The Holistic Phase Model of Early Adult Crisis

Abstract

The holistic phase model of early adult crisis 2 AbstractThe objective of the current study was to explore the structural, temporal and experiential manifestations of crisis episodes in early adulthood, using a holistic-systemic theoretical framework.Based on an analysis of 50 interviews with individuals about a crisis episode in this phase of life, a holistic model of early adult crisis was developed. The model comprises four phases; (1) Locked-in, (2) Separation/Time-out, (3) Exploration and (4) Rebuilding, which in turn have characteristic features at four levels -person-in-environment, identity, motivation and affect-cognition. A crisis starts out with a commitment at work or home that has been made but is no longer desired, and this is followed by an emotionally volatile period of change as that commitment is terminated. The positive trajectory of crisis involves movement through an exploratory period towards active rebuilding of a new commitment, but 'fast-forward' and 'relapse' loops can interrupt Phases 3 and 4, and make a positive resolution of the episode less likely. The model shows conceptual links with life stage theories of emerging adulthood and early adulthood, and it extends current understandings of the transitional developmental challenges that young adults encounter.Keywords: Early adulthood, emerging adulthood, early adult crisis, life structure, quarterlife crisis The holistic phase model of early adult crisis 3 The holistic phase model of early adult crisisThe phenomenon of developmental crisis during early adulthood has received little attention in the lifespan development literature, in marked contrast to the body of research on adolescent crisis (e.g. Marcia, 1966;Marcia 1993) and midlife crisis (e.g. Freund & Ritter, 2009;Lachman, 2004;O'Connor & Wolfe, 1987). The research programme described in this article aims to fill this vacuum -it proposes a holistic model of early adult crisis, and a functional developmental role for crisis in relation to the tasks and challenges of early adulthood as a psychosocial life stage.The meta-theoretical perspective that was used to guide the research was the holistic development paradigm articulated by neo-Eriksonian theorists such as Levinson (1986) and also in a more systemic way by Wapner and Demick (1998). The paradigm conceives of development as a lifelong process of orthogenetic change that proceeds inter-dependently on biological, psychological and socio-cultural levels, and views the developing person as more than the sum of his/her parts. This approach conceives of optimal development as proceeding towards an integrated person-environment state, which is flexible, hierarchically integrated and stable (Wapner & Demick, 1998).The person-environment matrix is stabilized at any point during development by way of a life structure (Levinson, 1986). A life structure is a developmentally-achieved integration of internal structures such as values, goals and beliefs, allied to external structures such as roles, commitments, relationships and activities...

Sampling in Interview-Based Qualitative Research: A Theoretical and Practical Guide

“…One contributing study had a sample of 16 cases, the second had a sample of 8 cases, and the third employed a sample of Qualitative Research in Psychology, in press 5 26 cases. These were analysed and reported as separate studies originally, before being combined into the synthesis paper with a total sample of N=50 (Robinson, Wright & Smith, 2013).…”

Four Functional Roles for Case Studies in Emerging Adulthood Research

“…Robinson and colleagues tested the aforementioned model of early adult crisis with a further sample of individuals aged 25 to 35 (Robinson, Wright & Smith, 2013). During the interviews, participants were shown a diagram of the model and asked which parts fitted their own crisis and which did not, and to discuss this.…”

Later-Life Crisis: Towards a Holistic Model

“…Transition', and a more recent programme of research into crisis episodes in the 25 to 35 age group (Robinson & Smith, 2010;Robinson, Wright & Smith, 2013). In contrast, there is a marked lack of research dedicated to understanding crisis episodes after midlife.…”

“…Changes that occur during crises episodes are multifaceted, and can be analysed and interpreted at various levels, including (1) life events and relationships, (2) self and identity, (3) motivation and goals, and (4) cognition and affect (Robinson, Wright and Smith, 2013).…”

“…In-depth interviews such as these provide data about life episodes at all four levels of analysis described in the introduction (Robinson, Smith & Wright, 2013).…”