[1][2] Although largely influenced by the work of Erik Erikson,[3] Levinson sought to create a broader theory that would encompass all aspects of adult development as opposed to just the psychosocial.
Levinson refers to this era as the "formative years," by which a person undergoes unique experiences that assist in both development and the preparation for adulthood.
An important concept relating to this era is the modification of relationships; by which a person increasingly distances themselves from their family in order to solidify their transition into adulthood.
It is in this period that a person would be considered a mature adult although developmental psychology views this as only the starting point for actual adulthood.
People begin to set and obtain goals for their future as well as make critical life decisions; such as those involving an occupation, love and family.
[1] The midlife crisis is a period in development that supposedly happens in middle age, and is characterized by making sudden and large changes, experiencing anxiety, and reevaluating oneself and one's choices.
[1] Other developmental tasks that are addressed within this stage include becoming more individualized and constructive as opposed to attached to social constraints and destructive.
[5] Levinson believed that by the mid-forties, it is generally established that one is a full generation ahead of the younger adults, thus formally encompassing them in the "middle-aged" society.
Unlike the previous stages however, Levinson believed that the onset and duration of the following eras are determined by significant events such as retirement, disease states, and various physical changes.
[1] Levinson describes this period as when a person can continue to work on the tasks from their midlife transition and amend the life structure that they built in their forties.
[1] Levinson The Late Adulthood Transition is also said to be traumatic because it is a time when a person receives less recognition for their work, has less authority and influence, and is no longer dominant.
[1] After retiring, a person is supposed to take part in valued work that comes from their own creativity, leading into the developmental task of striking a balance between involvement with society and with oneself.
Much of the original research suggesting that the midlife crisis is a normal part of life is confounded and anecdotal, has not been replicated, and was not longitudinal.
By using interviews to gather information about subjects, Levinson did not manipulate or control for any variables, which makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the validity of his findings.
Further, Levinson conducted his research in the 1970s and 1980s, a time in which second-wave feminism was in full swing and women were revolutionizing their roles at home and in the workplace.
Levinson states that some eras occur without substantial life alterations due to external events and are thereby not marked by "rites of passage".
[7] These differentiations result in eras that may or may not incorporate substantial life alterations, thereby disproving absolute generalizability of Levinson's theory.
As a result of Levinson's theory, interactions between individuals in different eras has become another area of study which entails many implications for behavioral psychology.
[8] The ways in which people interact with one another is a constantly developing area of study with great implications for counseling, therapy, and psychopathology.