Social Development in Adults

* Middle Adulthood (40 - 65 Years)

I have chosen "middle adulthood" simply because I have yet to experience it, and I am curious as to what I have to expect from it. During this period, the main developmental duty for a person is generally contributing to society, and helping to guide future generations. Also, when someone helps make a contribution, perhaps by starting a family or helping with the betterment of society, a sense of personal accomplishment is achieved. I am only a few years away from middle adulthood, and it is encouraging to know that I still have plenty to look forward to and contribute.

* Patterns?

Each step in life brings us new challenges, and for some of us mid-life brings an abundance of them. By this point in life, people's histories are extremely mixed. In a person's personal and professional life many different choices have been made with many different outcomes that have affected their progression. Is there a way to locate a certain pattern in social development that's associated with middle age? Even with there being variety within people's lifestyle and personal background, many developmentalists assure us we can.

* Generativity and Stagnation

Erick Erikson - considered to be the pioneer in studying social development - saw middle adulthood as the period when one faces a conflict between generativity and stagnation.

Generativity is when someone makes a contribution to the next generation. It can be accomplished through personal or career attainments, and provides a basis for others to follow.

One example of generativity would be that of a middle-aged businessman who has had a successful career, and now wishes to pass on his professional skills to his younger colleagues.

Stagnation is the exact opposite, and one feels that he or she has achieved very little and hasn't much to offer the next generation. They believe that they have not met their goals that once motivated them in life. They feel a sense of "standing still", and are aware that their time is limited.

According to Erikson, individuals will likely experience both types of feeling, and the central developmental course of mid-life is the award of this conflict. People that are able to overcome this conflict gain a sense of care (both about the present and future), and those that are unable to do so will acquire a sense of rejectivity (in other words they may turn away from society, and have little need to contribute to it).

* Middle Age

Characterized by competence, maturity, stability, and responsibility, middle age generally begins between the ages of 40 to 50. These characteristics are important for a middle-aged adult.

It is a time when one wants to enjoy a successful job, and