The passage of time is fundamentally experienced through people's interaction with their social worlds. Life-course scholars acknowledge the multiple aspects of time-based experience but have given little attention to age identity in a dynamic context. Drawing from a stress-process model, we expected that turbulence within people's family…

How do the goals we once cherished but can no longer pursue relate to maturity? The authors asked adults who have experienced challenging life transitions to describe the life goals they once sought but no longer do and those goals that motivate their lives now. The authors conducted research which examines how adults' views of their lost and…

Highlights a changing, rather than static view, of the story of "Snow White" by interpreting the story's symbol of the mirror in three roles: guide, trap, and tool of wholeness. Suggests that these interpretations illustrate that developmental processes that entrap individuals may constitute necessary developmental steps and that gains…

Uses the story of "Snow White" to examine issues regarding self and midlife development, especially for women. Considers issues of beauty, image, power, generativity, intimacy, identity, and integration. Suggests that this story illustrates a major midlife task, that of coming to terms with earlier images of oneself in order to develop a…

Surveyed 172 male dentists to examine the extent to which they felt trapped in a one life/one career imperative. Results showed 84 percent agreed that most professionals can pursue only one career. Dentists undergoing a midlife crisis were less satisfied with their careers. (JAC)

The recent literature concerning mid-life transitions of men and the impact upon their personal and interpersonal lives is reviewed. Areas of concern addressed by these materials include adult development, issues and tasks of mid-life, and life phases. A framework for evaluation and therapeutic intervention is provided for counselors and helping…

Midlife crises require different behavioral responses for women who have made decisions about marriage, motherhood, and career. For women experiencing midlife crises, assertiveness training has the potential to resolve conflicts. Assertiveness training (AT) consists of three components, i.e., skills training, anxiety reduction, and cognitive…

Indicates that women experiencing a midlife crisis pass through five recognizable stages: (1) feeling trapped, (2) the first change, (3) multiple changes, (4) rational planning, and (5) implementing the plan. (NKA)

Reports a study of 20 Canadian associate professors, aged 41-59, which explored how faculty experience the mid-career and mid-life period in academic and community work, personal and family relationships, and sense of self. Identifies a variety of difficult issues for this population, but proposes that adult development theory suggests potential…

Midlife transition is a potentially problematic time for all women, but especially for those who are unmarried, relatively less well-educated, and who do not reside in urban areas. Some studies suggest that unmarried women have more difficulty in identity formation and acceptance of their role by society. Married women whose children are nearly…

Presents a case study of a 45-year-old first-generation community college student and his transition from factory worker to college student. Presents findings related to the student's stages of transition, personal contacts, work study experiences, commitment, and self-image. Excerpts from the student's journals and sample interview questions are…

A systematic review and critique of the work of midlife researchers and theorists such as Gould, Vaillant, Jung, Newman and Levinson, among others, indicates that: (1) a midlife transition period exists from approximately 35 to 55 and lasts as many as 10 years for both men and women; (2) a series of unique and fundamental biological, psychosocial,…

Following a literature search of the theories of personal maturation and career development, a study was conducted to identify personality and demographic variables related to career development and career concerns. Specifically investigated was the relationship between two sets of variables with self-concept, locus of control, and age in one set…