Dreams and Degrees
This stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development involves balancing intimacy and isolation while forming close relationships.
What is intimacy vs. isolation?
In middle adulthood, Erik Erikson’s psychosocial conflict involves balancing personal needs with contributions to future generations.
What is generativity vs. stagnation?
Levinson’s model describes this as the transition phase from adolescence to adulthood, typically occurring between ages 17 and 22.
What is the early adult transition?
This concept refers to the emerging adult’s growing awareness of their place in the world, often influenced by exposure to diverse experiences in college or work environments.
What is social cognition?
This process, commonly seen in women during middle adulthood, marks the end of menstruation and is often accompanied by symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.
What is menopause?
This structure, according to Levinson, is the foundation of adulthood, where individuals establish goals related to career, relationships, and lifestyle.
What is the life structure?
This type of aging refers to the natural, inevitable changes that occur as part of the biological process, such as wrinkles, gray hair, and reduced organ function.
What is primary aging?
This physical condition often experienced in midlife includes reduced bone density, especially in women after menopause.
What is osteoporosis?
Levinson identified this phase, occurring in one’s 40s, as a time of self-reflection and questioning life achievements.
What is the midlife transition?
This aspect of aging is influenced by lifestyle, environment, and personal choices, and can lead to conditions like lung disease or cognitive decline in later years.
What is secondary aging?
According to this theory, individuals evaluate themselves based on comparisons with others, which can intensify during middle adulthood as people reflect on their life achievements.
What is social comparison theory?
This stage in Levinson’s model, typically occurring in the 60s, is characterized by reflection on legacy and the need to adjust to new roles in older adulthood.
What is the late adulthood transition?
Hot flashes are often triggered by a drop in this hormone, which plays a key role in regulating the menstrual cycle and reproductive health.
What is estrogen?
In middle adulthood, men may experience a condition known as andropause, where this physical and emotional change occurs, often linked to a decrease in testosterone levels.
What is a midlife crisis?
In Levinson's theory, this phase occurs in early adulthood when individuals are adjusting to new roles and responsibilities, often marked by experimentation and exploration.
What is the novice phase?