisfaction
ADULTHOOD

Derived from Latin word “Adutus” means grown to full size


and length or matured. In Psychology Adulthood is defined
as:
“The time frame of growth when physical maturation has
been attained and specific biologic, mental, cultural,
individual characteristics, and various other developments
concerned with getting older have taken place.”
The Nature Of Development
Development:pattern of change in human capabilities that
begins at conception and continues through the life span
The pattern of development is the product of:
Physical processes:
changes in individual’s biological nature
Cognitive processes:
changes in individual’s thinking, intelligence and language
Socio-emotional processes:
changes in individual’s relationships with other people,
emotions, and personality

4
Adult Periods Of Development

 Early development:
Begins in early 18 years and last through 40 years.
 Middle development:
Period from 40 years of age to about 60 years.
 Late development:
Period from 60 years to death
Early adulthood (18-40)
Early adulthood is a time of:
 Establishing personal and economic independence
 Developing a career
 Selecting a mate
 Learning to live with someone in an intimate way
 Starting a family
 Rearing children
Middle adulthood (40 -60)
Middle adulthood is time of:
 Expanding personal and social involvement
and responsibility
 Assisting next generation in becoming
competent, mature individuals
 Reaching and maintaining satisfaction in a
career
Late adulthood (60s and lasts until death).
Late adulthood is the time of:
 Adjusting to retirement
 Decreasing strength and health
 Reviewing one’s life
Interpersonal Relationships
(work and family)
 Positive relationships with significant others in our
adult years have been found to contribute to a state
of well-being.
 An interpersonal relationship is a strong, deep, or
close association or acquaintanceship between two
or more people.
 Relationships change and grow; they may either
improve or dissolve over time.
 The association between two people can be based on
various factors—love, solidarity, business, or any
other context that requires two (or more) people to
interact.
 Interpersonal relationships are dynamic systems that
change continuously during their existence.
 They tend to grow and improve gradually as people
get to know each other and become closer
emotionally, or they gradually deteriorate as people
drift apart.
Theories of Adult Development

 Daniel Levinson's Seasons of Life Theory

 George Vaillant's Adult Tasks Theory

 Bernice Neugarten's Social Clock Theory

 Malcolm Adult Learning Theory – Andragogy

 Erick Erickson Theory of Development


Daniel Levinson's Seasons of Life Theory

Psychologist Daniel Levinson developed a comprehensive theory of


adult development, referred to as the Seasons of Life theory, which
identified stages and growth that occur well into the adult years.
1. Early Adult Transition (Age 17-22).
2. Entering the Adult World (Age 22-28).
3. Age 30 Transitions (Age 28-33).
4. Settling Down (Age 33-40)
5. Mid-Life Transition (Age 40-45).
6. Entering Middle Adulthood (Age 45-50).
7. Late Adulthood (Age 60+).
George Vaillant's Adult Tasks Theory

Vaillant identified six adult life tasks that must be successfully


accomplished in order for a person to mature as an adult. these tasks
are:

1. Developing an Identity.
2. Development of Intimacy.
3. Career Consolidation.
4. Generativity.
5. Becoming Keeper of the Meaning.
6. Achieving Integrity.
Bernice Neugarten's Social Clock Theory
 Social psychologist Bernice Neugarten proposed the idea of
the social clock to help explain aging. Neugarten noticed
that events in society happened in a predictable manner.
Think about your culture.
 What is considered the best age for marriage? In most
western societies, the age is around 25 to 35. However in
many cultures, the expectation is as young as 12.
 Neugarten's suggested that all societies have a social clock,
a conscious or unconscious consensus that dictates when
events should occur. If the events do not happen in this time
frame, people feel stress for not living up to their family's or
society's expectations. They judge themselves harshly when
they see others achieving these milestones on time.
Malcolm Adult Learning Theory – Andragogy

Malcolm Shepherd Knowles (1913 – 1997) was an American educator


well known for the use of the term Andragogy as synonym to adult
education. In 1984, Knowles suggested 4 principles that are applied
to adult learning:
 Adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of
instruction.
 Experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for the
learning activities.
 Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have
immediate relevance and impact to their job or personal life.
 Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-
oriented.
Erickson’s intimacy vs. isolation stage

An Overview of the Intimacy Versus Isolation Stage. This


sixth stage of psychosocial development consists of:

 Psychosocial Conflict: Intimacy versus isolation


 Major Question: "Will I be loved or will I be alone?"
 Basic Virtue: Love
 Important Event: Romantic Relationships
 It is important to remember that each stage contributes to
the next. For example, Erikson believed that having a
fully formed sense of self (established during the identity
versus confusion stage) is essential to being able to form
intimate relationships.

 Studies have demonstrated that those with a poor sense of


self-tend to have less committed relationships and are
more likely to suffer emotional isolation, loneliness, and
depression.
Signs of a Midlife Crisis
 Desire to change career or job
 Exploring new religious experience
 Increase in alcohol and drug use, food intake, and other
compulsions
 Significant decrease or increase in sexual desire
 Sexual affairs
 Greatly decreased or increased ambition
 Buying (but not excessively) things that make you feel good
 Exhaustion, boredom, or discontentment with life or with a

lifestyle (including people and things) that previously


provided fulfillment
 Frantic energy; feeling restless and wanting to do something

completely different
 Self-questioning
 ​Confusion about who you are or where your life is going
 Divorce in midlife
 Life regrets—opportunities that weren’t pursued
 Seeking a new direction in life
 Daydreaming
 Irritability, unexpected anger
 Persistent sadness
Ways To Control Midlife Crises

1. Nurture Yourself.
2. Identify Sources Of Stress
3. Set up a support group
4. Exercise
5. Eat a healthy diet.
6. Accept help when it’s offered.
7. Positive Social Relationships

8. Good Marriage

9. Mastery of Multiple Roles

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11. Learn to release your frustrations

12. Get enough sleep

13. Keep a sense of humor.

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