Aspects of Intimacy

Max is a 48-year-old white male who has worked in the field of finance for the past 22 years. He has recently been promoted and now has many more responsibilities than he previously did. While he is happy about the promotion, it means he is working longer hours, and often has to work on weekends as well. Max and his wife Jenny have 2 children, ages 10 and 12. Because of Max’s work schedule, Jenny often bears the brunt of the child rearing responsibilities. Max feels guilty about this, but is unsure how to change this as he wants to be successful in his career. Recently, Max and Jenny have begun fighting more as she feels he isn’t around as much as she needs him to be, and she also feels that he is not meeting her needs emotionally. She also claims that Max is often defensive and critical, and insults her ability to cook and clean. Since Max feels pressure related to work, his marriage, and his parenting responsibilities, he has begun drinking more in the evenings and on the weekends when he isn’t doing work. This has begun to take a toll on his marriage, and the family as a whole.

1. Summarize the components of generativity in middle adulthood, and outline which ones are described in this scenario.
2. Examine some of the aspects of intimacy that are related to middle adulthood. Explain what types of issues you see in their marriage using some of the features of intimacy outlined in the textbook. Prescribe a plan to get their marriage moving in a more positive direction.
3. Specify what type of impact stress is having on Max, and explore whether or not some of the things he is experiencing in terms of stress are typical in adulthood. Using information from the textbook, recommend some healthier ways for him to cope with the stressors in his life.

The Life Span, Human Development for Helping Professionals(4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.