Introduces the faith development paradigm of James Fowler, describing six stages of faith development: intuitive-projective faith, mythic-literal faith, synthetic-conventional faith, individuating-reflective faith, conjunctive faith, and universalizing faith. Reviews one research project in which Fowler's paradigm was applied to older adults.…

Explores historical antecedents of the current conceptualization of men in counseling. Analyzes assumptions regarding men and male behavior and the content and focus of mental health counseling. Provides evidence that a pathology model prevails in the conceptualization and counseling of men. Advocates instead a developmental counseling approach…

Discusses Schlossberg's model for analyzing adults' adaptation to transition. Gives suggestions for implementing the model in the delivery of mental health services. (Author)

Presents triple-helix model of adult development which incorporates three major roles: family, work, and self, each powered by drive for self-esteem. Asserts that this approach accommodates wide range of possible patterns and varied timing of life events relative to career options, family and relationship choices, and emphasis on self-development.…

Examines criticisms of existing models of adult development from both feminist and developmental psychologists. A model of women's adult self-definition is presented, based upon current research on women's adult experience. The model combines a dialectical approach, which considers the effects of social/historical factors, with a feminist…

Discusses Erickson's and Maslow's empirically based formulations of healthy development. Through integration of their systems, six trends are derived: survival, growth, communication, recognition, mastery, and understanding. Trends relate to self-functions, interpersonal functioning, and task performance. Relates trends to three aspects of…

Presents a conceptual framework for organizing existing ideas about adult change. Discusses common themes in adult development theory and suggests uses and limitations of adult developmental theory. (Author)

Challenges the disengagement theory of adaptation in the aging process. Suggests that the withdrawal phenomenon exhibited by the elderly simply reflects reduced environmental opportunities for social interaction. Views interpersonal intimacy as the key to satisfactory adjustment. Presents a longitudinal developmental approach to the development of…

Nine stages are identified in a model of adult vocational development that assumes career development is a life-span process that goes through various structural periods and transition cycles. (JMF)

This paper presents a model that offers strategies for enhancing quality relationships across the family life cycle. The materials support the identification of characteristics of strong families and describe the course of marital development. The model includes a description of the need for an educational and/or intervention framework to enhance…

Describes a series of workshops offering women an opportunity to explore the realities of divorce. Experienced volunteers provide information on coping with a new single identity, handling children, finances and legal aspects and growth through the mastery of crisis. A follow-up study confirmed the value of the program. (JAC)

Applies two-axis model of human development to problem of suicide trajectory, in which organism begins each stage at negative or dystonic position in reaction to stage-initiating life event and must move ahead vertically to achieve positive syntonic quality and attain stage-specific syntonic equilibrium. Provides clinician with developmental guide…

Described the adult development of 23 police officers. Found that subjects passed through a series of psychosocial stages and that stress and stress management were an important part of this process. Training and administrative implications are discussed. (JAC)

Identifies the common elements from three popular adult development theories (Gould, Levinson et al., and Sheehy). Synthesizes these elements into a framework for describing development during the young adult years. Defines the concept of developmental transition. Discusses the implications of a composite adult development framework for helping…

Outlines a developmental perspective for understanding the dynamics of remarried families. Uses case examples to illustrate the importance of adding to the current family situation both a view of critical points in a family's history, and expectation for its future paths. (RC)