A study has revealed how four dimensions of personality evolve over time. The conclusions that have been reached allow us to begin to consider the entry into middle age as an interesting phase of our life cycle.
Last update: 24 March, 2022
The passage of time leaves a deep mark on us all. Birthday is a game in which we feel we are losers, even though we are, in reality, winners. A recent study looked at the four dimensions of personality and how they evolve with age. Between these, the discomfort and the feelings associated with it were the first to lessen with age.
The four dimensions of personality studied in this research are generativity, stagnation, ego integrity and discouragement. These four dimensions are taken from Erik Erikson's theory of personality and refer to the extremes of two of the 8 psychosocial states proposed by the scholar. These two psychosocial states correspond to the last two stages of life.
Each stage of life is characterized by a series of conflicts that we have to face for our personal development. Between the ages of 40 and 60, the conflict extends between stagnation and generativity. While the integrity of the ego and despair correspond to the vital stage starting from the age of 60.
Let's see what each dimension consists of, what it is characterized by and what conclusions came from this study, conducted by a team of psychologists led by Nicky J. Newton and Elisabeth A. Wanderwater and published in the Journal of Research in Personality.
Generativity vs stagnation
Generativity is the dimension of the personality that refers to the degree of active participation in the construction of a future healthy. This personality dimension develops understanding and consideration of others, the ability to see the heart of the problem far beyond appearances and offers advice based on the wisdom acquired over time.
Conversely, stagnation refers to the absence of personal growth and the development of these generative skills. It is characterized by low frustration tolerance, poor uncertainty management, and issues that require complex analysis.
Integrity of the ego in the face of despair
In this vital phase, the dimension ego integrity refers to people's resilience in the face of adversity, or rather to resilience. It is characterized by feelings of satisfaction with one's life, the starting point for the person to show good self-control.
On the contrary, the dimension of despair is linked to the lack of ego integrity. It is associated with feelings of despair, the meaning of life is lost and great hostility is generated towards others and towards situations that we do not understand.
The study was conducted on 166 middle-aged women, particularly between the ages of 43 and 72. It developed in four stages and took a total of 28 years, from 1986 to 2014. The research consisted of recording the four dimensions of personality that we have been talking about over these 28 years.
The data shows that the size of generativity and integrity steadily increased from 43 to 70 years of age. Conversely, stagnation reached higher levels as we approached 60, and then began a decline towards 70.
Finally, despair was the first dimension to peak at an early age, starting at the age of 50. However, feelings of despair dwindled dramatically between the ages of 60 and 70.
The despondency and the feelings that come with it
The feelings of despondency and stagnation seem to recede with time, while the positive aspect seems to stand out more and more as the years pass. During the last phase of the life of the women involved in the study, in fact, feelings of discomfort were reduced, as a consequence of the increase in ego integrity.
Stagnation also decreased over time, while generativity and integrity remained constant or increased over time. It seems that this decrease in stagnation is also associated with ego integrity, which generates a new feeling of personal growth.
Despair and middle age: conclusions
These results fill us with hope. It seems that good conflict resolution in the later stages of life can generate a considerable reduction in discomfort and a significant increase in the positive dimensions of the personality. Perhaps this is why we must begin to face middle age with enthusiasm, with a deep awareness, without feeling desperate and with the utmost confidence.
