Social & Emotional
Development in Middle
Adulthood
Balancing Work and Family
Erikson’s Theory & Midlife
• Generativity vs Stagnation
• Commitment expands beyond self (identity)
and partner (intimacy) to larger group
• Gen- everything that can outlive the self and
ensure improvement
• Stag- unable to contribute b/c of selfcenteredness and self-indulgence
Levinson’s Seasons of Life
• Midlife Transition
– ~40 yrs success evaluation, precious
remaining years
– Advancement & Growth at work?
– For some, inner pressure to change life path
Levinson’s Seasons of Life:
Modifying ones life structure
(Gender Differences & Similarities)
• Acceptance with age & creating youth-age
balance
– Physical changes, illness, aging parents
– Due to double standard of aging, women find it
harder to accept
• Confront own mortality and increase
awareness of others’ destructive behavior
Levinson’s Seasons of Life:
Modifying ones life structure
(Gender Differences & Similarities)
• Reconciling feminine & masculine parts
of self
– Men: more accepting of “feminine” traits
such as nurturance & caring
– Women: more open to “masculine” traits of
autonomy, dominance, & assertiveness
• Will this be true when you’re in middle
adulthood?
Is there a MIDLIFE CRISIS?
• What is it?
• "I'm looking forward to pursuing
the career I always wanted,“
• "I'm tired of just working on
other people's visions, rather
than my own, even if I have to
start on a smaller scale."
Is there a MIDLIFE CRISIS?
• Intense self-doubt lead to drastic changes in
personal life and career
• 70-80% vs. 10%
• Most don’t experience it, though wide
differences in response to midlife
• Sudden changes to outsiders may not truly be
“sudden”
• For many-sense of confidence &
accomplishment
Divorce