Human Life Cycle

Adulthood
(20 years old & beyond)

Eleonor E. Sanchez-Antonio, M.D.,DPBP

Child and Adult Psychiatry
“Early Adulthood”
(20 - 40 years old)
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

To develop a young-adult
sense of self and others:
Third Individuation
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

To establish an adult work identity

Early Adulthood
Task: Work Identity
20’s: exploring options for occupation
Healthy adaptation to work provides:
1. Outlet for creativity
2. Satisfactory relationships w/ colleagues
3. Pride in accomplishment
4. Increased self-esteem
Early Adulthood
Task: Work Identity
20’s: exploring options for occupation
Maladaptation to work leads:
1. Dissatisfaction to oneself & with job
2. Insecurity
3. Decreased self-esteem
4. Resentment at having to work
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

To develop adult forms of play

Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

To develop adult friendships

Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

To develop the capacity for intimacy:

to become a spouse
Early Adulthood
Task: Intimacy
Marital Adjustments
 Most persons are expected to marry in their
20’s
 Happiness in marriage implies happiness in
general relationship
 A general correlation between happiness &
stability
 Success in role performance precedes
concern with companionship
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks
Erik Erikson
“Intimacy
vs.
Isolation”
Early Adulthood
Developmental Tasks
Erik Erikson
Intimacy:
an individual’s capacity to merge one’s identity
with a loved one with whom he is able and
willing to share a mutual trust, and to regulate
the cycles of procreation
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks

Age 30: Period of Reappraisal

Young adults are likely to
question their choices
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

30’s: To become a biological &

psychological parent
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

To develop a relationship of mutuality &

equality with one’s parents while
facilitating their midlife development
Early Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Calvin Colarusso)

To integrate new attitudes toward time

“Middle Adulthood”
(40 - 65 years old)
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks

Erik Erikson:

“Generativity vs. Stagnation”

Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.1:
Prime of Life
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.1:Positive Features

Responsible use of power,
maturity, productivity
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.1:Negative Features

Winner-loser view, competitiveness
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.2:
Stock-taking:
What to do with the rest of one’s life
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.2: Positive Features

Possibility, alternative
Organization of commitments
Redirection
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.2: Positive Features
 To live remaining years in a different, more
satisfying way
 As children leave home, parental roles change
 Gender changes:
 Females: pursuits that require competitive spirit
 Males: express their emotions & dependency needs
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.2: Negative Features

Closure, Fatalism
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.2: Negative Features
 Men: Frustration that they can no longer
anticipate work challenges
 Women: No suitable identity after the children
leave home
 “Empty-Nest” Syndrome: depression in men &
women when youngest child is about to leave
home
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.3:
Fidelity & Commitment
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.3: Positive Features

Commitment to
self, others, career, society
Filial maturity
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.3: Negative Features

Hypocrisy & Self-deception
Middle Adulthood
Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)
Issue No.3: Negative Features
Divorce: both partners have changed & evolved
but not necessarily in complementary
directions
 Seems to be related with middle age issues:
1. need for change
2. weariness with acting responsibly
3. fear of facing up to oneself
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.4
Acceptance of growth-death phenomenon;
Juvenescence and rejuvenation fantasies
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.4: Positive Features

Naturally regarding body, time
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.4: Negative Features

Obscene or frantic efforts to be youthful;
hostility & envy of youth & progeny;
longing
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Sexuality
 Enjoyable sexual activity may continue well
into old age, sexual functioning may decline
 Middle-aged men: Most common cause of
Impotence is NOT AGING but:
1. excessive alcohol intake
2. stress with fatigue & anxiety
3. psychological cause
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Sexuality
 Women do not reach their sexual prime until
their mid-30’s
 greater capacity for orgasm in middle
adulthood
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Climacterium
Women: Menopausal period
 >50% - unpleasant experience
 With a history of poor adaptation to stress
 predisposed to menopausal syndrome
 Some report feeling more sexually free
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Climacterium
Men: No clear demarcation
 Hormones constant through 40’s to 50’s
then declines
 50’s: slight decrease in healthy sperm &
seminal fluid
 Dec testosterone  fewer & less firm
erections & decreased sexual activity
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Midlife Crisis
 a wide range of emotional struggles a
person may face during the middle age
 Occurs in the context of:
1. death of a spouse
2. loss of a job
3. unexpected life events
Middle Adulthood
Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)
Midlife Crisis
Most prone are those who come from families are
characterized by the FF during their
adolescence:
1. parental discord
2. withdrawal form same-sex parent
3. anxious parents
4. impulsive parents with low sense of
responsibility
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.5:
Communication & socialization
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.5: Positive Features

Matters understood, continuity,
large social network,
rootedness of relationships
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks (Robert Butler)

Issue No.5: Negative Features

Repetitiveness, boredom,
rigidity, confusion,
impatience, isolation,
Middle Adulthood

Developmental Tasks
Erik Erikson:

“Generativity
vs.
Stagnation”
 “Late Adulthood”
(65 years old & beyond)
Late Adulthood

Developmental Theories of Old Age

Sigmund Freud:

Increasing control of EGO & ID

 Increase AUTONOMY
Vs Regression
Late Adulthood

Developmental Theories of Old Age

Heinz Kohut:

Major task: Maintenance of

SELF-ESTEEM
Late Adulthood

Developmental Theories of Old Age

Daniel Levinson:
Ages 60-65: Transition Period
Reduced Physical Activity
 Creative Mental Activity
Narcissism  Preoccupation with Death
Late Adulthood

Developmental Theories of Old Age

Bernice Neugarten:

Major Conflict:
Giving up of Position of Authority
& Evaluating Achievements;
Reconciliation & resolution of
Past grief & one’s approaching death
Late Adulthood

Developmental Theories of Old Age

Erik Erikson:

“Integrity
vs.
Despair”
Late Adulthood

Developmental Theories of Old Age

Erik Erikson:
Integrity:
The sense of satisfaction that an elderly person
feels reflecting on a life lived productively and
to the fullest, without fear of facing one’s
vulnerable death
Thank you