1. Understanding Life Transitions
Transitions and Biopsychosocial Development

2. Transitions
A transition is the period of growth between stages in life
They represent a process of change
They indicate a need for change, or personal transformation

3. Transitions
All people go through transitions – whether they want to or not
Some transitions are a part of our development through life
Others occur when we are faced with some kind of adversity

4. Transitions
Transitions always require us to use skills we learned in the past
They also task us to learn new skills that allow us to move forward
They can lead to grief
They always create a desire to want life to “go back to the way things were”

5. Transitions Transitions begin with endings
Transitions do not have a clearly defined end
One may have many transitions at once
However, some are somewhat predictable
By understanding life’s common developmental stages – and challenges – you will gain an understanding of how earlier stages of personality development influence the choices you continue to make in life

6. Journal Assignment
Journal Entry: Can you describe a time of transition in your life, or in the life of someone you know? What was it like? How did it start? How did it end? Did it end????
Please make connections to the PowerPoint in your response.

7. Biopsychosocial Development
What does this mean !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?
“BIO” represents your biological development
“PYCHO” literally means “soul” and refers to your psychological development

8. Developmental Stages Many have defined developmental stages in life
The most popular is Erikson’s model (Biopsychosocial theory)
Each stage is define by tasks to resolve a crisis that one must accomplish before successfully moving onto the next stage

9. Biopsychosocial Development
“SOCIAL” refers to your place in society and your social development
Development means change over time
Put it all together and you get a larger picture of development through life

10. Developmental Stages
In this case a crisis refers to a turning point or transition in life
If each task is not mastered, there can be potential problems in personality development – we can call this “unfinished business”
The stages are as follows:

11. Developmental Stages Infancy Early Childhood Preschool
Middle Childhood
Adolescence
Early Adulthood
Middle Adulthood
Late Middle-Age
Late Adulthood

12. Infancy
Birth to age 1
Task = develop a sense of trust in self, others and the environment
Struggle between trust vs mistrust
The central process (or needed experience) at this stage involves receiving needed warmth and attention so the child will learn this trust
Without it; fear, inadequacy, and insecurity will develop (the core pathology – or “big problem”)

13. Early Childhood Ages 1 to 3
Most critical developmental task is to begin journey toward autonomy (self reliance)
Core struggle is autonomy vs shame and doubt
Progress from care from others to taking care of own needs through interaction and imitation (central process)

14. Early Childhood cont’d
Increase understanding of interdependence and emotional competence (includes patience)
If not mastered, feelings of doubt about their own abilities will emerge (core pathology)
Parents should avoid doing too much for children during this time and be accepting of negative feelings unless they learn to deny their unacceptable feelings later on

15. Preschool Ages 3 to 6 Seek to find out what they can do
Core struggle is initiative vs guilt
Developmental tasks include: learning how to give and receive love and affection, basic attitude regarding sexuality, and learn more complex social skills

16. Preschool cont’d
The basic task is to develop a sense of competence and initiative
With realistic freedom to choose own activities and decisions they tend to develop positive orientation shown by confidence in their ability to initiate and follow through
If too restricted, children will develop a sense of guilt and withdraw from life

17. Middle Childhood (“tweens”)
Ages 6 to 12
Core struggle is called industry vs inferiority
Developmental task is to develop a sense of industry to avoid feelings of inadequacy through skill learning, friendships, team play.

18. Middle Childhood (“tweens”)
Children expand view of world and develop an appropriate gender-role identity
Developing industry includes creating goals and working to accomplish them
The central process to accomplish these tasks is education
Failure to do so can result in feelings of worthlessness affecting relationships with peers, negative self-concept, dependency, fear of new challenges and lack of initiative

19. Adolescence
Ages 12 to 20
Core struggle: identity vs identity confusion
Focus is to develop a sense of who you are, where you are going, and how you are getting there accomplished through association (the central process)
Integrate physical and social changes

20. Adolescence cont’d
Developmental tasks include rapid body changes, intimate and emotional relationships, develop sexual identity, develop a philosophy of life and spirituality and understand self in relation to others
A major part of forming identity is separation from family – this is called individuation and can be very “unfun” for everyone (this is whne you “rebel”)
The core pathology is dissociation – separation from others

21. Early Adulthood Ages 20 – 35 Core struggle: intimacy vs isolation
The central process is the ability to form intimate relationships depends largely on having a clear sense of self and ability to mutually express needs between adults

22. Early Adulthood cont’d
Developmental tasks include: Intimate relationships, childbearing, work/career choice, and establishing a lifestyle
Failure to achieve intimacy often results in isolation from others and a sense of alienation (the core pathology)
The major aim is to engage in intimate relationships and find satisfying work
There is movement from learning about yourself to knowing yourself

23. Early Adulthood cont’d
The process of growth toward this stage begins in early childhood and continues throughout life
Any “unfinished business” from previous developmental levels will contribute to pathology

24. Middle Adulthood Ages 35 – 55
Core struggle: generativity vs stagnation
A challenge is to recognize accomplishments and accept limitations
Developmental tasks include: Fostering children, establishing and nurturing meaningful relationships, managing a career and household

25. Middle Adulthood (cont’d)
Core pathology: A problem can be to fail achieving a sense of productivity resulting in feelings of stagnation and rejection of self or others
Mid-life crisis may occur and can lead to depression; Some may see their visions have not come to pass

26. Late Middle Age Ages 55 to 70 Core Struggle: Integrity vs. despair
Developmental tasks include: accepting one’s life, keeping the brain up to speed, exploring new roles, developing a point of view about death
Many adults are beginning to consider retirement, pursuing new interests, or and thinking more about the rest of their lives

27. Late Middle Age cont’d Central Process:
A challenge here is coming to the reality that not everything could be done
Emphasis must be placed on letting go of some dreams, accepting limitations, and focusing on what they can do
A lot of reflecting, refocusing, re-evaluating to consider new directions

28. Late Adulthood Ages 70 onward Core struggle: Immortality vs Extinction
Developmental tasks include:accepting one’s life, keeping the brain up to speed, exploring new roles, developing a point of view about death; coping with physical changes of aging, reflection of life, entering new challenges faces as we age

29. Late Adulthood cont’d
complete a life review where we put our life into perspective; come to terms with who we are and what we have done
Spirituality may take open greater importance
Central process is social support
People who maintain integrity are able to accept they have been productive and they have coped with whatever failures they’ve made
Core pathology: those who fall into despair perceive the opposite and generally wish to relive certain parts of their lives. Themes include loneliness, isolation, uselessness, hopelessness, grief, fear of death and dying

30. Reference
Corey and Corey (2007). Becoming a Helper Fifth Edition. Belmont, CA: Thompson.