The Midlife Crisis: The Causes Of A Mid-Life Crisis

A mid-life crisis is “a period of psychological stress occurring in middle age, thought to be triggered by a physical, occupational, or domestic event, as menopause, diminution of physical prowess, job loss, or departure of children from the home.” (Dictionary.com). Through a mid-life crisis is a myth, middle aged individuals still undergo certain symptoms of a crisis. Mid-life crises are believed to only occur to middle aged individuals because they go through the most significant life changes or events at this age that cause them to make life changing impulse decisions. Many people know that someone who is going through a crisis will do something such as buy a luxury car, has a love affair, make a major change to their physical appearance,

Jacques rationed that after the age of 35 the quality of life begins to wane. “Jacques suggested that some extreme reactions to looming mortality were to be expected at around this time of life.” (Mid-life Crisis: An Outdated Myth?).“This myth is said to have originated through the followers of Sigmund Freud, as they believed mid-life crisis were a,“"time when people start to recognize that their time on earth is limited. They cope with this by clinging to youth in any way they can," he explains, "but Freudians thought there were intrapsychic things people could do to stave off impending death."” (Probing Question: Is the mid-life crisis a

Almeida believes that there are happier people in their mid-life than in their youth. "They know what job they're doing. Their kids are older. On average, mid-life is a happy time. Through his research he has acquired that this is a happier time because people in their mid-life “"know what job they're doing. Their kids are older. On average, mid-life is a happy time."”(Probing Question: Is the mid-life crisis a myth?). He continues to explain that there are a number of reasons why individuals undergo the many symptoms of a crisis in their mid-life. For example when a person buys an expensive car, Almaide explains that this can simply be because “"Middle age is generally when wealth begins to increase. Mid-life is often a time when people can literally afford some finer, more expensive pleasures."”(Probing Question: Is the mid-life crisis a myth?). Almaide concludes by stating that middle aged people have a lot going on in their lives to the point where they do not have the time for a mid-life crisis, and most of the symptoms that individuals could be undergoing are just a series of behaviors, not a