Have you ever heard someone say (or said yourself) "my clock is ticking." This is an example of a social clock which is a cultural specific timetable for events to occur. Events include marriage, having children, etc. For example, in some cultures it is expected that people be married in their teens. This is an example of a social clock - in that cutlture they have an accepted timetable for when events are to occur. Show
The term old maid used to be a dreaded label for women who were still single by the time a certain age rolled around. The social clock theory addresses society's expectations of individuals as they grow and change. What were once strict codes of behavior have become more relaxed in the face of modern trends.
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1 IdentificationThe social clock theory describes how major life changes are expected to take place at a certain time during a person's lifetime. Societal expectations regarding when these changes should occur make up the social clock timeline. This clock provides a way of determining a person's progress within his particular age range. Those who've accomplished the expected tasks by a certain age are considered well-adjusted within society's framework, whereas those who are ahead or behind schedule are viewed as either ahead of the pack or lagging behind. 2 Developmental MaturityThe concept of the social clock is derived from developmental theories that address how individuals grow and change from childhood to old age. The clock theory is defined as an external gauge that works to shape a standard level of progress or accomplishment within a society. For the individual, reaching landmarks at the expected time indicates a competent level of mental and emotional maturity, while those who lag behind are regarded as less competent in the eyes of society. 3 Landmark EventsThe social clock theory views major landmark events within a person's lifetime as indicators of where she falls within the standards of society. Landmark events include graduating from high school, getting a first job, getting married, having children, buying a home and retiring. The type of society a person lives in will determine what types of landmark events will serve as markers. An example of this concept in the United States would be the expectation for a young adult to attend college after graduating from high school. This same adult would be expected to start their own family, or get a job in rural Latin American society. 4 EffectsSociety's assigned timelines have a certain effect on individuals who keep pace as well as on those who lag behind. Individuals who keep pace with the social clock can expect a certain level of acceptance and engagement within the workings of society. As a result, a certain level of skill has been acquired as well as a person's ability to better understand himself and others. Those who lag behind or choose to ignore the clock completely are at risk of being ostracized in terms of where they fit within the established norms of a society. 5 ChangesAs societal roles for men and women have changed in the past 40 years, social clock timelines for landmark events have become more flexible. Timelines for women in terms of having children have shifted as many women opt to postpone having children until after establishing a career. Timelines for marriage have also become more flexible as both men and women are expected to finish college, and gain their footing within the workplace. Modern lifestyles have required a change in priorities toward education and career. As a result, the timing for many landmark events has shifted accordingly.
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About the AuthorJacquelyn Jeanty has worked as a freelance writer since 2008. Her work appears at various websites. Her specialty areas include health, home and garden, Christianity and personal development. Jeanty holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Purdue University. Lifespan development series continues. Im covering key topics from the lifespan that impact mental health. You’ve heard of the biological clock, but the social clock also impacts us all. The social clock is a culturally defined timeline for social milestones. Think first job, marriage, having a child, graduating from college, buying a home, retiring, etc. How is this impactful? The research shows people who fall in line with the social clock have less negative impact than those who don’t. Following the social clock lends to confidence and self-esteem. (It’s all “achievement” based and isn’t real self-worth btw). What age do you ‘think’ you’re “supposed” to be married? I live in Utah, the state with the lowest marriage age. I REGULARLY hear about the PRESSURE AND SHAME experienced from folks feeling “too old” and single. What if you don’t hit the social clocks timing? Typically we see this culturally constructed expectation lead to shame, guilt, comparison, depression & anxiety, and feeling like a failure. This also causes generational disconnect, as social clocks differ between generations and cultures. The “shoulds” hurt us. The social clock isn’t truth (it’s literally culturally constructed and changes). DO NOT let the comparison determine your value or worthiness. A key component of longevity and health is resilience and optimism, which I’ll talk about later. Practice mindful acceptance, reflection, and honest evaluation of YOUR PERSONAL life goals. Don’t let the social clock tell you you’re less than. Some things we can control, like applying to jobs or working toward graduation. But that doesn’t guarantee the arbitrary age cutoffs will line up with our particular life circumstances. The social clock is an issue of privilege and socioeconomic status in so many ways! Purchasing a home? Financial independence? Getting pregnant (which costs a lot of us tens of thousands of dollars on top of reproductive technologies and even getting access based on body size). The social clock is so narrow. Humans love predictability and control. The social clock isn’t a worth measure, lining up with it doesn’t define you! What is the concept of social clock and how has it changed?Social clock establishes the culturally preferred timing of important transitions in life, like marriage, parenthood, and retirement. It can be termed as the social expectations that are given by a culture about when the transitional events like marriage, having kids, or retirement should take place in life.
What is the concept known as the social clock and how does it relate to the transition from adolescence to adulthood?What is the concept known as the "social clock," and how does it relate to the transition from adolescence to adulthood? The "social clock," is the culturally preferred time of social events. The social events are milestones reached between adolescence and adulthood.
How does the social clock affect life choices?The social clock affects people's life choices by making them try to comply with the cultural timeline and social milestones expected in their society. Norms and timelines within the social clock are both conscious and unconscious.
How are social clocks determined?Differing from biological clocks that have a neural origin, social clocks are largely determined by the culture in which we live. Neugarten proposed that we internalize our culture's social clock and use it to compare with our peers in order to determine our position in the 'expected life cycle' (Greene, 2003).
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