DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: A ...

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Abstract Previous research has suggested that adult development can be punctuated by periods of developmentally formative crisis (e.g. Erikson, 1968; Levinson, 1978). While the presence of such crises in adulthood is acknowledged, the nature and processes of these crises have received little empirical attention, with crises in early adulthood (ages 22-40) being a particularly marked vacuum of research. This investigation aimed to study the dynamics, phenomenology and implications of crisis in early adulthood, using an interview-based form of data collection and a composite form of qualitative data analysis. The sample was demographically homogenous; all individuals were recruited within London, via university communication channels or external advertisements. 8 of the final 22 participants were current mature students at Birkbeck College. This thesis is composed of three empirical studies. The first study used a sample of 16 cases, each of whom was interviewed about a past episode of crisis experienced between the ages of 25 and 40. The second study used a single case-study to illuminate, open and expand concepts from Study 1. The third study involved a sample of 6, each of whom were interviewed twice about a past crisis in the same age range, in order to further develop the concepts from the previous two studies. A recognisable four-phase pattern was found in almost all of the early adult crisis episodes sampled. The first of these phases is characterized by a constrictive and unsatisfying life structure, and a sense of false obligation or passive acquiescence to remain in a domestic and/or occupational role which is no longer wanted or desired. The second phase is characterized by separation from that role or roles, and also by intense negative affective upheaval. The third phase involves time out from commitment for exploration of new intrinsically motivated activities, and consideration of new possibilities within the self. The fourth phase involves commitment to a more integrated, intrinsically motivated life structure, in which self and role are in greater equilibrium than before. Loss of a dysfunctional persona and a growing sense of personal agency and assertiveness were found to occur over the course of these four phases alongside substantial changes in occupation and relationships. It was concluded that these findings might indicate a common, life-stage specific, dynamic to early adult crisis. To overcome limitations of sample and recruitment in the current study, more empirical work is needed on crisis in this area of the human life cycle. ii
Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor Jonathan Smith for his patience, time, alacrity, candour and incisive guidance throughout all stages of this thesis. I would like to thank those persons who were kind enough to be interviewed by me and tell me about their lives frankly, openly and insightfully. I have learnt a lot through them. And thanks to Nollaig Frost, Helen Brewer, Bahar Tanyas and Polona Curk, who all shared an office with me over the last three years and helped keep me sane. Thanks also to Lyn Robinson, Philip Robinson and Tania Noble, who kindly helped with proofreading the thesis in its final stages. Declaration No other person’s work has been used, paraphrased or quoted without due acknowledgement in the main text of the thesis. Neither the thesis, nor any part of it, has been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other institution. All research procedures reported in the thesis received the approval of the relevant Ethics Safety Committees. iii
Page 1: DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULT
Page 5 and 6: 7 Study 2: Rescuing the Hijacked Se
Page 7 and 8: considered to be a constructive par
Page 9 and 10: models, psychodynamic theory, socia
Page 11 and 12: This literature review will act as
Page 13 and 14: stable structures, by the assimilat
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Page 17 and 18: “Where such a Dream exists, we ar
Page 19 and 20: Table I. Caplan’s Four Phases of
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Page 37 and 38: involves genuine integration of com
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thesis, and I shall later in this c
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Nonetheless it could also be argued
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IPA can employ any written data sou
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ecommended to use a homogenous samp
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Case summaries are another written
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similarities that bind clusters tog
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conclusions and findings in order t
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d) Resonance / Impact / Applicabili
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3. A consent form detailing the key
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Dear all, I am currently in the 1 s
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accurately restructure the events,
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for the whole gender, and then with
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Neil 30 IT manager N.A. Violet 36 A
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areas were covered spontaneously as
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indication of important development
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starting with female clusters and t
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6. Study 1 Results: An Emerging Cri
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This vignette is illustrative and i
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“By the time I moved into my own
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New vocational role In Phase 4, cri
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As Mary’s crisis emerges in her l
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Angela similarly learned to stand u
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university to do a degree in psycho
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of my building, heated through by i
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married with two children and was a
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acceptable.” (p.8). George was li
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“You know, I’d failed, it was t
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Phase 4 - Post-Crisis: Resolution A
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Phase 1 - Early Crisis: Constrictio
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In his early thirties, Leon finally
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Phase 1 - Early Crisis: Locked In A
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Phase 3 and 4: Exploration and Reso
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6.6 Summary of the 4-Phase Pattern
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can also subtly undermine personal
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George developed a party-guy person
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sense of self, but meanwhile the se
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process in order to help account fo
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Data Collection In order to gain su
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Brainstorm memo #2 - “Guy: proces
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Results 7.3 Summary of Key Events i
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“That’s a realisation looking b
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efore the crisis Guy had lost the f
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that were pushing upon me that this
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Guy relates this behaviour to his s
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“I’ve stopped allowing myself t
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ecause an over-riding life emphasis
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transformation and development, rat
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8. Study 3: Crisis, Persona and the
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Peer pressure Need for social acce
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At the time of the crisis, Frank wa
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Frank’s young Dream was to become
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sham or an act. This dissonant dysf
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the ranks. Nobody tells you that yo
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“What I often refer to is a dress
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Claire described the business world
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a cellar, it’s really suffocating
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environment, during which time she
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and is no longer so concerned with
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understanding early adult crisis. T
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it leads to a lack of inner-outer b
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they can be channelled to support a
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9. A Conjectural Model of Early Adu
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The motivation for entering into th
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Phase 2: Separation Life Situation:
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training programme, a philosophy de
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“But I am going for jobs for diff
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9.3 Eight Theoretical Precepts on C
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homogeneity. For Jung, the removal
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assertiveness, for to act in accord
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throughout, and while this may glos
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lifespan and the context of relatio
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oth phases there is the description
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“In order to make commitments to
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Interactive Model and Smith’s Int
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economic groups get married earlier
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The Participant Feedback Exercise Y
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Question 3 asked whether the model
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10.9 Reflexive Considerations: The
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work that suggested crisis does occ
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may be of benefit to bring others i
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In sum, the current study provides
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References Ainsworth, M. (1967). In
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Cabrera, N.J., Tamis-LeMonda, C.S.,
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Festinger, L., Riecken, H.W. & Scha
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Hudson, W.C. (1978). Persona and De
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Lincoln, Y.S. & Guba, E.G. (1985).
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Polkinghorne, D.E. (1988). Narrativ
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Smith, J. (1991). Conceiving Selves
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Appendices 224
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SELF - process and structure • Wh
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“Dancing became absolutely phenom
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STUDY 3 - First Interview Schedule
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o How would you describe your new j
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Materialism • How do you think yo
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• Are you still as driven by mone
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Mark Interview 2 Schedule Pre-Crisi
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Victoria - Interview 2 guide Pre-Cr
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Claire - Interview 2 guide Pre-cris
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Lilly - Interview 2 Schedule Pre-Cr
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Information Sheet for Studies 1 and
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APPENDIX C School of Psychology Bir
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and so there was unused freedom. Lo
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5/02/05 As the crisis progresses, G
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Violet memos 09.02.05 Once again we
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acceptance of genuine possibility,
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All these ladies and gents went bac
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accompany the post-partition state.
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lack of available time to pursue an
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Pragmatism and Pluralism properties
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Cyclical and iterative nature of re
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Gemma Interview 10 Case Summary Gem
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Coding Frame and Quotes 1. Backgrou
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were trying to crush it too.” 4
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3d) Separation from old self 3e) Ne
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Rob kids Working as advertising exe
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Table XIX: Case Ordered Matrix of P
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