Questions and Answers
How does the concept of 'possible self' evolve over adulthood?
What motivates people in middle adulthood to revise their possible selves?
What is the relationship between revised self-concept in midlife and self-esteem?
How do perceptions of self differ between young adults and middle-aged adults?
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What types of aspirations do many adolescents and young adults express?
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What does gender convergence primarily involve?
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Which area shows evidence of gender convergence?
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What traditional trait is now being increasingly exhibited by women due to gender convergence?
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What change in emotional expressiveness does gender convergence suggest?
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Which traditional belief about caregiving is challenged by gender convergence?
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Why is gender convergence significant in discussions about gender equality?
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What psychological trend is observed among men due to gender convergence?
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What does gender convergence imply about the expression of traits across genders?
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What is indicated by the gender convergence in traits?
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At what age did men, according to a Finnish study, show a decrease in aggression?
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Which of the following traits did men begin to adopt as they moved away from traditional gender roles?
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What is androgyny associated with in later years?
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As individuals move from their 30s to 80s, how do men's expressive traits typically change?
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Which cultural groups are mentioned as showing patterns of gender convergence?
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Which characteristic did women typically adopt as they transitioned away from traditional gender roles?
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How does having androgynous traits help individuals?
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What trend does longitudinal research reveal about women's expressive traits as they age?
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What happens to traditional gender roles as adults transition away from parenting?
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What personality change is typically observed during middle adulthood?
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Which personality trait sees an increase during middle adulthood?
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Which of the following best characterizes the change in agreeableness during middle adulthood?
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How do personality changes in middle adulthood compare to those in young adulthood?
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What general trend is observed in neuroticism as individuals progress into middle adulthood?
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What term is often used interchangeably with perceived control?
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At what stage of life do control beliefs typically peak?
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Which of the following factors can influence perceived control?
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How does low socioeconomic status affect perceived control?
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Individuals with high perceived control are more likely to experience which of the following outcomes?
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What impact does age-related decline in perceived control relate to?
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Which group typically reports lower perceived control compared to others?
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What is a common effect of lower perceived control in individuals?
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At which stage of life does perceived control peak and remain stable?
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What is the trend of perceived control from early adulthood to late adulthood?
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Which term is often considered synonymous with perceived control?
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In which age group is perceived control generally reported to decline?
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What primarily influences an individual's perceived control over achieving desired outcomes?
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What outcomes are associated with higher perceived control regardless of race, gender, and SES?
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How does low SES affect health when coupled with high perceived control?
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Which of the following is NOT a benefit associated with higher perceived control?
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What effect does high perceived control have on adults with low SES?
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Which of the following statements is true about perceived control?
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Study Notes
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.
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Description
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.
