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As people grow from infancy to adulthood, they take on different roles in order to perform specific tasks that would enable them to become better suited to the environment or the society to which they belong. Due to the ever changing nature of human existence influenced by the environment and technological development, these different roles that people take also changes along the passing of generations. During middle adulthood, many people take the role of a romantic partner or a spouse. When a child is conceived and born, these people become parents during middle adulthood. In the past, these two roles have taken different shapes, and for every role taken, it is imperative to make psychological adjustments to equip one’s self to effectively take on the course of continuous human development.
During early adulthood, people tend to seek and establish romantic connections. Based on the psychosocial stages of development created by Erik Erikson, young adulthood covers the age range of 18 to 40 years old (McLeod, 2013). He believes that people at this stage begin to explore intimacy towards potential partners. This is where the virtue of love is said to be achieved. In the past generations, people in the early adulthood stage take on the role of either a wife or a husband when they are in love. For example, according to Kristin Celello, a History assistant professor at the Queens College, City University in New York, a married woman during the 1950’s are generally expected to “to foster a happy marriage and steer it away from divorce” (Tartakovsky, 2012). Back then, wives view marriage as a career. The role of being married, especially during early adulthood, was quite important during that time that counselling sessions, such as the “Marriage Readiness Course” was even offered to women (Tartakovsky, 2012). Through the years, this particular role as a wife or as a husband takes a different shape. After several decades, being a wife or a husband is no longer as important as it was before. Currently, being a partner romantic partner and living in together without marital bonds are becoming quite common. With cohabitation, the women is no longer expected to keep the bond together, especially because there is no legal connection to be taken care of. It is also said that “children are less likely to be born into cohabitational relationships” (“Cohabitation,” 2003). This means that a person in the early adulthood who takes the role of a partner in this set-up has lesser responsibilities and accountabilities. This shows how a particular role in early adulthood changes through the past generations.
On the other hand, people during the middle adulthood also takes different roles which have also change throughout the past years. According to Erik Erikson, middle adulthood, which covers the age range of 40 to 65 years, is when people begin to build families (McLeod). One of the most significant roles of people at this stage is being a parent. Looking back several decades ago, taking the role of a mother means that a women stays in the house to take care of the kids. During the 1950’s, for instance, only 19 percent of mothers work outside of their homes (Pappas, 2013). As of 2008, this figure is at 60 percent (Pappas, 2013). The role of being a mother now covers the responsibility of providing for the needs of the family. The same is true with the role of being a father. According to the American Psychological Association (n.d.), modern fathers are no longer what people use to perceive as “traditional married breadwinner and disciplinarian in the family.” As the social norms and societal structure change, fatherhood also evolved. Nowadays, fathers “can be single or married; externally employed or stay-at home; gay or straight; an adoptive or step-parent; and a more than capable caregiver to children facing physical or psychological challenges” (American Psychological Association, n.d.). Clearly, the role of being parents has also changed over time.
Now, no matter what role a person take during early and middle adulthood psychological adjustments need to be taken in order to adapt to aging and lifestyle changes. During early adulthood, according to Erikson, a person goes through a stage called Intimacy vs. Isolation. Those who explore relationships often find intimacy while those who avoid it are left in isolation (McLeod, 2013). In order to establish a successful relationship, a person must adjust from being self-centered into being more sensitive of the needs of others. This sensitivity includes openness and honesty to the intimate partner. These adjustments is the first key step in developing families during middle adulthood. As people go through the middle adulthood, they begin to feel the need to be part of a bigger cause. This stage, according to Erikson, is called Generativity vs. Stagnation (McLeod, 2013). This means that people psychologically adjust to bigger responsibilities, which requires patience and ability to manage stress.
Overall, changing roles is an integral part of human development. During early adulthood, many people choose to be part of other’s lives by establishing relationships. Women become wives and men become husbands. Throughout the years, this husband and wife relationship also changes it face. Currently, the society is more open to cohabitation and to same-sex relationships. On the other hand, middle adulthood opens up to the role of being parents. Motherhood and fatherhood also changes throughout the course of different generations. Before, being a mother is usually confined within the walls of the home, taking care of the kids and attending to the needs of the working husbands. Today, many mothers have become financial providers as well. For fathers, their role is now far more than being good providers and disciplinarians. As people develop from early to middle adulthood, they also take on different psychological adjustments that are necessary to make them more equip to their lifestyles.
References
American Psychological Association (n.d.). The changing role of the modern day father. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/changing-father.aspx
Cohabitation (2012). Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Cohabitation.aspx
McLeod, S. (2013). Erik Erikson. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html
Pappas, S. (2013). 5 Ways motherhood has changed over time. Live Science. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/29521-5-ways-motherhood-has-changed.html
Tartakovsky, M. (2012). A glimpse into marriage advice from the 1950’s. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/02/27/a-glimpse-into-marriage-advice-from-the-1950s
