Eliot Jacks 1965 Mid-Life Crisis

Paradox of prime of life fulfillment in life but seeing it as dated as death is just over the hill


National Geographic 2012

Apes Have Midlife Crises, Too—And It May Help Them

Middle age ruts may act as natural motivators, scientist says.

BYAMANDA FIEGLNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 20, 2012




A national survey of Midlife in the United States conducted a poll to determine how many people experience midlife crises. Approximately 26% of the participants reported having a midlife crisis.

Most survey participants reported that their midlife crisis occurred before age 40 or after 50, however.

That raises the question about whether these crises were truly related to midlife since midlife is typically considered age 45.

Out of the one in four people who say they had a midlife crisis, the vast majority say it was brought on by a major event, rather than age. Factors that triggered the crisis included life changes such as divorce, job loss, loss of a loved one, or relocation.

Happiness Slump

Many studies indicate that happiness is U-shaped. A gradual decline in happiness begins during the late teen years and continues until an individual is in their 40s. Happiness begins increasing again in an individual’s 50s.

Data on half a million Americans and Europeans found this trend to be true. Individuals in their 60s reported they’d never been happier, but people in their 40s felt like they were at an all-time low.

This U-shaped curve doesn’t appear to be universal, however. It’s more prevalent in high-income nations. A gradual decline in happiness may explain why some people seem to hit a midlife crisis—they’re in a happiness slump.

Even though data suggests people become happier again later in life, there’s a pervasive belief that happiness continues to decline as we age. So, some people in their mid-40s may think life is only going to get worse, which may spark a midlife crisis.

Some people may experience depression during midlife and refer to their depressive state as their midlife crisis. Women between the ages of 40 and 59 in the United States have the highest rates of depression (12.3%) of any group based on age and gender, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Suicide rates are highest during middle age—among white men in particular. People between the ages of 45 and 54 are more likely to kill themselves than any other age group.

 

A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Development found an upside to the midlife crisis—curiosity. Researchers found that people who were experiencing a crisis—whether it was a quarter-life or a midlife crisis—experienced enhanced curiosity about themselves and the wider world around them.1 

The distress and uncertainty participants experienced brought about openness to new ideas, which could bring insight and creative solutions. That curiosity could lead to new breakthroughs or new opportunities, which might be the silver lining in the midst of a crisis.

 

Professor Mark Jackson Royal Society 

 

Psychological: Identity Crisis

Biology: Awareness of ageing and deteriorating vigour. Includes women with menopause and empty nest.

Middle of 20th Century standardised life course. Ie not just biological but socially prescribed. Time to marry, have children and retire.

By the 1950s life expectancy had significantly increased and women had started marrying earlier. Women 20-24. Fewer children clustering them earlier in the marriage. So a longer period of life after childbearing.

Men’s life was determined by occupation . Decades in the same job until retirement. 

Hence everyone was going through the same changes at the same ages.

Ageism started growing with a greater sense of where we should be at certain times of life. Failure to meet expectations. Keeping up with the Jonses started in 1913 in a comic strip.

Middle age was sandwiched between adolescent crisis of children and old age of parents.

Inheritance happened decades later increasing pressures on couples bringing up children.

The extended life course also led to the question ‘is this all there is, do I want to live with the person for the next 30 years’

The realistic prospect of a life long marriage was questioned and the concept of serial marriages was introduced.

1969 the divorce act changed removing the concept of marital offence making it easier to divorce.

 

Pull to a better life eg Life begins at 40. First used in 1914 by the widow of an army officer  Theodora Parsons, who had trained ladies in physical fitness to keep the mind fit.

We do not begin to live until we begin to die. She was addressing middle aged women who were overweight and let themselves go therefore she wanted these ladies to get fitter to aid the war effort. 

However that phrase became key in self help literature from the 1930s onwards. Indeed it encouraged older people to enjoy life and work less in order to allow younger people into work during the recession of the 1930s.

The American Dream was also sketched out:  the dream of a social order in which each man and woman is able to attain their maximum potential. We could look forward with some hope.

After WW2 the collapse of the American Dream was replaced by  the dream of motorcars and high wages as well as human consumption.  Happiness in a hurry. 

The idea of life begins at 40 ie life getting better not worse was a sense of narcissistic belief thinking they are due happiness love approval  sex excitement all this is denied me in this stale marriage let me get rid of her.

We are aged by our minds our bodies and by history and culture.

 

Midlife crisis is much more marked in Western than in Eastern cultures.

 

 

Barbara Waxman Tedx 2021:

People believe their best years are behind them