June 1994
Men in Transition
The media is filled with tales of men in "mid-life crisis." Although there are gradual and hormonal changes related to aging, "what happens to men in mid-life is mate a function of their social relationships than their biological condition," explains psychoanalyst Richard Almond, M.D.
Dr. Almond continues, "When kids leave home, everyone seems to understand a mother' s sense of loss, but society is not so quick to recognize that the 'empty nest' syndrome also affects fathers." Dr. Almond adds, "Men who have not been closely involved in child rearing actually feel this loss more acutely."
Another type of mid-life crisis occurs in men and women who have only maintained a relationship to raise their children. "When the kids are gone, there's not much to hold that relationship together." Dr. Almond adds, "We've all seen examples of men divorcing their wives of 20 or 30 years and dating -- even marrying -- much younger women. What these men are saying is that they are still strong enough to start over, but underneath the bravado for many of these men there's a sense of loss and grief. It's hard for society to recognize because on the surface it looks like these men are having a really good time."
The men who don't experience mid-life crises are often in satisfying relationships and jobs. Dr. Almond concludes, "Men who have developed strong social supports and varied interests are often able to master the transitions of the middle years."
To interview Richard Almond, M.D., about men in transition, please call Media Consultant, Mary Tressel at 1-800-260-2663.
Perspectives on Menopause Changing
Women have been experiencing menopause since Eve, but only in the last decade has the subject been examined in the psychoanalytic literature, notes Sandra Bemesderfer, Ph.D. "Those psychoanalysts who did address the issue believed that menopause was inevitably accompanied by depression, but recent empirical research has demonstrated that contrary to this belief as few as 10 percent of all women undergoing menopause report depression as part of their experience.
"What is interesting, and relatively new in the scientific literature, is an appreciation of the breadth of women's adaptive responses to the loss of reproductive function, "Dr. Bemesderfer explains. "These responses range from a passive acceptance of lost function to an active response characterized by increased energy for new endeavors."
Dr. Bemesderfer notes several common psychological factors that characterize the women who are able to respond proactively to menopause. "My research suggests that both unconscious and conscious elements are at work as a woman reassesses her role as daughter and, if she has children, mother. The successful conscious strategy for dealing with post-menopausal life depends on the successful outcome of this unconscious process of reassessment. The proactive woman will try to make sense of her feelings and experiences and will pull them together in a coherent whole."
To interview psychoanalyst Sandra Bemesderfer, Ph.D., about women and menopause, please contact Media Consultant, Mary Tressel at 1-800-260-2663.
Cultural Influences Affect Older Women
In our youth-dominated culture, a woman of a "certain age" becomes invisible. Men fail to notice when she enters a room, and younger women are not always interested in what she has to offer. "It takes a strong sense of self to retain a feeling of inner beauty in our culture, particularly when society 'discounts' our value," notes therapist Merle L. Becker, L.C.S.W., speaking at a recent symposium on menopause sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute.
In contrast, women in cultures where older women are venerated don't experience a crisis during menopause, states anthropologist Yewoubdar Beyene, Ph.D., who also spoke at the symposium. "Even physical symptoms such as 'hot flashes' are not universal, leading researchers to examine the relationship between physical, emotional and societal factors in menopause."
Becker adds a hopeful note about the changing role of older American women: "As women gain economic and social power in our society, we are likely to see our influence grow," and some of the negative aspects of menopause may be diminished
Psychoanalysts include specialists in a number of fields, including psychiatry and psychology, social work and law. To speak to a psychoanalyst about menopause, please call Media Consultant, Mary Tressel at 1-800-260-2663.
Boys and Girls Together
We've all heard the stereotypes: "Boys are aggressive, competitive builders." "Girls are intuitive, collaborative nurturers."
"Gender identity is not so simple," cautions psychoanalyst Elizabeth Mayer, Ph.D. "Psychoanalytic theory, which until relatively recently has been male centered, is now more respectful of what society has considered "female" values such as collaborative thinking and nurturing behaviors; these factors are critical to the survival of our species."
The Kohlberg scale has been used to assess the level of moral development in boys and girls for decades, but scientists am now recognizing the validity of different approaches to moral issues. Dr. Mayer explains a fairly typical Kohlberg scenario:
A poor man's wife is very ill, and she needs special medicine to survive. Is he justified in stealing the money for the medicine?
"Boys were more likely to say that he should steal for the medicine because life is more important than property," Dr. Mayer says. "Girls felt the man should not steal but should raise money for the medicine from friends and neighbors or talk to the pharmacist to arrange payment over time."
In the past, boys' responses were considered more moral, but "society is beginning to recognize that females also make high level ethical decisions, they just operate from a different sense of morality that is more focused on relationships and collaboration among people."
Elizabeth Mayer, Ph.D., is available to discuss gender identity. To arrange an interview, please call Media Consultant, Mary Tressel at 1-800-260-2663.