This research paper presents adult development for men and women, to include the middle years (40 years to 60 years), older mature years (60 years to 80 years), and elder years (80 years and above). The five-factor model and the effects of homelessness on development will be included in this discussion.
The Five-Factor Model of Personality
The five-factor model (FFM) of personality includes emotional stability, surgency, culture, agreeableness, and will or dependability with dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. This model has become a prominent paradigm viewed as having generality and applicability. Thus for the big five: neuroticism refers to a lack of positive psychological adjustment and emotional stability; extroverts are described as being sociable, active, and impulsive; openness to experience is described as intellectual and unconventional; agreeableness is described as cooperative, trusting, and caring, and likable; and conscientiousness is described as hardworking, persistent, dependable, and orderly (Judge, Higgins, Thoresen, & Barrick, 1999).
Different personality patterns result in different perspectives. For example, results of one study showed that participants with low scores for neuroticism and high scores for openness, extraversion, and agreeableness tend to be more prepared and more willing to work hard. Alternatively, those with low scores on extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness scored high on pessimism and low on optimism (Schaub & Tokar, 1999).
The effects of personality on adult development have been studied. Shanan (1991) reported that concepts of stability and continuity are important in understanding adult development across the life span. Lifelong continuity refers to one that is continually active and able to cope with change, compared to discontinuity or the dropping out of life. Stability on t...