Every person goes through many changes during his life: his body and mind change and develop because of the influence from society he lives in. The most common changes are cognitive, physical and social, which are inevitable. To the middle of adulthood one experiences his improvement clearly, and accepts the changes as they should be. The understanding and perception of the peculiarities of self-development are the most important issues when discussing human individuality. This paper is to examine social, physical and cognitive changes in middle adulthood for both women and men.
The changes acquired with age influence every muscle and bone in people`s body. For men the modifications may not be very noticeable, but the physical condition is different. The muscles were strong and hardy used to ensure great power and durability of the entire body, but men encounter very gradual muscle declines, which can be the result of a calorie-reduced diet or improper compliance of the common standards of living. In middle adulthood men may suffer from the diminution of vision and hearing. There is a great risk to get wrinkles because of incorrect care and an unhealthy lifestyle. As a consequence of it, they are more likely to gain weight, as it is easier for their bodies to cope with difficult situations. The reproductive system of men is suffering in middle adulthood too. They have problems of erection and impotence that lead to the reduction of the coherence of the work of their body in general.
Unlike men, women suffer from a decrease in their hormones. This can be the cause of infertility or obesity. The symptoms of psychological and physical changes can be sleep loss, cold sweats or hot flashes. Moreover, the cycle of menopause may become unstable, and because of it some problems with not only “women organs” can hurt body or mind.
Both men and women suffer from memory deterioration, when they need more time to process the information received in order to understand it. The flashes of uncontrolled anger, which are the result of emotion inhibition, are among the most dangerous changes in midlife. Hostility leads to illnesses, cardiovascular arousal and other health complaints. Nevertheless, some men and women experience an optimistic outlook by controlling their desires and actions. Their self-development takes a lot of time, so they challenge themselves every day in order to improve their lives or change them altogether. During their middle adulthood they learn to manage their stresses.
As a result of inner changes, their cognitive development is always on top. There are some stages of this kind of development: acquisitive, achieving, responsibility and reintegrative. During it, women may focus their attention on acquiring different knowledge, and getting a good quality of life. The cognition, as a rule, extends to a high level of responsibilities and social obligations, which cannot be avoided in the modern world (Cognitive Development in Adulthood).
One of the main aspects in adult`s concern is generativity, which promotes good future to youth through providing programs of teaching, parenting and other contributions that make people`s lives easier. Instead of it, stagnation is the state of lethargy, when people do not want to be involved in the process of self-development and improving the lives of others. Both men and women, who encounter changes in middle adulthood, are behind the choice: to implement their knowledge and pass it to the youth or to neglect all their experience and drift for all their lives.
The psychologist Erik Erikson considered generativity to be the main task of adults to pass their knowledge, to bring useful things in life. This kind of caring for future generations is to declare people`s role in “establishing and guiding the next generation” (Erikson, 1974). The physical, social and cognitive changes may impact the choice: generativity or stagnation. For example, the perception of other people can improve adults` feelings and attitudes towards themselves, but when acquaintances leave them to fight with their problems alone, there is no desire to help people.
The representatives of middle adulthood become stagnated. They close their hearts and deal with any problems concerning their health on their own, ignoring everything. They just decide to live counting on their powers, and consider it to be the right choice for others. So when it comes to the issues of help, the “sandwich generation” goes through great challenges. There are conflicts at the work place, where not all the staff takes care of both children and adults. They have to encounter the problem of necessary assistance towards people with limited abilities, as they deserve to be listened to and understood by society. Taking care of both children and adults assures good quality of life to patients and those, who propose help.
The representatives of the “sandwich generation” have to manage their lives in a way for them to have enough time and energy to assist other people in their aspirations. They have to learn how to apply their knowledge to the issues of care and regularize the process of treatment, if necessary. Also, they have to struggle for the extension of the organizations or centers, which are to control this situation. The “sandwich generation” is obliged to follow norms – not neglect their responsibilities for both parents and children. In order not to be lost in care of others, they should watch their own stat of health. It is even better if they are able to be “healthfully selfish” in order to alleviate physical, social and cognitive changes that will disturb them with the coming of a certain age.
The development of technologies and invention of new means, which are implemented in ordinary lives have increased the strain on women and men in their middle adulthood. They are impressible enough to worry about their nescience in the issues of new technologies, so their nervous system is shaky. As a result of it, they worry a lot, so their changes are strongly noticeable.
References
Cognitive Development in Adulthood. (n.d.). Boundless. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-textbook/human-development-14/early-and-middle-adulthood-74/cognitive-development-in-adulthood-288-12823/
Erikson, E. H. (1974). Dimensions of a new identity. New York: Norton.
