Midlife Crises: Real or Construct?

PSYCHOLOGY 220
PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Are midlife crises real? Who is more likely to experience a midlife crisis?...............................1
2. According to Erik Ericson, how can one avoid the despair/regret fixation of late adulthood?...1
3. What are three health-related actions one should take in early adulthood in order to limit the
negative health outcomes of late adulthood?...................................................................................2
4. How does love and sexuality progress through the years, i.e., from early adulthood to late
adulthood?........................................................................................................................................3
REREFENCES................................................................................................................................5

1. Are midlife crises real? Who is more likely to experience a midlife crisis?
Midlife transition can be defined as a kind of transition of self- confidence and identity
that can occur within individuals typically when they are 45 years to 55 years old. It is a stage in
which people feel youthful again and they struggle to come up with a fact that their lives are half
over. Yes, midlife crises are real, but not everyone experience such midlife crises. There are
various studies that clearly explains that mid life crises are not a major issue for most of the
people in the world. Many people think that midlife crises are a kind of social construct that lead
some people to experience breakdown. Midlife crises can be faced by both men and men who are
of age of 45 to 64 years (Liebert and Golby, 2017). Within men midlife crises last maximum 3 to
10 years but in women it last 2 to 5 years. There are many reasons because of which men and
women can suffer from these midlife crises. Some of the most common factors are: aging, aging
with numerous changes in body, problems, work or career regrets and many more. But majority
of times midlife crises are experienced by people only because of major events within their lives
such as major loss of someone close, divorce, job loss and many other reasons. According to a
survey that was conducted on national level it was identified that approximately 26 percent of
participants of the survey reported having midlife crises (Baron, 2017). People who suffer from
these crises cannot be identified or diagnosed easily. There are many symptoms that slowly
slowly indicate that, that particular person is suffering from midlife crises. Some of the most
common symptoms of these midlife crises are: change in sleeping habits, neglection of personal
hygiene, weight gain or loss, withdrawal from usual relationship, change in mood like increased
anger, irritability, anxiety or sadness.
2. According to Erik Ericson, how can one avoid the despair/regret fixation of
late adulthood?
Erik Ericson has explained some stages of psychological development. He has helped in
explaining personality development in a predetermined order with the help of eight stages of
psychological development from infancy to adulthood. Last adulthood is the last stage of
psychological development of Erik Ericson. Basic virtue of last stage of Erik Ericson
psychological development is wisdom in which Ego Integrity vs Despair is focused upon
(Chung, 2018). Ego Integrity vs. Despair is the last stage which begins at late adulthood of age
group of 65 years and above approximately. At this stage of late adulthood life is unproductive,
feeling of guilt and of many more. Individuals in their late adulthood who do not achieve their
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