Theories of Personality in Middle Adulthood
There is debate as to whether or not personality continues to develop in middle adulthood. Below are different theoretical perspectives that support the ideas of personality stability and personality change.
StabilitySigmund Freud:
Freud's psychoanalytic theory holds that personality is developed in middle childhood and does not continue to change over the lifespan. The Trait Theory: The trait theory proposes that personality traits emerge early in life and are influenced by genetics and environment. These characteristics tend to be consistently expressed by individuals throughout life. Most studies regarding personality stability measure the Big Five personality traits identified by this theory. For more discussion of these traits see below. Caspi's Contextual Model: The contextual model argues that personality influences the situations or context a person chooses to be in and how the person responds to that context. Personality will cause people to pick similar environments over time, and those situations will in turn reinforce personality. This phenomenon creates personality stability over time. Keep in mind that there is not one correct theory regarding personality in Middle Adulthood. All of these ideas can be used to inform practice. |
ChangeCarl Jung:
Jung characterizes middle adulthood as a time of balance. Different aspects of personality are balanced during this time, meaning there is continued change in personality. For more information on Jung, see the Theory section. Erik Erikson: Erikson also believes that external influences cause personality to change and adapt over time. For more information on Erikson’s developmental stages and middle adulthood, see the Theory section. George Vaillant: Vaillant argues that personality changes due to changes and maturation of coping mechanisms used. He defines mature and immature mechanisms and proposes that as people age they tend to use mature coping mechanisms more. Daniel Levinson: Levinson sees development as stages of transition and stability. He argues that the entering middle adulthood is a time of transition that can lead to crisis for individuals and result in personality change. Other tabs in Changes discuss the midlife crisis in more depth. |
The Big Five Personality Traits
The Big Five personality traits are: neuroticism, extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience. Hutchinson (2011) defines them the following ways:
Neuroticism: tendency to be moody, anxious, hostile, self-conscious, and vulnerable.
Extroversion: tendency to be energetic, outgoing, friendly, lively, talkative, and active.
Conscientiousness: tendency to be organized, reliable, responsible, hardworking, persistent and careful.
Agreeableness: tendency to be cooperative, generous, cheerful, warm, caring, trusting and gentle.
Openness to Experience: tendency to be curious, imaginative, creative, intelligent, adventurous and nonconforming.
Neuroticism: tendency to be moody, anxious, hostile, self-conscious, and vulnerable.
Extroversion: tendency to be energetic, outgoing, friendly, lively, talkative, and active.
Conscientiousness: tendency to be organized, reliable, responsible, hardworking, persistent and careful.
Agreeableness: tendency to be cooperative, generous, cheerful, warm, caring, trusting and gentle.
Openness to Experience: tendency to be curious, imaginative, creative, intelligent, adventurous and nonconforming.
Changes in Personality
Hutchinson (2011) reports on several studies that measure the stability of the Big Five personality traits over time. Generally these studies find that the traits are fairly stable throughout middle adulthood. Extroversion, neuroticism and openness to experience all start to decline with age starting at mid-life. Conscientiousness and emotional stability usually peak at this time and agreeableness tends to increase with age. These results were consistent in cross-cultural studies and there is indication that some traits have a genetic component. Sutin et al (2011) studied the relationship between stressful events in middle age and personality development. They found that personality traits do not determine what an individual finds stressful, but that they do factor into how a person construes an event (p. 529). People who are more neurotic tend to view stressful events as negative turning points, whereas people who are more extroverted and conscientious tend to view stressful events as opportunities to learn. Additionally, viewing a life event as negative is likely to increase neuroticism, but viewing it as a learning opportunity is likely to increase levels of extroversion and conscientiousness. Consider the implications of this study as they relate to the idea of a midlife crisis. Are people with certain personality traits more vulnerable to experiencing the transition to middle adulthood as a time of crisis?
Spirituality in Middle Adulthood
Spirituality is another aspect of identity that can continue to change and develop in middle adulthood. Below are links to an interesting article and news clip about spirituality and the Baby Boomer generation. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199909/spirituality
www.nbcnews.com/id/9971428
www.nbcnews.com/id/9971428