PSYCHO/BIO/SOCIAL© 1998
by Michele Irvine

I’m 42 and "middle age"
So says Erikson, in his seventh stage.
My first reaction was definitely, denial,
"Middle age adult" is not my style.
"Generativity versus Stagnation"
From this new version, I feel elation.
After reading, further on,
I realize now, my fears have gone.
Middle age is where I’m at,
Wake up, Michele, it IS a fact.
I guess I’ve accepted, this time of my life,
Or Erikson said, I’d be in strife.
Psycho/bio/socio needs,
Are the influences, that Erikson heeds.
Environment too, is an added effect,
For these factors induced, my intellect.
A couch potato and self absorbed,
Is what I’d be, if I was bored.
I’m kept busy, with continual learning,
The corners, I face, I’m always turning
My hair turned grey, but a colour fixed that.
Exercise and diet, have stopped the fat.
An ability to accept, the many changes,
Have prevented me from, the emotional dangers.
I’m on the track, that Erikson states,
I am communicable, with all my mates.
The kids have grown, I’m not alone,
My man is here, within my zone.
We’re enjoying life, so Erikson’s right,
I’ll accept his "wording", without a fight.
So I can progress, to his final stage,
And because of this, enjoy old age.
The "middle age adult" is now I see,
"Generativity" which identifies me.

Another theorist, another angle,
I’m so absorbed, in one huge tangle.
Robert Havighurst, is his name,
To understand learning, is his game.
Timing for teaching, is the issue now,
Do I fit in, I wonder how?
I’m assisting my kids, to happy adulthood,
I’ve taught them stability, as well as I could.
All of us have, our highs and lows,
But learning from this, is how it goes.
If I fail, I’d be sad,
Society frowns, which could be bad.
I’d then have hardship, with later chores,
And probably stagnate, behind closed doors.
Erikson and Havighurst, both agree,
That strength through stages, doesn’t come free.
My immediate environment, has helped me through,
From birth to now, in all I do.
By learning, developing, achieving roles,
I’ve managed this far to attain my goals.
My performance in work is satisfying,
But if I knew all, I would be lying.
The learning process continues on,
I know, my parents, will soon be gone.
I relate to my spouse, like he’s a real guy,
And developed the friendships that money can’t buy.
I’m adjusting to the physical side of middle age,
So, Havighurst’s right, for me, at this stage.
My development tasks stemmed, from all that’s around,
My bio/psycho, social roots, were sound.

There’s many more theorists, I’ll just pick one more,
This one is weird, but still holds the floor.
Sigmund Freud states, I’ve learnt by age eight,
So at 42 years, I am a bit late.
To learn anything of value, at this time of life,
Means little to Freud, being mother and wife.
His psychosexual development stage,
Doesn’t allow growth, in middle age.
I’m, already supposed to know,
How to achieve, develop and grow.
All based on bodily interactions,
I wonder if he failed math’s fractions.
His thoughts are definitely below the belt,
On his theory, and how it’s dealt.
Oral, anal, phallic and latent,
Genital last, he’s definitely patent.
But that where it stops, at 20 years,
What about me, I’m nearly in tears.
Lucky I’m positive, and adapted already
Or listening to Freud, I’d be unsteady.
I had a sheltered, sweet childhood,
So would have been very, misunderstood
. I didn’t know what sex was about,
At 20 years old, he’d call me a dropout.
Imagine the nuns, teaching me Freud,
Couldn’t you see, they’d be annoyed
I’ve learnt and adapted, well since then,
No thanks to Freud, and his sexual yen
My genitals would have been my only thought,
But I’m wiser now, and didn’t get caught.
The bio/psycho/social needs,
Are the ones that were, my essential seeds.
To realize this, they guided me,
To the person I am and what you see
.

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