Does Your Personality Make You Prone To A Midlife Crisis?

Researchers involved in the largest midlife investigation to date say that a person's psychological makeup predisposes some to have a "classic" aging-related midlife crisis.*

In a cover story, "Midlife Myths," for The Atlantic, writer Winifred Gallagher talked to investigators participating in the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's Research Network on Successful Midlife Development ("MIDMAC").

One finding was that "People prone to midlife crisis score low on tests of introspection, or reflecting on one's self and on life, and high in denial, or coping with trouble by not thinking about it."

That works for a while, but at some point reality can't be held off any longer. It could be a missed promotion, fading athletic ability, or failed attempt to appear 25. The denial doesn't work any more and the change in self-image is sudden and dramatic. There are feelings of worthlessness or failure.

Ronald Kessler, then program director in the survey research center of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, told Gallagher that "Such individuals have to work hard to maintain their illusions ... They spend a lot of energy on the cognitive effort of self-delusion, until reality finally intervenes."

When the crisis comes, it won't be easily navigated. David Featherman, then-president of the Social Science Research Council, told Gallagher that people prone to major midlife crises "aren't particularly good at absorbing or rebounding from life's shocks." The low introspection / high denial approach has left them unequipped to accomodate a sudden shift in perceived reality.

Because this is part of their personality, they will usually have had a pattern of similar major upheavals throughout their life.

You can liken this to an earthquake fault. One type of fault has many minor quakes that almost constantly relieve accumulated stress. Other faults stay immobile for years while massive amounts of energy build up. When the inevitable adjustment happens, it is massive.

Most adults observe changes in themselves and their environment and adapt gradually. But those who don't -- because it's the way they are -- can experience big, wrenching changes rather than many small ones. One of those changes can be the classic, full-blown midlife crisis.

Is this you? You should honestly assess whether you have what psychologists call an "adjustment disorder". Treatment usually involves therapy of some sort, but some have found intense talk with family or friends to be beneficial. If you're hesitant to involve a therapist -- for instance, if you're a guy -- talk to your primary care physician and see what they think your best course of action is.

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* by "classic" we distinguish it from the more common "crises that happen in midlife" such as divorce or death of a family member. These are traumatic but are not exclusive to midlife.

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Sources:

"Midlife myths" by Winifred Gallagher, The Atlantic, May 1993 p51

Health Issues in Men: Part II. Common Psychosocial Disorders> in American Family Physician magazine, July 1, 2000.