Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 8: Problem 8

Analyze whether personality is stable or changes over the life span. Harry Hennesey, age 53 and a vice president of an investment banking firm, says he still feels like a kid. Many middle-aged adults would agree. Although most people say they have changed a good deal since adolescence- and mostly for the better-many also perceive important similarities in basic personality traits between their present and younger selves. The degree to which personality is stable across the life span or changes as we age is a major issue of personality development in middle adulthood. Theorists such as Erikson and Levinson clearly suggest that substantial change occurs over time. Erikson's stages and Levinson's seasons describe set patterns of change. The change may be predictable and age related, but it is substantial. An impressive body of research, however, suggests that for individual traits, personality is quite stable and continuous over the life span. Developmental psychologists Paul Costa and Robert MoCrae find remarkable stability in particular traits. Eventempered 20-year-olds are even-tempered at age 75 ; affectionate 25 -year-olds become affectionate 50 -year-olds; and disorganized 26 -year-olds are still disorganized at age 60\. Similarly, self-concept at age 30 is a good indication of self-concept at age \(80 .\) In fact, traits may become more ingrained as people age (Terracciano, McCrae, \&c Costa, 2009 ; Mottus, Johnson, \& Deary, \(2012 ;\) Curtis, Windsor, \& Soubelet, \(2015 ;\) also see Figure \(8-7\) ). STABILITY AND CHANGE IN THE "BIG FIVE" PERSONALITYTRAITS Quite a bit of research has centered on the personality traits known as the "Big Five" -because they represent the five major clusters of personality characteristics. These are: \- Neuroticism, the degree to which a person is moody, anxious, and self- critical \- Extraversion, how outgoing or shy a person is \- Openness, a person's level of curiosity and interest in new experiences \- Agreeableness, how easygoing and helpful a person tends to be \- Conscientiousness, a person's tendencies to be organized and responsible

Short Answer

Expert verified
Based on the argument put up, it is concluded that personality seems to be both stable and changing over the life span. While some changes in the general personality can be substantial as argued by Erikson and Levinson, individual traits - such as those encapsulated by the 'Big Five' - seem to remain stable throughout as suggested by Costa and McCrae. Therefore, personality development can be characterized as a dynamic process with elements of both stability and change.

Step by step solution

01

Review The Theories of Erikson and Levinson

First, consider the theories suggested by Erikson and Levinson. They argue that substantial change takes place in personality across the lifespan. Erikson's stages and Levinson's seasons describe a pre-set pattern of changes. These changes might be predictable and related to age, and they are substantial.
02

Understand the Stability and Continuity in Personality Traits

Next, consider the research findings by developmental psychologists Paul Costa and Robert McCrae, which suggest that individual traits of personality remain quite stable and continuous throughout the lifespan. Eventempered characteristics at a young age remain the same even as people age, and the self-concept is a good indication of this consistency.
03

Analyze the 'Big Five' Personality Traits

Next, analyze the 'Big Five' personality traits - Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. These represent the major clusters of personality characteristics. A lot of research has been dedicated to these traits, and the challenge here is to ascertain how these traits change or remain consistent as people age.
04

Draw Conclusions from the Analysis

After having reviewed the arguments put forth by these notable researchers, the conclusion can be drawn. Based on these arguments, it can be inferred that while significant changes in the general personality can occur over time, individual traits tend to remain stable. The 'Big Five' traits would follow the same pattern, where the influence of these traits may fluctuate over time, but the basis of these traits remains consistent.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is one of the most renowned approaches to understanding how our personality develops over time. Erikson identified eight stages that span from birth to late adulthood. Each stage presents a unique challenge that individuals must navigate to develop certain virtues and strengths.

For example, during adolescence, the challenge is 'Identity vs. Role Confusion,' where the individual must develop a sense of self and personal identity. Failure to do so can result in role confusion and an unclear sense of who one is. In middle adulthood, the 'Generativity vs. Stagnation' stage emerges, focusing on creating or nurturing things that will outlast oneself, like raising children or contributing to society. Erikson posited that successfully resolving the conflicts at each stage leads to psychological growth.
Levinson's Seasons of Life
Daniel Levinson's theory, known as 'The Seasons of a Man's Life,' extends on the premise that development continues throughout life by encompassing a series of stages, or 'seasons.'

Levinson's work emphasized the importance of life structure, which is essentially the social and cultural aspects of one's life, encompassing relationships, career, and family. He believed that every individual goes through periods of transition approximately every 25 years, leading to the potential for new patterns in life. For instance, the 'Mid-Life Transition,' typically experienced in one's early forties to late fifties, might prompt individuals to reassess their life's achievements and make significant changes to their life structure.
Big Five Personality Traits
The Big Five personality traits offer a broad-based understanding of human psychology that distills personality to five core elements: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.

Neuroticism

reflects emotional instability and tendency towards anxiety;

Extraversion

captures one's level of sociability and energy;

Openness

indicates how open-minded or creative a person is;

Agreeableness

shows a propensity towards being cooperative and compassionate rather than antagonistic; and finally,

Conscientiousness

assesses an individual's level of organization, reliability, and efficiency in managing responsibilities. Studies suggest that while these traits can fluctuate somewhat, they generally hold consistent throughout a person's life.
Stability and Change in Personality
Stability and change in personality are topics of great interest in developmental psychology. Research indicates a significant amount of stability in individual personality traits over time. Individuals demonstrate a tendency to maintain their distinctive patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion, which are often established early in life and solidified as they age.

