Essay/Term paper: Seasons of a man's life

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Cliff Notes

Daniel J. Levinson wrote The Seasons of A Man's Life.



Mr. Levinson conducted his research for the book in the late 1960's.



At that time he was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of



Psychiatry of the Yale University School of Medicine, 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 the



research of male adult development and for ultimately writing the



book. "The choice 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 in



crucial ways; I had developed in a sense I could not articulate. The study



would cast light on my own experience and, I hoped, contribute to an



understanding of adult development in general."



The book is completely about Levinson's 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 a



series 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 one's



family and trying out different lifestyles. This is the stage where hopes and



dreams are formulated.



The next stage is entering the adult world (ages 22-28). The problem



at this stage is to explore and obtain the many adult roles that are needed to



be happy and successful in one's career and relationships. A set of priorities



begin to form.



The age-thirty transition (ages 28-33) happens next. In this stage the



man establishes his role in society, builds a nest, and pursues more long-



range plans and goals. His problem may be evaluating earlier career choices



and goals.



Immediately following the age-thirty transition is the settling down



stage (ages 33-40). The problem here is to develop a sense of success in the



major areas of one's life, primarily one's career and relationships.



The mid-life transition (early 40s) begins next. The problem here is to



evaluate one's life goals and commitments, knowing that there is only a



limited amount of time to reach them. The feeling that time is running out



may contribute to what is often called the mid-life crisis.



Lastly, entering middle adulthood (middle 40s). Here the problem is



learning to live with previous decisions, such as by becoming more



committed to one's family or career.



I feel that the book was written very well. It went in-depth in



mapping out the stages and the events in each one of the stages. I could



relate to some but most I could not since Levinson limited his research to



only males. I am a female and only 22 so I have just barely entered into the



early adult era. Looking at older males around me I can see some of what



Levinson has stated to be true, however, I just don't believe that every male



is going to go through the life stages just as he says. I think that for the time



when this book was written, Levinson probably did a great job in describing



the stages. Most of the men that he interviewed were born before and during



the Depression. What was true for the men that were interviewed may not



be true for today's 40-year-olds.



By reading this book I can atbest say that I have a more complete



understanding of male adult development.

































Reference

Levinson, D. J. (1977). The Seasons of a Man's Life. Ballantine Books.













Daniel J. Levinson wrote The Seasons of A Man's Life.



Mr. Levinson conducted his research for the book in the late 1960's.



At that time he was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of



Psychiatry of the Yale University School of Medicine, 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 the



research of male adult development and for ultimately writing the



book. "The choice 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 in



crucial ways; I had developed in a sense I could not articulate. The study



would cast light on my own experience and, I hoped, contribute to an



understanding of adult development in general."



The book is completely about Levinson's 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 a



series 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 one's



family and trying out different lifestyles. This is the stage where hopes and



dreams are formulated.



The next stage is entering the adult world (ages 22-28). The problem



at this stage is to explore and obtain the many adult roles that are needed to



be happy and successful in one's career and relationships. A set of priorities



begin to form.



The age-thirty transition (ages 28-33) happens next. In this stage the



man establishes his role in society, builds a nest, and pursues more long-



range plans and goals. His problem may be evaluating earlier career choices



and goals.



Immediately following the age-thirty transition is the settling down



stage (ages 33-40). The problem here is to develop a sense of success in the



major areas of one's life, primarily one's career and relationships.



The mid-life transition (early 40s) begins next. The problem here is to



evaluate one's life goals and commitments, knowing that there is only a



limited amount of time to reach them. The feeling that time is running out



may contribute to what is often called the mid-life crisis.



Lastly, entering middle adulthood (middle 40s). Here the problem is



learning to live with previous decisions, such as by becoming more



committed to one's family or career.



I feel that the book was written very well. It went in-depth in



mapping out the stages and the events in each one of the stages. I could



relate to some but most I could not since Levinson limited his research to



only males. I am a female and only 22 so I have just barely entered into the



early adult era. Looking at older males around me I can see some of what



Levinson has stated to be true, however, I just don't believe that every male



is going to go through the life stages just as he says. I think that for the time



when this book was written, Levinson probably did a great job in describing



the stages. Most of the men that he interviewed were born before and during



the Depression. What was true for the men that were interviewed may not



be true for today's 40-year-olds.



By reading this book I can atbest say that I have a more complete



understanding of male adult development.

































Reference

Levinson, D. J. (1977). The Seasons of a Man's Life. Ballantine Books.