Myths of Middle Age

Myth #1: The Sandwich Generation

Erikson noted that middle aged people are in fact in the middle of two generations. This has been called the Sandwich Generation – being squeezed between the needs of young and old (Miller, 1981)

1. Ageing Parents

During this period there is a power shift in which the children come to feel responsible for the parents, perhaps due to

• ill health or declining mental faculties
• a financial shift or a role shift

Unless this is seen as being a normal developmental process, then resentment on both sides might result. Although the majority of middle-aged children adopt a caring role towards their parents, some might feel guilty because they believe they don't do enough to support their parents.

2. Relating to the young

There are role shifts with:

• adolescent children, young adult children and maybe their chosen spouses coming into the family
• interactions in work and social situations

The middle-aged can act as supporters and mentors, but if they withdraw from the young then stagnation and self absorption can occur.

Myth #2: Mid-Life Crisis?

Is this the prime of life or the beginning of the end? Does a crisis really occur?

Pioneering psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung was the first to focus on this stage of development.  In middle age one comes to realise:

• one’s mortality
• there is no control over disease and death
• the unconscious must be confronted

Reflection and inner-exploration becomes important in order for the individual to work through this process.

• Questions about self, life so far and life in the future must be faced
• Whatever one wishes to do must be done before it is too late

Psychologist Daniel Levinson proposed that midlife is a time of extreme crisis, but this has been disputed by later research.  Why the term ‘midlife crisis’ still has such high usage may be due to the number of factors that are clustered in this age range and which reflect Jung’s points above:

• physical deterioration and recognition of ageing
• recognition of mortality, death of parents, friends etc
• recognition that achievement of goals may not be possible
• recognition that ‘time is running out’ to achieve, to experience etc. Last chance time
• children are growing up and challenging authority