Adult Development Theory

Module 4
Biological Development
Nature plays a key role in our development
Psychological Development
Development is a result of internal processes influenced by such factors as faith, identity, and self
Sociocultural Factors
Development results from societal influences and roles of such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation
Integrative Perspectives
Combines other perspectives in an interactive approach in which initial factors of biology and environment are further influenced by age, experiences, and individual factors
Aging influenced by biological and environmental factors that cause change over a lifetime
Focuses on the internal processes reflected in models emphasizing faith, identity, and self
Development influenced by age, race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation
Multicultural and interactive approach beginning with influences of biology and environment and aided by age, experiences, and individual factors
Development is a process which proceeds as a form moves from its potentiality to actuality.
Dialectical theory holds that change occurs when our ideas meet with counter-evidence that motivates us to formulate new and better ideas.
When we find life frustrating, we may regress to an earlier stage. They are partial and temporary regressions.
A lasting preoccupation with the pleasures and issues of the earlier stage.
Physiology and psychological maturation provide stimuli or PUSH but we wish to maintain status quo giving rise to PULL.
In Western cultures development has a distinctly individualistic flavor focusing on concepts such as:
exercising control over ones life self-reliance
fulfilling personal potential

accepting responsibility for ones actions
development can be positive or negative, depending on individual plasticity and resilience
Stage/Phase Theories Life Events and Transitions

Relational/Attachment
Invariant sequence
Qualitatively different patterns
General properties of thought

Hierarchic integration Culturally universal
Some theories see development as a process in which we deal with various life issues.
Individual development is a function of how one has confronted and resolved the issues.
Based on psychodynamic views of personality and development; tend to be descriptive, content focused Stages are based on the following assumptions
defined by linear/chronological progression everyone goes through all the stages stages are in the same order for everyone each stage has certain primary tasks or issues no stage better than another
Examples: Erikson, Vaillant, Levinson
Identity
Interpersonal relationships and intimacy Life goals Generativity Meaning and purpose Integrity
Awareness/view of self, other; development of humility Spiritual awareness

Vision Horizon Perspective; superficiality of Eriksonian issues
Time frame: changed by acceptance of death, aging? Life losses and gains
achievement
intelligence and abilities
ultimate goal of development (e.g. Freud, love and work)
Stage theory of development

Each stage has a primary crisis or task
The central feature of each task is also worked on at other stages, but is not the central feature of the stage
Conducted by Harvard Medical School at Brigham and Womens Hospital Dr. Vaillant, study director Designed to study the well, not the sick Prospectivestudied events as they occur; not retrospective Re-examined data from three previous studies Conducted additional interviews and surveys
The Harvard Men (n=248)

Born 1920-23, white, good families Sophomore; B or better GPA; no health problems
The Inner City Men (n=456)

Non-delinquent youth Mostly children of immigrants Born 1925; studied by Dr. Vaillant since 1975 Mean IQ=95
The Terman Women (n=90)

Urban California, born 1908-1914 Studied by Dr. Vaillant since 1987 Mean IQ-151 (99th Percentile)
Integrity
Keeper of Meaning Generativity Career Consolidation Intimacy Identity
Immature Defenses
Projection Dissociation Fantasy Hypochondriasis Passive Aggression Acting Out
Mature Defenses
Altruism Suppression Sublimation Humor Anticipation
Ancestral longevity
Cholesterol
Stress
Parental Characteristics Childhood Temperament Ease in social relationships
Not smoking
Adaptive coping style
Absence of alcohol abuse

Healthy weight Stable marriage Exercise Years of education
Early Adulthood (17-40)

Early adult transition (17-22) Entering the Adult World (22-28) Age 30 Transition (28-33) Settling Down (33-40) Midlife Transition (40-45) Entering Middle Adulthood (45-50) Age 50 Transition (50-55) Culmination of Middle Adulthood (55-60)
Middle Adulthood (40-60)

Late Adulthood (60-)

Late Adult Transition (60-65)
Emphasize cognitive development; try to be more explanatory, process focused Stages based on the following assumptions
defined by hierarchical progression not everyone goes through all the stages order may vary, people jump back and forth each stage has certain characteristics some stages more advanced (better?) than others
Examples: Kohlberg, Kegan, Fowler; Maslow
Kegan constructive-developmental, neoPiagetian egothe zone of mediation where meaning is made or organized, which he equates with self, person organization of meaning requires physical, social and survival (practice) activities Coherence of the organism the underlying goal
adaptation the master notion in personality an active process of increasingly organizing the relationship of the self to the environment though differentiations and integrations the way in which the person is settling the issues of what is self and what is other essentially defines the underlying logic (or psychologic) of the persons meanings

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Module 4

fulfilling personal potential

development can be positive or negative, depending on individual plasticity and resilience

Stage/Phase Theories Life Events and Transitions

General properties of thought

Examples: Erikson, Vaillant, Levinson

Awareness/view of self, other; development of humility Spiritual awareness

ultimate goal of development (e.g. Freud, love and work)

Stage theory of development

The Harvard Men (n=248)

The Inner City Men (n=456)

The Terman Women (n=90)

Absence of alcohol abuse

Early Adulthood (17-40)

Middle Adulthood (40-60)

Late Adulthood (60-)

Examples: Kohlberg, Kegan, Fowler; Maslow

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