their role. For example: sex and occupation. The last determinant is Situational determinants. Situational determinants may include things that have happened a
thousand times as well as those that happen only once. It plays important part in
helping shape the kind of person one become.
On the other hand, Pikunas
1961: 22 states that development is a series of
sequential changes in an organism leading to its maturity. Development occurs as new kinds and levels of differentiation and integration, learning and maturation,
emerge.
2.1.2.2 Theory of Mid-life Transition
According to Daniel J. Levinson 1978: 191-192, the mid-life transition ordinary has its onset at age 40 or 41 and last about 5 years. The average age at
termination was 45.5, the range 44 to 47. The Mid-life Transition is a bridge between early adulthood and middle adulthood. There are three major tasks that must be
worked on. The first is to terminate the early adulthood. He has to review his life in this
era and reappraise what he has done with it. The initial focus in the Mid-life transition is on the past. The major task is to reappraise the life structure of the
settling down period. The second is to take his first steps toward the initiation of middle adulthood.
He can modify the negative elements of the present structure and to test new choices. A man must make choices that will modify the existing life structure and provide the
central elements for a new one. The Mid-life Transition also brings significant changes in the internal aspects of a man’s life structure. He may change appreciably
in social outlook, in personal value, in what he wants to give the world, in what he wants to be for himself. The inner changes may be highly out in dramatic external
changes. 1978: 191 The last one is to deal with the polarities that are sources of deep division in
his life. In this period a man must modify the early adult self. Greater individuation is needed if he is to form a life structure more appropriate for middle adulthood.
When a man begins his Mid-Life Transition, it is the time of moderate or severe crisis. Every aspect of his lives comes into question, and he is horrified by
much that is revealed. Moreover, he is full of recrimination against himself and others. He cannot go on as before, but need time to choose a new path or modify the
old one. However, to modify the old one he needs to pass a period that is known as Mid-Life Transition.
2.1.2.3 Factors Influencing Middle Age Women’s Personality Development
According to Hurlock 1974: 352, there are two kinds of factor that influence one’s personality in the family. Those are the direct and indirect influence.
In direct influence, the role of parents is to transmit attitude and values by telling their children how they should feel and behave in different situation.
Furthermore, communication is a direct method of personality transmission by which family member try to influence the personality development of other members.
While in indirect influence, the more significant a family member is to an individual, the greater will be his influence on the person’s mirror image.
Furthermore, a child who believes that his mother disapproves of him because she PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
constantly criticizes the way he behaves and talks will develop an unfavorable self- concept from his association with her.
Furthermore, the climate of the home directly influences the person’s characteristic behavior and his characteristic adjustment to life. If the home climate is
favorable, the individual, the individual will react to personal problems and frustrations and in a calm, philosophical manner.
Those theories present that family has a strong influence to ones personality development. Family is a strong factor that can alter or form a child personality.
An individual is part of the society, his ability to interact and to contribute something in his social life can influence his existence in the society. The way an
individual behaves also influence the society approval to him. Therefore, social life determines one’s existence in his social life.
According to Hurlock 1974: 232, a person whose behavior comes up to social expectations and who tries to play the social role prescribe for him by the
group can be assured of reasonable approval and acceptance.
2.2 Criticism
In analyzing Sue monk Kidd’s The Mermaid Chair, this study needs supports from some critics to reveal Sue Monk Kidd’s work. Many readers say that this novel
is a novel that is a woman’s coming-of-middle-age novel. Therefore, this novel is very suitable for middle-age woman.
Fortunately, Sue Monk Kidd gives a space in her website to place some critics about her works www.suemonkkidd.com. Therefore, it will be easier for the
reader to know the quality of her work. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
