DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: A ...

8.10 Re-Finding an Intrinsically Motivated Core to the Life Structure
Resolution of the crises involves recommitting to a new life structure after a
period of trial-and-error exploration through new alternatives. Five of the six
individuals base that new commitment on the early intrinsic career aspiration that they
described as preceding their extrinsically-focused early adult life structure.
Victoria’s early Dream was not tied to a specific career, but was simply to get
to university and to study languages, and to explore the world beyond where she grew
up. After the peak of crisis that is what she does. She enrols at university to study
English. With the loss of the extrinsic constraints of her old life, and the growth of an
intrinsically motivated activity, comes the loosening of materialist values:
“I'm definitely less materialistic…I don't care about having a car or a fantastic house
or possessing expensive objects or having a highly paid job, I don't want any of these
things, I just want to be happy with what I am, I want to experience the world, and
yes, if I have to spend money for that it's fine.” (p.21)
Frank’s early Dream was to be a writer. After the crisis, Frank starts participating in a
poetry group, which allows him to express his creative and poetic side. However he
does not pursue this as a career – he returns to his original profession of law. It is the
activities outside his work that provide a new intrinsically motivated focus and a new
sense of growth:
“I made a compromise, for example with work, I try to do a good job, I try to be
responsible, but by the same token what’s extremely important is my extra-curricular
activities, hence my philosophy degree. I play football every week, I play classical
guitar, I figure my 30s are a period of resumption of growth. When I started turning
the corner, I felt hang on, I don’t want to waste my 30s, I want them to be a
resumption of growth, because that’s what I really believe in.” (p.13)
Rob’s early Dream was to go into child psychology. After the crisis, in search
of an intrinsically motivated and meaningful career, he undertakes a course in
psychotherapy, hoping to re-ignite his early fascination with psychology, and finds
that this brings a sense of intrinsic enjoyment. At the time of the interview, eighteen
months after his divorce and his resignation from full-time work in marketing, Rob
had completed his course in psychotherapy, and was working for a children’s charity.
The new job was congruent with his self-concept, as he had an outlet for those aspects
of himself that were dormant in his executive job – integrity, caring, helping and a
sense of purpose. He was also in a new stable relationship that he described as
“wholesome” and “authentic”. He was enjoying his work, enjoying his relationship,
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