Seasons Of A Mans Life Essay -- essays research papers

Daniel J. Levinson wrote The Seasons of A Mans Life.Mr. Levinson conducted his research for the concur in the late 1960s.At that time he was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry of the Yale University School of Medicine, managing director of Psychology in the Connecticut Mental Health Center and Director of the Research Unit for Social Psychology and Psychiatry.Early in the book, Mr. Levinson states his reasons for engaging in theresearch of male adult development and for ultimately writing thebook. "The prime(prenominal) of topic reflected a personal concern at 46, I wanted to study the transition into middle age in order to understand what I had been going through myself. Over the previous ten years of my life had changed incrucial ways I had developed in a feel I could not articulate. The studywould cast light on my own experience and, I hoped, contribute to an understanding of adult development in general."     The book is com pletely about Levinsons theory of male adult development. Levinson acquired his research by interviewing 40 men between the ages of 35 and 45 from four different occupational groups. Through his interviews, Levinson believed that all males pass through aseries of stages, each of which presents a different problem to be solved.The first stage is known as the early adult transition (ages 17-22). The problem is to develop a sense of independence by separating from ones family and trying out different lifestyles. This is the stage where hopes and dreams are formulated.     The conterminous stage is entering the adult world (ages 22-28). The problemat this stage is to explore and obtain the many adult roles that are needed tobe talented and successful in ones career and relationships. A set of priorities begin to form.     The age-thirty transition (ages 28-33) happens next. In this stage theman establishes his role in society, builds a nest, and pursues more long- wheel plans and goals. His problem may be evaluating earlier career choicesand goals.     Immediately following the age-thirty transition is the settling downstage (ages 33-40). The problem here is to develop a sense of success in themajor areas of ones life, primarily ones career and relationships. ... ...th previous decisions, such as by becoming morecommitted to ones family or career.     I feel that the book was written very well. It went in-depth inmapping out the stages and the events in each one of the stages. I couldrelate to some but close I could not since Levinson limited his research toonly males. I am a female and only 22 so I have merely barely entered into the early adult era. Looking at older males around me I can see some of what Levinson has stated to be lawful, however, I still dont believe that every maleis going to go through the life stages just as he says. I think that for the time when this book was written, Levinson belike did a great job in describing the stages. Most of the men that he interviewed were born before and duringthe Depression. What was true for the men that were interviewed may notbe true for todays 40-year-olds.     By reading this book I can atbest say that I have a more complete understanding of male adult development. case     Levinson, D. J. (1977). The Seasons of a Mans Life. Ballantine Books.