The idea of “midlife crisis” was initially used by Elliot Jaques in 1965 to describe a period of dramatic self-doubt that is certainly felt by some individuals in the middle years of life, as a result to sensing the passing of youth and the imminence of old age.
In western culture, only about 10% of men and women experience it for duration of 3 to 10 years in men and two to five years in women; age of onset has been put variously between 30 and 60 years with a mean age of 46.
What is midlife crisis? When, How?
Midlife crisis described as the emotional upheaval or behavioural alterations that occur in some individuals between the ages of 35 and 50. The fact that many scientific studies couldn’t validate its existence that makes its reality doubtful. Carl Jung and Erik Erikson, the celebrated psychologists of the last century didn’t say anything categorical about this entity thereby casting doubt about midlife crisis existence.
Anthropological studies had never establish the occurrence of midlife crisis in parts of Asia like Japan and India; making it look a lot more like a cultures problem that celebrate youth and so lament the age transition from youth to old age through behavioural changes which have been akin to “withdrawal reactions” to all that youth stands for.
There are many factors that could make midlife a period of crisis for some. Constant evaluation within your personal life is really a natural and normal habit for most individuals. However the evaluation that comes about at midlife lets you know in concrete conditions that half of your life is gone and rhetorically asks you what you want to do with the remaining half of your life. This could be disconcerting for an individual who don’t even have much to show for years that could pass for wasted years. This is when midlife crisis sets in.
For persons who have experienced it, a trigger that can initiate the midlife crisis for men is when a man suddenly realizes that his spouse is approaching menopause plus the end of the woman reproductive life. This don’t need to cause ripples since couple should experienced all the young children they desired and since menopause doesn’t abolish conjugal romantic relationship in civilized configurations.
The triggers that start the midlife crisis in women are menopause and when children leaving home to determine theirs.
Man is never free from any crisis at any stage of life. It could be said that problems, crisis adds spice to life. Middle aged should take the solace in these terms of Mark Twain: “You’re a crank until your dream comes through“.