middle age-a part in human growth and development

1. MIDDLE AGE-
CHARACTERISTICS AND
DEVELOPMENTAL TASK
Presented by A.Sakthivel pille
I-MSW

2. Middle age is generally considered to extend from age forty to
age sixty. The onset is marked by physical and mental changes.
Middle age is a long period in the life span.
The middle age is subdivided into early middle age (extends
from forty to fifty age) and advanced middle age ( extends from
age fifty to sixty).
During advanced middle age- many physical and psychological
changes takes place.
MIDDLE AGE

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF MIDDLE AGE
AGE OF DREADED PERIOD
MIDDLE AGE IS A TIME OF
TRANSITION
AGE OF STRESS
DANGEROUS AGE
AWKARD AGEAGE OF ACHIEVEMENT
AGE OF EVALUATION
AGE OF EMPTY NEST
AGE OF BOREDOM

4. AGE OF DREADED PERIOD
Middle age is the dreaded (fearful) period
It is recognized- next to old age
Men and women have many reasons to get fear.
Mentally and physically they get weaker than before.

5. MIDDLE AGE IS A TIME OF TRANSITION
 This is the age of transition: like childhood to
adolescence and then to adulthood.
 Middle aged men and women leaves the physical and
behaviour characteristics of adulthood and enter into
new behaviour pattern.
 Transition always means adjustment to new interests,
new values and new patterns of behaviour.
 Eg: men undergo change in virility(the quality of
having strength, energy, and a strong sex drive
(வ ீரியம்) and women a change in fertility.

6. AGE OF STRESS
Middle age is the time of stress.
Radical adjustments to changes roles and patterns of life
when accompanied by physical and psychological changes
leads to a period of stress.
Categories of stress in middle age:
a) Somatic stress-due to physical changes
b) Cultural stress-adapting new culture
c) Economic stress-financial burden
d) Psychological stress –death of spouse, boredom, lost
youth.

7. DANGEROUS AGE
 Middle age is commonly regarded as “Dangerous age”.
 It is the time when an individual break down physically due to
overwork, over worry or careless living.
 Mental illness rises rapidly among both men and women.
 It is also regarded as a peak for suicides.
 No proper adjustment between both the sex-leads to separation or
divorce, which leads to physical and mental illness, alcoholism, drug
addiction, and suicide.

8. AWKARD AGE
 Middle age is also known as an “ Awkward age”.
 Middle aged persons are no longer “younger” nor
are they yet “old”.
 Middle aged people stands between younger
generation and senior citizen generation.
 Due to that they have to suffer from the
discomforts and embarrassments associated with
both the age groups.
 Conservatism(பழமைவாதம்)- dress and
behaviour patterns

9. AGE OF ACHIEVEMENT
 Middle age is also considered as the age of
achievement.
 Acc. To Erikson, during middle age people either
become more and more successful or they stand
still and accomplish nothing more.
 If the middle age people have a strong desire to
succeed they will reach the peak.
 Example: men who have worked throughout the
years of early adulthood generally reach their
peak. Likewise women who spent as a
homemaker in early adulthood used to run
vocational training classes.

10. AGE OF EVALUATION
 Middle age is a time of Evaluation.
 This age is mainly a time of self-evaluation.
 In middle age mostly the people reach their
peaks of achievement- under that they would
evaluate their achievement with expectations of
others, especially family members and friends.

11. AGE OF EMPTY NEST
 Middle age is the time of the empty nest.
 The time children no longer want to live under the parental
roof.
 Expect in cases where men and women marry late or
postpone having children.
 But nowadays the empty nest stage begins in the forties.
 Women suffer more than men due the effects of empty
nest

12. AGE OF BOREDOM
 Middle age is that it is often a time of
boredom.
 Men and women experience boredom during the late thirties and
forties.
 Men become bored with the daily routine of work and
etc.
 Women, who spent most of their
adulthood caring for home and
children-get bored after raising the
children.
 Working women faces the same
situation as of men.

13. Developmental tasks of middle age
 Tasks related to physical changes-
changes in appearance, sensory abilities, health,
physiological functioning, sexual changes.
 Adjustments to mental changes
 Religion-involvement in religious activities
 Community affairs-leadership qualities-serve in
professional boards or clubs.
 Adjustments to changed interests
clothes, money, status and more.

14. Hazards of middle age
 The most important personal hazards, middle aged
people encounter in their adjustments to their new
roles and new lifestyles.
 Social hazards:
“Rocking chair” philosophy- inactive
Unattractive appearance
financial problems
family pleasures
social mobility

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