LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY-B4

UNIT-3 -
PSYCHOSOCIAL CHANGES (EARLY ADULTHOOD,
MIDDLE AGE, OLD AGE)

EARLY ADULTHOOD

Erikson's Theory:

● Intimacy vs. Isolation: The central conflict of early adulthood is between intimacy
and isolation. People must develop the ability to form close, loving relationships
with others, while also maintaining their own sense of identity.
● If successful: People who resolve this conflict successfully are able to form deep
and meaningful relationships with others. They are able to give and receive love,
and they feel connected to others.
● If unsuccessful: People who do not resolve this conflict successfully may
experience feelings of isolation and loneliness. They may have difficulty forming
close relationships, and they may feel like they do not belong.

Levinson's Seasons of Life Theory:

● Early Adult Transition (ages 17-22): This is a time of exploration and

experimentation. People are trying to figure out who they are and what they want
to do with their lives.
● Age-30 Transition (ages 28-33): This is a time of reevaluation and consolidation.
People are taking stock of their lives and making decisions about their future.

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 ● Settling Down (ages 33-40): This is a time of stability and commitment. People
are focusing on their careers, families, and other important relationships.

Close relationships in early adulthood:

● Romantic Love: Romantic love is a powerful emotion that can bring people
together and make them feel happy and fulfilled.
● Attachment Patterns: Attachment patterns formed in early childhood can have a
significant impact on romantic relationships in adulthood.
● Friendships: Friends can provide support, companionship, and acceptance
during early adulthood.

Gender differences in close relationships:

● Women: Women tend to value intimacy and emotional connection in their

relationships.
● Men: Men tend to value companionship and shared activities in their
relationships.
● Same-sex friendships: Same-sex friendships are often more intimate for women
than men.
● Other-sex friendships: Other-sex friendships are less common and do not last as
long as same-sex friendships.

Overall, early adulthood is a time of significant psychosocial development. People are

developing their identities, forming close relationships, and making important life
decisions. The challenges and opportunities of this stage of life can be both exciting and
daunting.

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THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
● Leaving home: People typically leave home in their early adulthood to pursue
education, employment, or other opportunities.
● Marriage: Marriage is a major life transition that brings together two families.
Marital roles and expectations can vary widely, but most couples strive to create
a supportive and loving relationship.
● Parenthood: Parenthood is another major life transition that can bring great joy
and fulfillment, but it can also be challenging. Parents must balance work and
family responsibilities, and they may experience role overload, especially if they
are dual-career couples.
● Empty nest: When children leave home, parents may experience a sense of loss
and adjustment. However, this can also be a time of opportunity for couples to
reconnect and pursue their own interests.

Marital satisfaction:

● Men tend to be happier in marriage than women.

● Women need a certain level of relationship quality to feel satisfied.
● Women are more likely to suffer from role overload and marital dissatisfaction.

Parenthood:

● Parenthood is an active choice for couples.

● There are both advantages and disadvantages to having children.
● The transition to parenthood can be challenging for couples, but loving and
supportive marriages can usually manage the strain.

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Career development:

● Career development can help adults establish a satisfying identity.

● Men tend to enter their careers earlier and stay in the workforce continuously.
● Very successful men often emphasize their jobs over family and leisure activities.
● Dual-career marriages can be challenging, especially for women who carry so
many role responsibilities.

Combining work and family:

● Dual-career marriages can lead to role overload, stress, poorer marital

relationships, and poorer parenting.
● Career decisions are more flexible for professional people, but moves can be
difficult for dual-career couples.
● Women are particularly afflicted with role overload when combining work and
family.

Overall, the sequence of phases in the development of most families can be challenging
and rewarding. Couples need to be flexible and supportive of each other as they
navigate these transitions.

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MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

Generativity vs. stagnation: Middle adulthood is a time when people are focused on giving
back to others and making a difference in the world. This is known as generativity. People
who are successful in this stage of life feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction. Those who
are unsuccessful may experience stagnation, which is a feeling of emptiness and lack of
meaning.

Body image: Middle adulthood is a time when people may experience changes in their
physical appearance. This can lead to concerns about body image. It is important for
people in this stage of life to accept their changing bodies and to focus on their inner
beauty.

Relationships: Middle adulthood is a time when people's relationships with their children,
spouse, and friends may change. It is important for people in this stage of life to nurture
their relationships and to make time for the people they care about.

