Executive Summary: Unacceptable Adult Losses

Three categories of loss affecting the maintenance of healthy self-esteem result from the trauma of involuntary occupational displacement at midlife: economic deprivation; relational dislocation; and assault upon normative adult development.

Economic deprivation begins with “belt tightening” and limitation of the accustomed activities and purchases that allow the individual and family a subjective sense of leisure. These initial markers of socio-economic shift include vacations, restaurants, and the purchase of non-essentials. While basic activities of daily living remain in place, continuous awareness of lost economic capability exerts significant emotional pressure.

Especially in a society like the United States, where material consumption has served a socio-emotional function both as a marker of social status and personal self-regard, economic deprivation is deeply felt. Individuals often deny its effects, maintaining both a “game face” and external trappings of former economic viability- such as retaining club memberships and social affiliations, because social regard may be highly aligned with perceptions of wealth. Here, economic viability distorts social perception as a reflection of personal capability. Short-term and instrumental relationships, rather than long-term friendships, may be based in power and exchange; and economic downturn may jeopardize individuals’ social capital. Radiating both from economic loss and effects of its social perception are the stressors felt by family and close friends. These reciprocal relationships often heighten the displaced individual’s sense of guilt and failure; and further test the endurance of close relationships. Additionally, the simple losses of daily social interaction with long-time workplace colleagues, within the patterns of work life are significant. The workplace not only structured the flow of daily life in purposive common activity with colleagues; but often, reputation and knowledge of personal competence had been contained within these social ties.

Finally, involuntary unemployment at midlife presents tremendous challenge within the course of adult development. Throughout life, each of us reflects , from time to time, “what is my life like now?” Significant loss may lead to emotional paralysis, preventing the individual’s productively resilient attempts to reverse adverse conditions. Most significantly, the primary developmental challenge of midlife builds upon the foundations laid in early adulthood. Optimal resolution of midlife challenge results in a personally meaningful sense of generativity rather than worried self-absorption or a generalized sense of stagnation on life’s road. For most of us, generativity is felt significantly in our value within the world of work. Beginning in early adulthood, social and emotional affiliations within the workplace forge an intimate sense both of being known through joint collaborative efforts—often referenced as “teamwork”. Work displacement tears this emotional fabric of adult security. Consciously and unconsciously, it may shake one’s sense of allegiance to an organization as well as belief in the organization’s reciprocal care in honoring its obligations to employees. Work displacement may undermine one’s sense of trust; and, especially in an era when generations are marked by technical facility--- with many Baby Boomers self conscious about their IT knowledge, and many younger colleagues dismissive of “grey hairs”---- may erode one’s own sense of personal competence and will.

It is essential to understand that development challenge--- the successful and creative resolution of personal generativity over stagnation---- would be with us,employed or unemployed. Economic dislocation ups the ante: providing a certain, generalized picture of stress and strain, shared by too many. But no one escapes the personal dimensions of negotiating developmental challenge. As humans, we balance physical development, emotional development, and negotiation of external reality in a continuously changing environment. That’s how we’re made. And together with economic solvency, the proper object of our personal inquiries must be how we stabilize ourselves at this moment in our life’s course. Quite literally, our lives depend on it.