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The development of time sense in middle adulthood
The Psychoanalytic Quarterly
|February 25, 1999
Summary
Middle age time perception is shaped by life events, not just age. Factors like health, family, and career changes significantly influence how individuals experience time subjectively.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Subjective Experience
Background:
- Chronological age is a common marker for life stages.
- Middle age is often defined by specific age ranges (e.g., 40-60).
- Subjective experience of time can differ from objective measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the subjective experience of time during middle age.
- To examine how developmental factors influence time perception.
- To understand the dynamic factors shaping midlife time sense.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative exploration of intrapsychic experiences.
- Developmental context analysis.
- Examination of life events impacting time perception.
Main Results:
- Chronological age (e.g., 40, 60) is a less significant determinant of time sense in middle age.
- Complex dynamic factors profoundly influence subjective time experience.
- Physical aging, illness, family dynamics, parental death, and retirement are key influencing factors.
Conclusions:
- Subjective time experience in middle age is multifaceted.
- Life transitions and personal circumstances are critical to understanding midlife time perception.
- Developmental factors dynamically shape how individuals perceive and experience time.