Career: Middle adulthood is a time when people may be at the peak of their careers.
However, it is also a time when people may start to think about retirement and making
changes in their careers. It is important for people in this stage of life to be open to new
opportunities and to continue to develop their skills.

Here are some specific examples of how these psychosocial changes can manifest in
middle adulthood:

Generativity: People in middle adulthood may volunteer their time to worthy causes, start
their own businesses, or mentor younger people.

Body image: People in middle adulthood may start to exercise more, eat healthier, or get
cosmetic surgery.

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Relationships: People in middle adulthood may spend more time with their grandchildren,
travel with their spouse, or reconnect with old friends.

Career: People in middle adulthood may start to mentor younger colleagues, take on new
challenges, or plan for retirement.

These are just a few examples, and the specific ways in which these psychosocial changes
manifest can vary widely from person to person. However, they are all important aspects of
healthy development in middle adulthood.

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OLD AGE :
● Erikson's theory: Ego Integrity vs. Despair is the final stage of life. This involves
coming to terms with one's life and accepting both the good and the bad. People
who achieve ego integrity feel a sense of wholeness and satisfaction with their lives.
Those who experience despair feel regret and bitterness about their choices.
● Peck's theory: Peck identifies three tasks that people must complete in order to
achieve ego integrity:
○ Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation: People must find ways to
define their self-worth outside of their careers.
○ Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation: People must accept their
physical limitations and focus on their cognitive and social strengths.
○ Ego transcendence vs. ego preoccupation: People must find a way to give
back to the world and leave a legacy.
● Labouvie-Vief's theory: Emotional expertise: People in late adulthood become more
in touch with their emotions and learn to use them to reflect on their life
experiences. This allows them to develop a more complex and nuanced
understanding of themselves and the world around them.
● Reminiscence and life review: Reminiscence is the act of reflecting on one's past. Life
review is a more structured form of reminiscence in which people reflect on their
lives in order to gain a sense of closure.
● Stability and change in self-concept and personality:
○ Secure and multifaceted self-concept: People in late adulthood have a strong
sense of self-understanding and are comfortable with who they are.
○ Agreeableness, sociability, and acceptance of change: People in late
adulthood tend to be more agreeable, sociable, and accepting of change.
○ Spirituality and religiosity: People in late adulthood often find greater
meaning and purpose in their lives through spirituality and religion.
● Individual differences in psychological well-being:

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 ○ Control vs. dependency: People in late adulthood vary in their need for
control and independence. Some people are comfortable relying on others
for help, while others prefer to remain as independent as possible.
○ Elder suicide: Elder suicide is a serious problem, but it is often difficult to
detect. Elders may withdraw from social activities, refuse to eat or take care
of themselves, or refuse to take medication.
● Health, negative life changes, and social support:
○ Health is a strong predictor of well-being in late adulthood. People who
experience illness or chronic disabilities are more likely to experience
negative life changes such as loss of friends and family, financial strain, and
greater dependency.
○ Social support is important for psychological well-being in late adulthood.
People who have strong social networks are less likely to experience
depression and anxiety.
● Relationships in late adulthood:
○ Social convoy: People in late adulthood have a social convoy, which is a
network of family and friends who provide support and companionship.
○ Marriage: Marital satisfaction often increases in late adulthood. Couples who
engage in joint leisure activities and communicate positively tend to have
more satisfying marriages.
○ Siblings: Sibling relationships often become closer in late adulthood. Siblings
may enjoy reminiscing together and providing support for each other.
○ Friendships: Friendships are important for social well-being in late adulthood.
Friends provide companionship, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.
● Retirement and leisure:
○ Decision to retire: People retire for a variety of reasons, including
affordability, health status, and opportunities to pursue meaningful activities.
○ Adjustment to retirement: Adjustment to retirement can be challenging, but
it is important to develop new activities and interests.

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 ○ Leisure activities: Leisure activities can have a positive impact on physical and
mental health. It is important to choose activities that are enjoyable and
stimulating.
● Successful ageing: Successful ageing occurs when people are able to minimize
losses and maximize gains in late adulthood. Social contexts can foster successful
ageing by providing access to good health care, safe housing, and opportunities for
lifelong learning.

Overall, psychosocial changes in late adulthood can be complex and challenging. However,
there are many things that people can do to age successfully. By maintaining strong social
networks, engaging in meaningful activities, and accepting the changes that come with age,
people can enjoy a fulfilling and enriching life in late adulthood.