Possible Selves in Adulthood

Possible Selves in Adulthood

• The concept of "possible self" is subject to reevaluation as individuals age, shifting from idealistic dreams to more realistic aspirations.
• Beliefs about what can be achieved evolve throughout adulthood as life limitations become clearer.
• Many adolescents and young adults envision grand goals, including fame, wealth, and exceptional health, often viewing their future with idealism.
• By middle adulthood, individuals recognize constraints in time and opportunities, prompting a desire to balance aspirations with lived experiences.
• Finding meaning and happiness in life often involves revisiting and adjusting these possible selves to align with practical realities.

Self-Perception and Midlife

• Middle-aged adults tend to acknowledge both their strengths and weaknesses more than younger counterparts, indicating a more balanced self-view.
• Acceptance of personal qualities is linked to a more positive self-image in middle adulthood.
• This revised self-concept during midlife is associated with increased self-esteem, indicating personal growth and adaptability over time.

Gender Convergence in Traits

• Parenting responsibilities decrease as children grow up, leading adults to shift away from traditional gender roles (Gutmann, 1985).
• Men begin to adopt traditionally expressive traits such as sensitivity and consideration.
• Women start to exhibit traditionally instrumental traits, including confidence and assertiveness (Lemaster et al., 2017).

Longitudinal Findings

• A Finnish study tracked third-grade children for 30 years, revealing that by age 40, men became less aggressive and more conforming, while women became increasingly assertive (Pulkkinen et al., 2005).
• Research following adults from their 30s to 80s indicates that men, who initially showed low expressive traits, become more expressive over time.
• Conversely, women, who typically start with high expressive traits, show a decline in expressiveness as they age (Jones, Peskin, & Livson, 2011; Jones et al., 2017).

Cultural Patterns

• Gender convergence is evident in various cultures, including Western societies as well as non-Western groups like the Mayan people of Guatemala and the Druze of the Middle East.

Androgyny and Adjustment

• Individuals with androgynous gender roles, possessing both instrumental and expressive skills, achieve higher self-esteem, advanced moral reasoning, psychosocial maturity, and life satisfaction in later years (Bem, 1985; Lefkowitz & Zeldow, 2006; Pilar Matud et al., 2014).
• Androgynous roles promote adaptability, allowing individuals to respond more flexibly to diverse situations than those adhering to traditional gender roles.

Changes in Personality During Middle Adulthood

• Decline in Neuroticism: Individuals experience increased emotional stability, leading to a decrease in traits associated with anxiety and moodiness.
• Rise in Conscientiousness: People tend to display greater self-discipline, responsibility, and organization, enhancing their ability to achieve long-term goals.
• Increase in Agreeableness: A tendency towards greater compassion and cooperation emerges, fostering better interpersonal relationships and social harmony.
• Continuation from Young Adulthood: These personality changes that begin in young adulthood become more pronounced and subtle during middle adulthood, reflecting ongoing personal development.

Perceived Control and Self-Efficacy

• Perceived control, or self-efficacy, is about individuals' beliefs in their ability to achieve desired outcomes.
• Higher perceived control allows for fewer restrictions on choices and actions.

Developmental Changes in Control Beliefs

• Control beliefs increase during early adulthood as individuals gain skills and make headway in career and personal goals.
• These beliefs tend to peak in midlife and remain stable before declining in late adulthood.
• Age-related declines in perceived control are linked to diminished biological and social resources, such as health issues, income changes, bereavement, and heightened health vulnerabilities.

Influencing Factors on Perceived Control

• Perceived control varies by gender, socioeconomic status, and race:
  • Women generally report lower levels of perceived control than men, influenced by disparities in education and income.
  • Higher education and income correlate with a stronger sense of control over personal decisions and life situations.

Impact of Perceived Control on Well-being

• Individuals with a higher sense of control experience:
  • Better physical health
  • Increased life satisfaction
  • Fewer depressive symptoms
  • Lower mortality rates.

Socioeconomic Constraints

• Low socioeconomic status, particularly poverty, restricts access to essential resources (food, healthcare, safety), leading to increased vulnerability and diminished perceived control.

Perceived Control (Self-Efficacy)

• Defined as individuals’ expectations of their ability to achieve desired outcomes.
• Self-efficacy influences motivation, behavior, and psychological well-being.

Developmental Trends

• Early Adulthood: Increases in perceived control, reflecting greater independence and decision-making skills.
• Midlife: Peaks and stabilizes, indicating a strong sense of self-efficacy and life management abilities.
• Late Adulthood: Declines in perceived control, often due to age-related challenges and reduced autonomy.

Perceived Control and Health Outcomes

• Higher perceived control correlates positively with various health benefits, transcending race, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES).
• Individuals with greater perceived control exhibit better physical health outcomes.
• Enhanced life satisfaction is associated with higher levels of perceived control.
• A decrease in depressive symptoms correlates with increased perceived control.
• Lower mortality rates are linked to individuals who perceive a higher sense of control over their lives.

SES and Perceived Control

• Low SES individuals who possess high perceived control demonstrate health and longevity outcomes similar to those of high SES individuals.
• This suggests that perceived control may mitigate some negative impacts of low SES on health and lifespan.
• Study credit: Research conducted by Turiano and colleagues in 2014 highlights these findings.

Explore how the concept of possible selves evolves in adulthood through realistic aspirations. This quiz examines shifts from idealistic goals in youth to more balanced perspectives in midlife, taking into account personal strengths and weaknesses. Understand how self-perception impacts overall happiness and fulfillment.