A Unique Generation

The Kinkeepers
The Empty Nest Syndrome
The Sandwich Generation
Boomerang Children
Grandparenting

1
 Three Types of Grandparents
1- Involved

2- Companionate

3- Remote

2
Four Symbolic Roles for Grandparents
1- Being There

2- Family National Guard

3- Arbitrator

4- Maintaining the Family’s Biography

3
 Daniel Levinson’s Seasons

• Midlife transition
– The years from 40 to 45
– Psychological shift into middle adulthood often accompanied by a
crisis during which people fear they have more to look back upon than
forward to
a time of questioning
They focus on finite nature of life
They realize they will not live forever
They concentrate on the present
They begin to doubt the value of their accomplishments
They experience their first signs of aging
 Daniel Levinson
This period of assessment may lead to a MIDLIFE CRISIS, a stage of
uncertainty and indecision brought about by the realization that life is
finite.
– Time of dramatic self-doubt and anxiety during which people sense
the passing of their youth and become preoccupied with concern
about the imminence of their own mortality
– May be imposed from external factors such as downsizing

Success: taking new roles, mentoring younger children, and changing

careers
Failure: stagnation and decline

5
 Daniel Levinson
Early Adulthood (20s) – leaving the family and
having “the dream”
Late 30s – men settle down and establish
themselves moving toward the dream
Between 40 & 45 – people move into “the
midlife transition” or a time of questioning

6
 Erik Erikson
Generativity
Versus
Stagnation
(Self-Absorption)
MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

7
 Generativity
People Act within 3 Domains
1- Procreative Domain
By giving and responding to the needs of the
next generation
2- Productive Domain
By integrating work with family life and caring
for the next generation
3- Creative Domain
By contributing to society on a larger scale
8
 Stagnation
Self-Absorption
• People focus on the triviality of their life, and
feel that they have made only a limited
contribution to the world.
• People devalue whatever accomplishments
they have.

9
 George Vaillant
• Middle adulthood is “keeping the meaning vs.
rigidity”
• Adults seek to extract the meaning from their
lives by accepting the strengths and
weaknesses of others.
• Those who are rigid become increasingly
isolated from others.

10
 Theories
Stages 6 through 8 of Erikson’s Eight Stages

Stage and Age: Personal Social

Intimacy vs. Isolation Forming intimate relationships Occupations;
Young Adulthod versus existing alone and in organization
isolation s

Generativity vs. Creation of a new family; Occupation;

Stagnation contributing to society vs. family
Middle-Adulthood repeating life on a day-to-day
basis with little growth and giving

Ego Integrity vs. Positive sense of self as giving, Family;

Despair productive vs. inability to accept occupation;
Late adulthood his or her life institutions
 Levinson’s Adult Stage Model

Stage Ages Developmental tasks Possible Outcomes

Entering 22-28 Test out links between *create loose structure
the adult valued self and society w/o stability, not rooted
world *Explore possibilities/ *loose at beginning and
keep options open firm up commitments
*Create a stable life *commit strongly early
structure and question it later

Age 30 28-33 *Work out flaws and *excitement: “getting

transition limits of early adult life oneself together”
*Revise entry into *smooth beginning, with
adulthood before too enrichment
late *Crisis: life intolerable;
difficult to change;
divorce, threat to own life