In which of the following developmental stages would a midlife crisis be expected to occur?
Exam Question Dec 2014
Exam Question Jul 2014
Midlife crisis is a term coined in 1965 by Elliott Jaques. It represents a time whereby people reassess their life achievements in terms of their dreams. Following such a crisis people often make changes to their life in an attempt to add meaning. The stereotypical example is of a middle aged man buying a sports car or a motorbike. It corresponds with Eriksons generativity vs stagnation phase.
Integrity vs. despair13%Intimacy vs. isolation21%Generativity vs. stagnation21%Identity vs. role confusion22%Industry vs. inferiority22%
Exam Question Dec 2014
Exam Question Jul 2014
Midlife crisis is a term coined in 1965 by Elliott Jaques. It represents a time whereby people reassess their life achievements in terms of their dreams. Following such a crisis people often make changes to their life in an attempt to add meaning. The stereotypical example is of a middle aged man buying a sports car or a motorbike. It corresponds with Eriksons generativity vs stagnation phase.
Developmental stages
The four main developmental models you need to be aware of are:-
- Freud's theory of psychosexual development
- Erikson's theory of psychosocial development
- Piaget's theory of cognitive development
- Kohlberg's theory of moral development
Freud's stages of psychosexual development
| Stage | Age range |
|---|---|
| Oral | 0-1 years |
| Anal | 1-3 years |
| Phallic | 3-5 years |
| Latency | 5-12 years |
| Genital | 12 and onwards |
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development
| Stage | Age | Virtue |
|---|---|---|
| Trust vs. mistrust | 0-1 year | Hope |
| Autonomy vs. shame | 1-3 years | Will |
| Initiative vs. guilt | 3-5 years | Purpose |
| Industry vs. inferiority | 5-12 years | Competence |
| Identity vs. role confusion | 12-19 years | Fidelity |
| Intimacy vs. isolation | 19-35 years | Love |
| Generativity vs. stagnation | 35-65 years | Care |
| Integrity vs. despair | 65 and onwards | Wisdom |
Kohlberg's stages of moral development (Colby 2011)
| Stage | Age |
|---|---|
| Preconventional | 0-9 years |
| Conventional | 9-20 years |
| Postconventional | 20 and onwards |
Piaget's stages of cognitive development
| Stage | Age |
|---|---|
| Sensorimotor | 0-2 years |
| Preoperational | 2-7 years |
| Concrete operational | 7-11 years |
| Formal operational | 11 and onwards |
Colby A (2011) The Measurement of Moral Judgment, Volume 1. Cambridge University Press, 17 Feb, p.140.
