DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: A ...

The motivation for entering into these Phase 1 roles comes from a common
source. In all cases, the commitments are taken on for extrinsically motivated
reasons. The belief has been adopted since entry into the adult world that an extrinsic
orientation is the most adaptive approach to adult life; this means ignoring earlier
passions, interests and vocational calling in favour of money and status or social
approval or duty to others or a passive acquiescence of the demands of others. There
is almost always evidence of a Dream and an intrinsic motivation preceding the
extrinsic focus that is adopted in early adulthood. This then re-emerges later in the
crisis episodes.
The extrinsic orientation of Phase 1 can have materialistic, conformist or
compliant characteristics, or a mixture of all of these. The materialistic aspect
involves focusing on money, prestige, status, financial security and material wealth
rather than fulfilment or relevance to self. In Study 1, Dan, Jack, Neil, Lynne, Mary,
in Study 2 Guy, while in Study 3, Guy, Rob, Mark, Lilly, Frank and Claire all show
clear pre-crisis materialistic orientations; they went into the professions they did to
make money, to get status and to improve material well-being.
The conformist and compliant aspect of extrinsic orientation involves
conforming to the implied expectations of a group or complying with the orders of a
controlling, authoritative person. The reward that comes from this is social approval,
and self-worth is indexed by the comments of others. Like the materialist motivation,
conformist/compliant motivation conspires to suppress or deny an outlet for the
expression of intrinsically motivated interests and fulfilling activities. Such adherence
to social demands at the expense of one’s own wants and needs occurs due to
passivity or a sense of duty/obligation to a certain person or group. Passivity is the
loss of personal agency that comes with acquiescence to a controlling or didactic
source of authority. The individuals who manifest this are Camilla, Frances, Rachel,
Gemma, George, Victoria. A sense of duty or obligation to a person or group of
persons is found as the key source of conformism in several participants. Violet,
Leon and Vern describe staying in their pre-crisis relationship out of a sense of moral
duty to spouse and/or child.
Guy, the single case in Study 2, is a good example of both sides of pre-crisis
extrinsic motivation. Here he describes conforming to social rules and social
expectations:
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