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DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: A ...

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transformation and development, rather than temporal slices of crisis. These represent<br />

four key domains of development;<br />

- The development of self and identity away from a persona towards a more integrated<br />

and open form of being<br />

- The development of cognition in the direction of self-reflection and cognitive<br />

flexibility<br />

- The development of a more balanced gender identity<br />

- A renegotiated relationship with materialism as an ideology and a lessening of<br />

extrinsic motives<br />

These developmental themes inter-relate with the phases found in Study 1, for some<br />

of them are particularly characteristic of a Study 1 phase. These inter-relations are<br />

represented in Table XII below; the life structure features of Guy’s case are to be<br />

found in the middle column, while the self-related features with which these<br />

experiences correlate are in the right hand column.<br />

Table XII: Inter-Relation of Study 1 Phases and Study 2 Developmental Meta-themes<br />

in Guy’ Case<br />

Phase Life Structure Self<br />

1: Early<br />

Crisis<br />

In executive role<br />

Married with two children<br />

Masculinised and hard persona<br />

Materialistic, conventional<br />

values<br />

2: Mid Crisis Wife asks for divorce<br />

Changes role within bank<br />

3: Late Crisis Less time at work<br />

More time with children<br />

Exploratory activities including<br />

dancing<br />

4: Post Crisis Freelance consultancy<br />

New relationship<br />

Better relationship with children<br />

Aggressive temperament<br />

Sense of being annihilated and<br />

pole axed<br />

Forced to question life<br />

Developing femininity<br />

Developing sense of selfreflection<br />

Developing sense of presence<br />

Evolving, open sense of self<br />

Balanced gender identity<br />

Losing persona, leading to more<br />

authentic relationships<br />

The persona, the materialist mentality, masculinity are lack of self-reflection<br />

are all defining of Phase 1. In Phase 2, development is less salient, as resources are<br />

focused on dealing with the emotional trauma of separation, loss and uncertainty,<br />

therefore no themes particularly correspond to this phase. Phase 3 is a period of<br />

exploration into self and here we see the emergence of a new expression of femininity,<br />

140

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