DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: A ...

indication of important developments in later analysis. The themes and superordinate
themes, along with other within-case documents, are also shown in Appendix F.
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Themes and superordinate themes from Gemma’s interview
1. Background and Contextual Environment
a) Concealment of inner world
b) Under parental control
c) Introjected goals
d) Bored to death as mother and wife
e) Playing a false role
f) Post-natal depression
g) Fantasies of freedom
2. The flow of crisis
a) Misery
b) Continued external search
c) Assertiveness and inner awareness
d) Emotional release
e) Opening to the inner world
f) Embarking on a quest
g) Separation and liberation
h) Guilt and self-blame
i) Excitement and experimentation
3. The Dynamics of Self
a) Empty former self
b) Search for self
c) Self-validation
d) Separation from old self
e) New self from crisis
f) Strength and vulnerability in new self
g) Building Self-Esteem
4. Other Learning
a) Ubiquitous pressure to conform
5.14 Clustering and Early Between-Case Analysis
In order to help establish cross-case regularities, clusters of cases were sought.
These were to provide a focus for initial cross-case comparison before the analysis of
the whole sample. A number of clustering approaches were considered: one was to
cluster according to the kinds of development experienced over the crisis. A
provisional clustering typology that was developed included:
1. Metamorphosis “I am a changed person, a new person now”
2. Value shift “I see the world differently, I am a lot less hard on myself”
3. Fluidity shift “I see my identity as an unfolding process now”
4. Evaluation shift “I am more confident now”
5. No shift “I don’t think it changed me in any particular way”
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