Relationship Between Adulthood And Late Adulthood

Erik Erikson’s sixth stage of psychosocial development is intimacy versus isolation. Erikson argued that young adults would be afraid of committing to a long-term relationship with another person. Young adults may also become overly dependent on the partner for their identity. To conclude a person may need a sense of who they are before they can get close to someone else. Erikson believed that a strong sense of personal identity was important for developing intimate relationships.

Even before I had discovered my identity, I began moving into this intimacy versus isolation stage. At this stage individuals typically move towards “life experiences involving the development of a deeper connection, or intimacy, with another person”(Swartwood, p. 85). When it comes to developing these relationships, people must sacrifice a portion of their independence, which a portion of individuals are unwilling to do. Swartwood (p. 85) states that “resisting this loss of independence [results] in frequent break-ups and a failure to maintain a mutually loving bond with another.” This leads to isolation and loss of quality of life.

The biological changes associated with later adulthood are the taking of responsibilities from personal level to those depending on a person. Apart from responsibility, the brain changes to become independent and care for others becomes a priority. But all of the above can be done effectively by a positive change of mind . The major biological change is the maturity of the mind.

Late adulthood is a time many people tend to suppress in their minds. Late adulthood is often considered a time of physical and mental decline, but in reality for many older adults it is a time of mental and spiritual growth. During late adulthood, people tend to start reflecting on their lives and what is really important. During younger ages, people tend to focus on things that may not matter in the future, and spend time worrying about things that are unimportant. Through interviewing older adults, younger people can learn several important life lessons and begin to appreciate the things that really matter in life.

The effect of aging on heart and blood vessels become increasing apparent in late adulthood. There is further accumalation of fatty material in the heart muscle and in the arteries(atherosclerosis), the heart valves thicken and artiosclerosis(hardening of the arteries) become more pronounced (schrier, 1990;spence &

In the book by Shaie et al. (2016) “HANDBOOK OF THE PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING,” Baltes’ selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) theory represents a dialectical lifespan approach. Psychological gains and losses occur at every life, but in old age losses far exceed the gain (Shaie, et., al. 2016.p.6). When we think of physical changes in late adulthood, we believe that those changes can alter lifestyles or cause disability. However, in late adulthood people develop physical changes that affect their ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) such as, visual changes, auditory changes, smell and taste, skin and kinetic changes, and sexual function. Also, aging affects skeletal system, cardiovascular system, immune system, neurological

According to the text, “Erik Erikson proposed the theory of psychological development eight stages. This theory focuses on how personalities evolve throughout life as a result of the interaction between biologically based maturation and the demands of society” (Kirst-Ashman & Zastrow, 2016, p.334). One stage that I am currently experiencing is “Intimacy Versus Isolation”. This stage involves young adults being characterized by a quest for intimacy, which involves more than the establishment of a sexual relationship. According to the text, “Intimacy includes the ability to share with and give to another person without being afraid of sacrificing one’s own identity” (Kirst-Ashman & Zastrow, 2016, p.336). I am currently in a relationship with the same guy that I have been with for five years. Because we have been together for so long, I feel as though I lost myself along the way. I lost side of what I wanted because I would always worry about “us”. This was a barrier that I had to overcome. The opportunity that it afforded me was that I could find myself and figure out what I wanted as an

As the body begins to age, some changes will be more obvious than others. Skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles and sagging become visible. Hair will lose its lustre and begin to thin out in men. These changes might make women, especially, lose confidence because society puts such an emphasis on females’ physical appearance. There are many products available such hair dyes, make up and medical procedures for the reversal of wrinkles and sagging skin. In recent year men as well as women use products to help delay signs of aging. The fact that the beauty industry is a thriving business, shows how insecure people are about the physical appearance of age.

The Process of aging begins as a young adult. A new life is so tender, fragile, helpless, and in need of care from others. Toddlers are wobbly as they take their first steps and learn to run, falling and bumping their little round heads and chubby knees. Toward the end of life no matter how healthy, strong, or willing they are, older adult begin slowing down which puts them at a risk for falling. Their metabolism is much slower than it once was, they have less energy and endurance which results in decreased muscle tone due to the lack of use, and osteoporosis sets in leaving them vulnerable to fractures.

