Developmental Tasks in Adult Job Transitions

Transcription

1 Developmental Tasks in Adult Job Transitions Marina Bluvshtein, PhD Adler Graduate School, MN x. 162

2 Life Cycle Invariantly, we move through all stages because of biological maturation and social expectations. We move to a next stage whether we were successful in the previous one or not. Any transition is stressful. Failure to complete a stage may add another layer of stress, while success will lead to growth. Adding a stress to an already stressful transition will prolong stress and may result either in a state of stuckness or in a growth spurt

3 Adolescence Psychosocial Crisis Identity vs. Identity Confusion: The tasks become integrating into a lasting sense of identity (a coherent sense of who I am and what is my place in society); Crisis may result in psychosocial moratorium (time out); Tries to avoid identity foreclosure (a premature acceptance of compartmentalized and often prescribed, but not organically developed social roles); Major strength accomplished is fidelity (when one is able to sustain one s freely pledged commitment)

4 Adolescence Scope of Significant Relations Peer groups and out-groups; models of leadership Self Psychosocial Modalities To be oneself (or not to be) To share being oneself

5 Adolescence What are employment/job transitions strengths and challenges stemming from lifespan development? Challenge is to find an occupation with which to identify self, feel accomplished, and stay committed all in a relatively rigid way May become over- or underwhelmed by mismatch between abundant theoretical opportunities, limited options to explore them, and underdeveloped skills if there were no tangible accomplishments, may be no sense of confidence and mastery; previous generation mastery/accomplishments may be irrelevant in some economic situations; these things may become diffused/controversial or unattainable any longer during rapid social changes

6 Young Adults Psychosocial Crisis Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation Strengthening a personal sense of identity leading to a feeling of connectedness Strength that may develop mature love, friendships, mutuality of devotion; Unsuccessful resolution may lead to difficulty with establishing and maintaining close relationships, intense fear of rejection, and isolation

7 Young Adults Scope of Significant Relations Partners in friendship Sex, competition, cooperation Psychosocial Modalities lose and find oneself in another

8 Young Adults What are employment/job transitions strengths and challenges stemming from lifespan development? ability for true team playing; change in occupational aspirations may be in direction of small businesses (partnerships); extracurricular occupational activities and politics as a career may become attractive (unions, volunteering);

9 Middle Adulthood Psychosocial Crisis Generativity vs. self-absorption and stagnation: Time to contribute to a younger generation (childrearing, mentoring, teaching) and productive work If unsuccessful stagnation and boredom Western focus on independent achievement and vertical striving are both a curse and a blessing for generativity

10 Middle Adulthood Scope of Significant Relations Divided labor and shared household Psychosocial Modalities To take care of

11 Middle Adulthood What are employment/job transitions strengths and challenges stemming from lifespan development? May be dissatisfied with work not allowing for selfexpression and creativity, or when inadequate credit is given for accomplishment; Seeking helping occupation may be a result of the selfrealized need to care for a next generation; May also emerge from this state as very critical of others who are self-centered and not socially productive, May be overly critical of younger co-workers (if unsuccessful) or teach/mentor (if successful)

12 Old Age Psychosocial Crisis Integrity vs. despair If successfully resolved, a sense of order and meaning in one s life and acceptance of one s imperfections and accomplishments that are not replicable; life is worthwhile If not resolved, a sense of despair and regret (a veiled disgust)

13 Old Age Scope of Significant Relations Humankind Psychosocial Modalities To be through having been; to face not being

14 Old Age What are employment/job transitions strengths and challenges stemming from lifespan development? If resolved a sense of satisfaction with a job, expressed sense of self-containment and mastery/wisdom If not resolved - disgust and irritability combined with diminishing physical health may create a challenge in employment

15 Developmental View on Stressful Experiences Normative vs. non-normative developmental stresses (with respect to biological, historical, cultural, and familial norms and expectancies) Stage of a life cycle (for the individual and each family member) Unresolved conflicts from earlier stages Age vs. Stage vs. Role progression Family reorganization and roles reassignment around stresses Arrested development and trauma-related regression

16 Conclusion Through the most unfriendly environments imaginable, a person can and do grow because it is she that I have watered St. Exupery The Little Prince

17 References Erikson, E.H. (1980). Identity and the Life Cycle. New York: W. W. Norton and Company