DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: A ...

Table III. O’Connor and Wolfe’s Model of Transition
1. Stability The first phase refers to the stable life structure in which a person resides
prior to their life becoming disequilibrated. It is characterised by
established roles and relationships, and the strategic pursuit of selected
purposes.
2. Rising
In this phase, a new and critical voice is emerging and leading to
Discontent dissatisfaction, frustration and discontent. There is a desire to change
without knowing exactly how and without a realistic grasp of the
consequences. Old aspects of the self are finding less satisfaction in the
current state of affairs and previously ignored or neglected parts of the self
(often in conflict with the current structure) begin to demand attention and
energy.
1. Crisis The third period of transition is called crisis. It is a time in which an old
life structure and its constraints still have a hold over the person in
question, but new directions are lacking. The crisis episode calls into
question important parts of the self including beliefs, values, self-worth and
ways of behaving. Crisis is in all cases the period of peak uncertainty and
emotionality for that person, with findings suggesting a cocktail of negative
emotions: “In this process, deep emotions are usually evident: anger,
depression, anxiety, grief (loss), confusion, despair, boredom, and
alienation.” (1987, p.806)
4. Re-Direction This is a time of searching for a new direction and a new structure. It is a
and Adaptation time of making choices and of creating tentative experiments in change.
According to O’Connor and Wolfe, crisis provides “the shock, the
motivation, the frame breaking, and the unfreezing necessary for change to
take place.” (1987, p.806). But growth is not inevitable. If growth is to
take place, they say, one must “actively pursue the new directions that may
have brought on the crisis, or create tentative experiments to adapt to the
changing conditions of self and circumstance.” (1987, p.806)
5. Re-stabilizing Phase five is the conclusion of the transition, in which a person limits the
process of experimenting so that they can find some life stability and can
find a new direction in life. It is a time for permanent commitments again,
but the new commitments are those that are derived from the insights into
identity that have been imparted by the transitional phases. Subjects at this
point report becoming more in touch with values and feelings, and finding
life a more authentic and coherent experience.
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