Developmental changepoints: the birth of a first child
Date
2015-01-26
Authors
Friedman, Merle
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Abstract
The present study is set within the broad area of adult development
and functioning. It is primarily located within the developmental
theory of Erik Brikson, who described development, not only frem the
perspective of the growing child, hut with the understanding ox the
continuity of development over the entire life cycle (1878). As this
represents m area of relatively recent concern, there are many gaps
in the literature.
A cognitive map in the fom of a hypothetical construct ten&ad the-
Transitional Space was described and developed in this woi-k, to
facilitate tha undetstartiing of both, individual and cduyle
development and functioning. This hypothetical construct was based
on Winnicott's (1971) original notion of transitional phenomena, which
he located as being between inner and outer reality. The Transitional
space may be briefly described as that part of the inner world that is
projected outwards, and both reflects the internal frame of reference
through which the perception of the world is filtered, as well as
those aspects of hidden inner reality that are perceived by others as
being "me".
The Transitional Space comprises three aspects, namely: boundary
quality, content, and size.
Boundary quality of the Transitional Space reflects the ability of
the individual for intimate contact, and id described in terms of the
parameters of flexibility and permeability.
The content of the Transitional -pace is described as that
aspect that is concerned with ego identity (Erikson 1968).
Finally, the aspect of the size of the Transitional space isNa
reflection of progression along the continuum of ego development as
operationalizud by Loevinyer et al (1970):. ” " '
As it has been found that systems are most accessible to observation
and study during periods of change, it was decided to locate the study
at a point of developmental change or crisis. The period selected for
investigation was the tisite around the birth of the first child, and
thus the transition to parenthood.
In response to evidence of a need in the literature, a model was
derived to both describe and explain the changes over this period.
The model of change was based on the findings of. Janis (1958), in
terms of preparation for change, and regression in the face of stress,
as well as the theory of "romantic solutions" to transitional periods
(Becker, 1973) and the cyclicity of the romantic experience
(Livingston, 1980). The model was integrated with tije sociological
model of LaRossa and laRossa (1981), to form a more canprehensive
description and explanation of the process of the ■ transition to
parenthood. ;
The first aim in the study was to describe and predict adult and
couple functioning on the basis of the model of thi Transitional
Space, with special reference to the changepoint of the transition to
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts,
University of the Witwatersrand, infulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
NOVEMBER, 1987