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Week 5 Introduction Hello everyone!
This week we will be focusing on early and middle adulthood.
This is always a depressing series for me, because we will start to focus on the other
half of the hill and how we begin to decline! There are only 2 Chapters this week, 11 & 12.
Chapter 11 will be exploring the roles and relationships we maintain in adulthood.
It will start be reviewing the history of marriage and the factors related to the deinstitutionalization
of marriage. There will also be some information on cross
cultural views of marriage. You will learn about the U shaped marital
satisfaction curve. I am squarely in the bottom of the U with
the lowest levels of marital satisfaction. Fortunately, for you this is an online class,
so you don’t have to her my cynical views on marriage.
However, this chapter offers some of opinions for me!
You will also learn about Sternberg’s triangular theory of love and relationships.
There different types of love that emerge based on the combination of intimacy, commitment
and passion. I only have commitment at this point, so you
tell me what type of relationship I have. We will explore communication patterns in
relationships. Here again, Mike and I are at risk in these areas as well with a demand
withdrawal pattern, and a higher ratio of negative comments than positive comments.
The book also discusses some core ingredients to a successful relationship. Sound Advice
there! For those of us who are not able to heed that
advice, you will learn about divorce, what leads up to it, when is it a good thing, when
is it not, and how are we affected afterward? Then, we explore the role of parenting in
adulthood with an examination of how motherhood and fatherhood differ in terms of their responsibilities
for the kids and relationship with the kids. Finally, we will explore the role of work in adulthood, gender differences,
and how to find happiness in your career. We will study Holland’s personality types
and there is an extra credit opportunity for you to explore your own personality and discuss
how that may benefit your specific career interest.
We will discuss role overload, conflict and intrinsic versus extrinsic rewards at work.
We will also explore how work may impact our family life.
Chapter 12 focuses on midlife and this is where it gets really depressing for me!
We will first learn about The Big 5 Theory of Personality and the 5 personality traits
that make us who we are. We will learn about how those traits may change
with age, and how personality evolves in mid life.
One aspect of personality that becomes incredibly important in midlife is our sense of generativity.
Erikson’s theory suggests that in middle adulthood we struggle to achieve generativity
vs. stagnation. This refers to our sense of being fruitful,
and have a fulfilling life, as well as our sense of giving and investing in future generations.
We begin to shift our priorities and focus on what matters most to make a better world
for our children and grandchildren. McAdam did some research that expanded on
this generativity quality and presents the commitment script and redemption sequence.
We will then explore intelligence and how that evolves with age.
Please note the differences between crystallized and fluid intelligence and which one deteriorates
first. Also take note of terminal drop, and selective
optimization with compensation. Belsky does a great job giving us advice on
ways in which we can optimize our intelligence over time.
For those of you still in your prime, know that your time is coming! For the rest of
us, time is short so cease the moment and enjoy life!