1.

The articles of Schlossberg (R35-36) and Neugarten (R37-39) make the case for the
variability of the life cycle (as opposed to the neat stages of Sheehy). Reflect and write about
your current life situation (or a previous one if more appropriate) in light of Schlossberg
and/or Neugarten.
Although I was able to place my current life into one of Sheehy’s neat time frames, I do feel
Schlossberg and Neurgarten have a much better view point that aging and transitions have more to
do with one’s current situation than with the actual age one is. I was 22 when I got pregnant with
my first son and had him when I was 23; to some this is not to young to have a child but to others it
is. “Age norms and age expectations are reflections of socially defined time and timing, and social
timing is important to understanding adaptational patterns. In times of rapid social change, age
norms also change” (Neugarten. 1979. p. 888). I remember when I told my mom, I was pregnant,
and at first she was not to happy with me or the situation. I was still in school finishing up
becoming a nurse and my now husband was only my fiancé at the time. My mom was fearful that
having my first child, prior to following social norms, finish school and get married first, would
cause me not to complete them. “They call forth changes in self-concept and identity, but whether
or not they produce crises depends on their timing.” (Neaugarten. 1979. p 888). This caused a crisis
not just for myself but my family as well. My mom felt that becoming a “young” mom would alter
my role as a student, and ultimately she felt I wouldn’t finish school. “It’s not the transition per se
that is critical, but how much it alters one’s roles, relationships, routines and assumptions, and how
able one feels to cope with the situation.” (Schlossberg.1987) Although I always new I wanted to be
a mom, I had not planned to have children until after I finished school. I had to find a balance
between finishing my school and raising a child. Once I found that balance, and my mom, realized I
was going to finish school, the crisis felt over and the transition between not being a mom to being a
mom was complete. “Transitions take time, and people’s reactions to them change-for better or
worse-while they are under way.” (Schlossberg. 1987). My mom said she will deny it to all the
other grandchildren but she says my first son is extra special to her because he made her a
grandmother first!
Neugarten, B. (1979). Time, age, and the life cycle. American Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 887-893
Schlossberg, N. (1987, May). Taking the mystery out of change. Psychology Today, 21(5).
2. Read the articles on ethnic identity formation (p.17-21) and gay and lesbian identity
formation (p. 21-27). Choose ONE formation and reflect upon the premise of the article and
how it influences the identity formation of an adult.
The gay and lesbian identity formation influences the identity formation of an adult by going
through similar stages. Erickson’s take on “Identity” is “who am I” and “how do I fit into the
world.” (Adults in transition. n.d., p.20). Just as the first two stages of the gay and lesbian
formation. Stage 1 “Identity confusion: This is the “Who am I?” stage associated with the feeling
that one is different from peers, accompanied by a growing sense of personal alienation.” (Adults in
transition. n.d., p25) and Stage 2, “Identity comparison: There is a heightened sense of not
belonging anywhere with the corresponding feeling that “I am the only one in the world like this.”
(Adults in transition. n.d., p 26).
Erikson says, “Simultaneously, we formulate a sense of ourselves in relationships with others:
family, friends, and society.” (Adults in transition. n.d., p. 20). This correlates with Stage 3,
“Identity Tolerance: “the person begins to contact other lgbt people to counteract feelings of
isolation and alienation, but merely tolerate rather than fully accept a gay or lesbian identity.”
(Adults in transition. n.d., p. 26). Erikson goes on to say during this part of identity formation, “we
wrestle with such things as our sex roles, our belief systems and our career plans.” (Adults in
transitions. n.d., p. 20). Even thought the they have not fully accepted themselves as gay or lesbian
they continues to find comfort in being around others that share the same lifestyle. Stage 4:
“Identity Acceptance: There is continued and increased contact with other gay and/or lesbian people
in this stage, where friendships start to form.”
When the gay/lesbian formation comes to stage 5, “Identity pride: where the individual develops an
awareness of the enormous incongruity that exits between the person’s increasingly positive
concept of self as lesbian or gay and an awareness of society’s rejection of this orientation. The
person feels anger at heterosexuals and devalues many of their institution.” (Adults in transition.
n.d., p. 26). This can be associated with Jeffrey Jensen Arnett take on identity development in
adolescents, “He sees these years as a time of “profound change and importance,” a time of,
“relative independence from social roles and from normative expectations.” (Adults in transition.
n.d., p. 20).
Finally, as we see the world differently into adulthood, “The development of new worldview is
another hallmark of emerging adulthood,” (Adults in transition. n.d., p. 20) so does the gay and
lesbian formation in Stage 6, “Identity Synthesis: attitudes that may be evident in stage 5—soften at
this stage to reflect a recognition that some heterosexuals are supportive and can be trusted.”
(Adults in transition. n.d., p. 26-27).
Adults in Transition. (n.d.). Patchogue, New York: St. Joseph’s College.
Gay and lesbian identity development model (Cass identity model). (n.d.).
3. IN ADDITION, reply to the following:
Pages R19-R22 and R23-R25 focus on the Millennials and Generation X and the generational
changes we are now seeing take place in their age group. How do those articles work for or
against the theory proposed in the Neugarten article on "Time, Age, and the Life Cycle?" (p.
R37-39)
The Millennials and Generation X, that are currently creating generational changes work for the
theory that Neugarten created. Generation X grew up in a different era than the “baby boomers,”
“About 40% of X’ers are product of divorce, and many were brought up in single-parent homes.
The emotional upheaval and conflict this causes helped shape their view of the family and the
world.” (Losyk. 1997). This change in family structure altered the generations view of family and
marriage, that along with the burden of finances, “they know that the average income for young
people, even with one or two college degrees, has declined significantly over the past generation.”
(Losyk, 1997), has changed the social norm for age of marriage. According to the Millennials in
adulthood article, “Just 26% of this generation is married. When they were the age that Millennials
are no, 36% of Generation X, and 48% of Baby Boomers, and 65% of the number of the Silent
Generation were married.” These statistic prove Neugarten theory, he stated, “Age norms and age
expectations are reflections of socially defined time and timing, and social timing is important to
understanding adaptational patterns. In times of rapid social change, age norms also change” (1979.
p. 888).
Losyk, B. (1997, March). Generation X: What they think and what they plan to do. The futurist, 39-
44
Millennials in adulthood. (2014, march 7).