This stability, however, does not mean that change is impossible. Life experiences, circumstances, and intentional efforts can influence personality development. Nevertheless, the core aspects of personality, especially as measured by the Big Five traits, are remarkably consistent over the lifespan, shaping how an individual interacts with the world from childhood to old age.
Developmental Psychology
Developmental psychology explores human growth and changes throughout the lifespan. This field of psychology focuses not just on childhood but on the entirety of the human experience, from prenatal development to end-of-life care. It examines physical, cognitive, and social changes, explaining patterns we see in behavior, thought processes, and feelings.

A major part of developmental psychology is understanding how and why people develop as they do and the factors that influence this growth. It aims to differentiate between what is a result of genetics versus what is influenced by the environment—factors including culture, socioeconomic status, and personal choices. Ultimately, developmental psychology seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the continuity and change individuals experience over their lifetime.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Explain varied perspectives on personality development during middle adulthood. Traditional views of adult personality development have suggested that people move through a fixed series of stages, each tied closely to age. These stages are related to specific crises in which an individual undergoes an intense period of questioning and psy* chological turmoil. This perspective is a feature of the normative-crisis models of personality development. Normative- crisis models see personality development as universal stages of sequential, age-related crises. For example, Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory predicts that people move through a series of stages and crises throughout their life span. Some critics suggest that normative-crisis approaches may be outmoded. They arose at a time when society had fairly rigid and uniform roles for people. Traditionally, men were expected to work and support a family; women were expected to stay at home and take care of the children. These roles played out at relatively uniform ages. Today, there is considerable variety in both the roles and the timing. Some people marry and have children at \(40 .\) Others have children and marry later. Others never marry and live with a partner of the same or opposite sex and perhaps adopt a child or forgo children altogether. In sum, social changes have called into question the normative-crisis models closely tied to age (Fugate \& Mitchell, 1997; Barnett \&c Hyde, 2001; Fraenkel, 2003).

Describe typical patterns of marriage and divorce in middle adulthood. Fifty years ago, midlife was similar for most people. Men and women, married since early adulthood, were still married to each other. One hundred years ago, when life expectancy was much shorter, people in their 40 s were usually married - but not necessarily to the people they had first married. Spouses often died; people might be well into their second marriage by middle age. Today, the story is different and more varied. More people are single at midlife, having never married. Single people may live alone or with a partner. Gay and lesbian adults may have committed relationships and may be married. Among heterosexuals, some have divorced, lived alone, and then remarried. Many people's marriages end in divorce, and many families "blend" together into new households, containing children and stepchildren from previous marriages. Some couples still spend 40 to 50 years together, the bulk of those years during middle adulthood. Many experience the peak of marital satisfaction during middle age.

Analyze the effects and significance of changes in family patterns in middle adulthood. For many parents, a major midlife transition is the departure of children who are going to college, getting married, joining the military, or taking a job far from home. Even people who become parents at relatively late ages are likely to face this transition, because the middle adulthood spans nearly a quarter century. As we saw in Kathy and Bob's story, a child's departure can be wrenching - so much so, in fact, that it has been labeled the "empty nest syndrome." The empty nest syndrome refers to the unhappiness, worry, loneliness, and depression some parents feel when their children leave home (Lauer \& Lauer, 1999 ; Erickson, Martinengo, \&c Hill, 2010 ). Many parents report that major adjustments are required. For women who were stay-at-home mothers, the loss can be quite pronounced. Traditional homemakers, who focus significant time and energy on their children, face a challenging time. Although the loss can be difficult, parents also find that some aspects of this transition are quite positive. Even mothers who have stayed at home find they have time for other interests, such as community or recreational activities, when the children leave. They may also enjoy the opportunity to get a job or return to school. Finally, many women find that motherhood is not easy; surveys show that most people regard motherhood as harder than it used to be. Such women may now feel liberated from a difficult set of responsibilities (Heubusch, 1997; Morfei et al., 2004; Chen, Yang, \&c Dale Aagard, 2012).

Describe the benefits and challenges of work life in middle adulthood. For many, productivity, success, and earning power are greatest in middle age, but occupational success may become far less alluring than it once was. This is particularly true for those who have not achieved the career success they had hoped for. In such cases, family and other off-the-job interests become more important than work (Howard, \(1992 ;\) Simonton, 1997 ). WORK AND CAREERS: JOBS AT MIDLIFE The factors that make a job satisfying change during middle age. Younger adults focus on abstract and future-oriented concerns, such as the opportunity for advancement or the possibility of recognition and approval. Middle-aged employees care more about the here-and- now qualities of work. They are more concerned with pay, working conditions, and specific policies, such as how vacation time is calculated. As at previous stages of life, changes in overall job quality are associated with changes in stress levels for both men and women (Peterson \& Wilson, \(2004 ;\) Cohrs, Abele, \& Dette, 2006; Rantanen et al., 2012; Hamlet \& Herrick, 2014\()\). In general, though, the relationship between age and work is positive: The older workers are, the more overall job satisfaction they experience. This is not altogether surprising, because younger adults who are dissatisfied with their jobs will quit them and find new positions that they like better. Also, because older workers have fewer opportunities to change jobs, they may learn to live with what they have and accept that it is the best they are likely to get. Such acceptance may ultimately translate into satisfaction (Tangri, Thomas, \& Mednick, 2003).

Describe how aging affects memory and how memory can be improved. Memory may appear to decline in middle age, but, in fact, long-term memory deficits are probably as a result of ineffective strategies of storage and retrieval. People categorize and interpret new information according to the schemas they have developed about how the world is organized and operates. Mnemonics help people organize material in ways that improve recall. These formal strategies include getting organized, visualizing, rehearsing paying attention, and using the encoding specificity phenomenon.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Psychology Textbooks

Social Psychology

Read Explanation

Cognitive Psychology

Read Explanation

Stress

Read Explanation

Basic Psychology

Read Explanation

Cognition

Read Explanation

Individual Differences Psychology

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free