Adult Development

Adult Development

There are many similar and different aspects of early adulthood and middle adulthood. First off, Daniel Levinson states that the four stages of adulthood are separated by transitioning periods. In saying this, there are not such extreme changes to go throughout adulthood, just different transitioning periods. Two key components of the individual in early adulthood consist of what Levinson describes as the dream and the mentor (Deepnashi, n.d.). A dream is known as a specific vision of one’s future accomplishments. The mentors are known as the older and much more experienced individuals who are known to help guide these young adults. Both the dream and the mentor play a significant part in one’s early adulthood years (Deepnashi, n.d.). On the other hand, when one transitions into their middle adult lives, they begin to come to terms (for the first time) with their mortality and lives up until this period.

When transitioning into middle adulthood, however, many begin to realize that they are becoming part of the older generation. They may also start realizing that they have had either successful past choices or unsuccessful past choices (Deepnashi, n.d.). This is known to lead to the direct formation of a new life structure, which can lead to that specific individual obtaining a new position in their life. This is known to lead to a new career direction, divorce, or a redefinition of one’s relationship (Deepnashi, n.d.). Many people also experience a different period of transition in their lives, which is between the ages of fifty and fifty-five. This is a transition that is considered to be a significantly modifying life structure.

These stages represent a long period—longer, in fact, than any of the other developmental stages—and the bulk of our lives is spent in them. These are also the periods in which most of us make our most substantial contributions to society (Creative Commons license, 2010). According to Erik Erikson’s life challenges individual’s begin to learn to give and receive love in a close, long-term relationship, and we develop an interest in guiding the development of the next generation, often by becoming parents (Creative Commons license, 2010). There are also less dramatic developmental differences in early and middle adulthood.

Reference

Deepnashi. (n.d.). Levinson’s Theory: Stages of Adult Life | Human Development | Psychology. Creative Commons license. (2010). Introduction to Psychology, University of Minnesota.

Publisher Information – Introduction to Psychology (umn.edu).

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Adult Development

Choose two (2) stages of adult development (e.g., Early, Middle, or Late Adulthood) and compare and contrast them. Frame your response in terms of specific concepts and theories as opposed to just anecdotal observations.