Life Structure Is the combination of statuses, roles,
activities, goals, values, beliefs, and life circumstances that
characterize an individual.
Slide 3
Daniel Levinsons Developmental States of Adulthood Model
Levinson and his colleagues worked for years interviewing adults on
stages of life to find characteristics that were the same. He and
his team concluded that there were three main stages of adulthood
early, middle, and late adulthood.
Slide 4
Ages 17-22 The bridge between adolescence and adulthood.
Leaving home is most important task of this age- both mentally and
physically (according to Levinson)
Slide 5
Age 23-27 Explore relationships and career opportunities
Beginning of the expectations of becoming a responsible member of
society and form a stable life structure.
Slide 6
Ages 28-32 Can be difficult period- look back on choices.
Divorce is common in this age. Shifts in direction are common.
Early adult transition, entering adult world, and age 30 transition
combine to create the novice phase of life according to
Levinson.
Slide 7
Ages 33-39 Last stage of early adulthood. Making it stage
according to Levinson. Establishing yourself in society. Form true
commitments to work; family; leisure; friendship; and
community
Slide 8
Ages 40-44 First stage of Middle Adulthood A bridge between
early and middle adulthood Self-examination Reforming of life goals
and aspirations. Escape from unattainable dreams can lead to
moderate to severe crisis.
Slide 9
Levinson performed the same social survey for adult women and
concluded that they go through the same stages of life as men. The
difference comes in the ways they experience each stage and their
social roles and identities are very different. Sociologists Irene
Frieze and Esther Sales agree with Levinsons development model, but
suggested that female adulthood could be categorized in three
phases
Slide 10
Leaving home both physically and psychologically. Different
emphasis than men less on career and more on marriage and family.
Combining marriage and career as goals, but marriage being the most
important.
Slide 11
Marriage and motherhood are focuses. Dual career and motherhood
is common, but many struggle with that strain. Only 59% of working
women return to work in first year of childs life. Job advancement
is slower for Moms that take time off for their children.
Slide 12
Many women go back into workforce and seek out career goals
once their children reach school age. Women often set high career
goals at this time when men often times reduce theirs.
Slide 13
Labor Force; Occupations; Job Satisfaction
Slide 14
Consists of all individuals age 16 or older who are employed in
paid positions or who are actively seeking paid employment.
Slide 15
Profession: a high-status occupation that requires specialized
skills obtained through formal education. Unemployment: when a
person does not have a job, but is actively seeking employment.
Unemployment Rate: the percentage of the labor force that is
unemployed.
Slide 16
Executive, administrative, managerial : business executives,
office managers, sales managers, personnel managers, store
managers. Professional Specialty: doctors, lawyers, dentists,
pharmacists, librarians, nurses, engineers, artists, teachers,
accountants. Technical: laboratory technicians, dental hygienists,
medical assistants, X-ray techs.
Slide 17
Sales: manufacturing representatives, retail sales, insurance,
real estate. Administrative Support: bookkeepers, office clerks,
secretaries, receptionists, cashiers, postal workers, bank workers.
Service: maids, cooks, police, fire, waiters, child care workers
Precision, production, craft, repair: mechanics, repair persons,
plumbers, electricians, carpenters,
Slide 18
Operators, fabricators, laborers: packagers, assemblers,
welders, heavy equipment operators, freight handlers, warehouse
workers, laborers. Farming, forestry, fishing: farm owners and
workers, lumberjacks, fishermen, hunter, trappers. Transportation
and material moving: truck and bus drivers, train operators.
Slide 19
Term used to describe a persons view of their job. A happy
worker has good job satisfactions and an unhappy worker has poor
job satisfaction.
Slide 20
Twilight of Adulthood
Slide 21
Gerontology: the scientific study of ageing. Social
Gerontology: the study of nonphysical aspects of the ageing
process. Young-Old: 65-74 Middle-Old: 75-84 Old-Old: 85 and up
Slide 22
Most gerontologist believe that the happy you are during your
working years the happier you will be in retirement. Factors such
as income, health, social networks, and identity affect adjustment
to retirement.
Slide 23
With age comes the death of more body cells. This weakens
muscles, causes wrinkles, lowers immune systems, and lowers
strength and endurance. Slower organ function
Slide 24
Most elderly remain mentally alert much longer than physically
capable. Exceptions: stroke, Alzheimers Disease, dementia
Slide 25
Dependency: shift from independence to dependence for physical
or financial assistance. Dependency changes and individual status
in society and often leads to depression. Many elderly fear
dependence more than death.
Slide 26
New Freedoms, hobbies, travel Many enroll in college courses
AARP (American Association Retired Persons) RSVP (Retired Senior
Volunteer Program) SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Old
does not mean done! Important for society to learn and treat our
elderly with respect and enthusiasm!
