Levinsons Stages Of Adult Development
Stuck In Transition
Connie Brown
Keuka College
Stuck In Transition
Many times in life we question why we are making the choices we are making and what drives our decisions. Oftentimes our past experiences are what encourage our choices and actions. Depending on what stage of adult development we are in, we experience changes and attempt to remold or alter our lives. To help us better understand these stages, we will take a deeper look into Daniel Levinson’s life stages in adult development.
As Stever (2010) explains in his article “Fan Behavior and Lifespan Development Theory: Explaining Para-social and Social Attachment to Celebrities,” Levinsons stages are separated by transitions which help decipher what changes if any need to be made to go forward and to which direction to go. Thinking about what has happened in the past with your life and what could happen in the future depending on which choices you make helps lead into the next stage of life (Stever, 2010, p. 2). Levinson’s first stage is the Early Adult Transition, ages 17-22. In this stage, there is separation from parents, peers and teachers. Graduation from high school occurs and in this stage, the pre-adult starts to form their future with thoughts on their career choice, and with thoughts of forming a family. In this stage due to separation from parents, conflict may result from seeking independence (http://adulthood.150m.com/levison.html).
The next stage is Entering the Adult World, ages 22-28 (http://adulthood.150m.com/levison.html). In this stage the path chosen for a career begins to be laid out. Exploring different schools, ideas and relationships to prepare for a family are searched for. Here is where the “waters are tested” for career choices and important relationships are developed.
The next stage is the Age 30 Transition, ages 28-33. In this stage, adults must learn whether commitments are to be made or broken, such as marriage or divorce. The adult feels as though they are not
Connie Brown
Keuka College
Stuck In Transition
Many times in life we question why we are making the choices we are making and what drives our decisions. Oftentimes our past experiences are what encourage our choices and actions. Depending on what stage of adult development we are in, we experience changes and attempt to remold or alter our lives. To help us better understand these stages, we will take a deeper look into Daniel Levinson’s life stages in adult development.
As Stever (2010) explains in his article “Fan Behavior and Lifespan Development Theory: Explaining Para-social and Social Attachment to Celebrities,” Levinsons stages are separated by transitions which help decipher what changes if any need to be made to go forward and to which direction to go. Thinking about what has happened in the past with your life and what could happen in the future depending on which choices you make helps lead into the next stage of life (Stever, 2010, p. 2). Levinson’s first stage is the Early Adult Transition, ages 17-22. In this stage, there is separation from parents, peers and teachers. Graduation from high school occurs and in this stage, the pre-adult starts to form their future with thoughts on their career choice, and with thoughts of forming a family. In this stage due to separation from parents, conflict may result from seeking independence (http://adulthood.150m.com/levison.html).
The next stage is Entering the Adult World, ages 22-28 (http://adulthood.150m.com/levison.html). In this stage the path chosen for a career begins to be laid out. Exploring different schools, ideas and relationships to prepare for a family are searched for. Here is where the “waters are tested” for career choices and important relationships are developed.
The next stage is the Age 30 Transition, ages 28-33. In this stage, adults must learn whether commitments are to be made or broken, such as marriage or divorce. The adult feels as though they are not
References: (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2014, from http://adulthood.150/levinson.html Stever, G. S. (2010, October 5, 2010). Fan Behavior and Lifespan Development Theory: Explaining Para-social and Social Attachment to Celebrities. Springer Science + Business Media