Final answer:
During middle adulthood, the primary developmental task is the refinement of social attitudes and skills through generativity to avoid stagnation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary developmental task during middle adulthood is the refinement of social attitudes and skills. This period, which extends from the 40s to the mid-60s, is known as generativity versus stagnation in Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development.
Generativity involves finding one's life's work and contributing to the development of others through activities such as volunteering, mentoring, and raising children. It is important for individuals to master this task in order to avoid stagnation, which is characterized by little connection with others and little interest in productivity and self-improvement.