Adolescence is a life transition typically beginning around age 10 or 12 and lasting until ages 18 or 22. There are many biopsychosocial changes that will take place during this life transition. This life transition is also known as the teen years, and are characterized by continued physical growth, and significant biological changes that signal the onset of men and women's sexual maturity, and the beginning of development into adulthood. Adolescents face important decision points concerning central life tasks such as childbearing, schooling, and career trajectories that have repercussions for health and development throughout their life span (Chase-Lansdale, et al., 2011). Stable and supportive family environments are essential for strengthening youth during this period of change (Chase-Lansdale, et al., 2011). Sexual maturity begins with puberty, this is characterized by rapid physical sexual growth and often accompanied by hormonal, emotional, and other changes. The primary sexual characteristics are the development of the male and female sexual organs, consisting of the prostate gland, the penis, the uterus,

There are two stages that could be identified in this challenge: identity vs role confusion and intimacy vs isolation but the one I will focus the most on will be the second one. When the identity vs role confusion crisis had been resolved “the young adult now faces the task of sharing this newly-minted identity with at least one other person and selected companions (Marcia & Josselson, 2013, p. 622).” According to Erikson psychosocial theory, intimacy vs isolation crisis is characterized by the need for young adults to find life partner and build significant relationships (Boyd, Johnson & Bee, 2015, p. 408). “Intimacy represents the quality of interactions and the feeling of closeness, both of which are necessary components for successful

According to Haveighurst “the developmental age for middle aged adults are threefold.” Middle aged adult are overwhelmed with occupations; during that stage of life, time management is critical to adopt. For managing a household, the mid-aged adult needs to be a good decision maker and leader. The management includes keeping marital harmony in avoiding divorce and stay in good terms with the wife or husband for a healthy marriage including child rearing activities. Managing finances, household expenses, and ensuring that the children are well secured in terms of their needs and provisions; for example: education, distraction, recreation, social life, etc. Child rearing includes child carrying, guarantying the children’s education and welfare.

There will come a time when one has to come to terms of aging or mid-life crisis. According to Weaver (2009) the major psychological changes occur in childhood. The author also noted that Freud also mentioned that all stages of the psychosexual development are also completed in early childhood (pp.69). Freud and Freud also had differences when it referred to coming of age (Weaver, 2009). Jung saw mid-life not as a crisis, but put the emphasis on growth and maturation (pp.70). Most of the clients that Freudians seen were experiencing neurosis, this put a different perspective on their adjustment to life, while Jung’s patients were socially adaptable (Weaver, 2009). Jung did not see mid- life crisis of balancing the self, social world with a deepening meaning. Jung thought that people of mid-life, were developed, one side, of their life, and now lacks meaning (Weaver, 2009). Now the existentialist view was in contrast with the psychodynamic view and believed that people in this stage of life gravitating towards meanings and values (Frankl, 1967). This was evident of a study done in the 1960 at a Vienna Hospital; it showed that 55% existential frustration and half expressed life are meaningless (Frankl, 1967). Carl Rodgers had some similarities with Frankl’s perspective on mid-life crisis (pp.73). Rodgers looked at it from a humanistic approach, while asking existential question such as; What is my purpose? (pp. 73). Rodgers noted that the process of the coming of self is

I feel that frienships are more important to our psychosocial well being during emerging adulthood than romantic relationships are. While Erikson describes this stage using the word intamacy, other theorist use different words for the same human need: affiliation, affection, interdependendence, communion, belonging and love. All theorist agree that adults seek to become friends, lovers, companions, and partners. While many emerging adults

Isolation, which is the key psychological crisis of young adulthood. As the name itself suggests, such a phase consists in forming intimate relationships on the one hand and remaining lonely on the other. According to Erikson, those who are able to develop a strong sense of ego identity during adolescence will more likely be prepared in early adulthood to form intimate attachments; whereas, those who fail to achieve ego identity during adolescence will less likely form lasting relationships in early adulthood. I think that my current situation fits neither intimacy nor isolation, but it’s more a mix of the two. First of all, as explained in the previous paragraph, during my adolescence I was able to form ego identity, meaning that I really got to know myself and my direction in life. I also want to add that I am surely not that kind of person that lives passively, but contrarily I’m very active and I always put 100% in everything I do. Additionally, I have always been able to build lasting relationships and form intimate attachments with people. In fact, I have many