The artistry of adulthood: an existential interpretation of adult experience
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Abstract
This theoretical inquiry presents a "conversation" between existentialism and developmentalism in order to develop and differentiate the strands of meaning and experience that give expression to individuation in middle adulthood. The existential category of the possible is utilized as an avenue of interpretation that highlights the open and contingent quality of human experience. The experience of the subjective apprehension of death and of the finitude of time are presented as developmentally formative for the experience of individuation in middle adulthood. The textured quality of that experience is developed.
Three major life-themes are set forth as they are presented in existential and developmental perspectives. These are described as relatedness, self-utiliization and meaningful integration. These themes are presented as the "forms" that are artfully woven together in the self-constitutiveness of adult experience. The development of these meta-themes begins with the critical issues of adult experience described by Erikson and utilizes the perspectives of both existentialism and developmental psychology to explore each theme. Particular attention is given to the manner in which each life-theme is experienced in middle adulthood.
The inquiry becomes an elaboration of the notion of generativity. Through attentiveness to the development of the life-themes in middle adulthood and to the developmentally significant intrusion of death awareness as it intersects these themes, an understanding of generative adulthood is developed. The notion of generativity is seen as requiring a re-working of concepts of autonomy in order to give expression to the vitality of connection.
Self-fulfillment is placed in an interpersonal context. The existential encounter with personal finitude is seen as critical to the experience of generativity. It is in coming to terms with finitude that the authenticity of generativity as a generational link is seen. Solitude, as a breach with immediacy, is presented as a critical element for generative individuation in middle adulthood.
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Dissertation (Ed.D.)--Boston University
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