Identity flexibility during adulthood : perspectives in adult development

Description

This volume seeks to explore the idea of identity as a flexible center of events around which aspects of the self and events in the outside world are organized.  Historically, in much of the literature, identity was conceptualized as a somewhat fixed, unchanging construct. Scholars now have a greater awareness of more nuanced theories about identity and there is a greater willingness to accept that identity is not fixed, concrete, and permanent, but rather evolving and fluid. Although this volume discusses a wide variety of aspects of identity as it flexibly changes during adulthood in the face of numerous experiences, it is really addressing one key question.  How adaptive and fluid is identity and how can we know ourselves as both continuing and changing?  Exploring these ideas raises the importance of future research on adult identity. With a firm grounding in the historical and theoretical background of identity research, this volume begins by defining identity and the psychological “self” as a center around which the person’s behaviors and self-concepts revolve. The following chapters gather the wisdom of many writers who all accepted the challenge of talking about creating a flexible adult self and identity during adulthood.  They  come at this challenging question from many different perspectives using different tools.  Some survey existing literature and theory, then summarize prior work in a meaningful way.  Some discuss their own research; some reflect on personal experiences that have demanded a flexible identity.  Also included in the coverage are discussions of methodology and validity issues for studies and scales of identity.   With its dual focus on research and applied fields ranging across social and personality psychology, industrial/occupational psychology, cross-cultural psychology, mental health, existential issues, relationships, and  demographic categories, Identity Flexibility During Adulthood: Perspectives on Adult Development is a fascinating and complex resource for psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, gerontologists, and all those interested in our changing identities. Read more... Abstract: This volume seeks to explore the idea of identity as a flexible center of events around which aspects of the self and events in the outside world are organized.  Historically, in much of the literature, identity was conceptualized as a somewhat fixed, unchanging construct. Scholars now have a greater awareness of more nuanced theories about identity and there is a greater willingness to accept that identity is not fixed, concrete, and permanent, but rather evolving and fluid. Although this volume discusses a wide variety of aspects of identity as it flexibly changes during adulthood in the face of numerous experiences, it is really addressing one key question.  How adaptive and fluid is identity and how can we know ourselves as both continuing and changing?  Exploring these ideas raises the importance of future research on adult identity. With a firm grounding in the historical and theoretical background of identity research, this volume begins by defining identity and the psychological “self” as a center around which the person’s behaviors and self-concepts revolve. The following chapters gather the wisdom of many writers who all accepted the challenge of talking about creating a flexible adult self and identity during adulthood.  They  come at this challenging question from many different perspectives using different tools.  Some survey existing literature and theory, then summarize prior work in a meaningful way.  Some discuss their own research; some reflect on personal experiences that have demanded a flexible identity.  Also included in the coverage are discussions of methodology and validity issues for studies and scales of identity.   With its dual focus on research and applied fields ranging across social and personality psychology, industrial/occupational psychology, cross-cultural psychology, mental health, existential issues, relationships, and  demographic categories, Identity Flexibility During Adulthood: Perspectives on Adult Development is a fascinating and complex resource for psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, gerontologists, and all those interested in our changing identities Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 On the Stability of Identity Interacting with the Impermanence of Time (Evangeline A. Wheeler)....Pages 3-17 Cognitive Underpinnings of Identity Flexibility in Adulthood (Jan D. Sinnott)....Pages 19-49 Front Matter ....Pages 51-51 Identity Flexibility and Wisdom in Adulthood: The Roles of a Growth-Oriented Identity Style and Contemplative Processes (Sherry L. Beaumont)....Pages 53-69 An Experiential Exploration of Identity During Emerging Adulthood: The Impact of Growth Experiences on Emerging Adulthood Characteristics (Luke Boardman)....Pages 71-81 Bridging the Gap: Black Immigrant Identities and Dreams of Home (Leonie J. Brooks)....Pages 83-97 Flexibility in Persons with Dementia (Cameron J. Camp)....Pages 99-114 Spirituality as a Framework for Confronting Life’s Existential Questions in Later Adulthood (John C. Cavanaugh)....Pages 115-127 Rural-to-Urban Migration, Identity, and Life Quality of the Badaga People in South India (Gareth Davey)....Pages 129-150 The Concurrent Paths of Parental Identity and Child Development (Maria P. Fracasso)....Pages 151-162 “Like a Constantly Flowing River”: Gender Identity Flexibility Among Nonbinary Transgender Individuals (M. Paz Galupo, Lex Pulice-Farrow, Johanna L. Ramirez)....Pages 163-177 Identity Stories to Jettison (Louise Green)....Pages 179-182 Work and Identity Flexibility (Carol Hoare)....Pages 183-195 From Student to Professional: Thoughts on Roadblocks and Keys to Success (Shaina A. Kumar)....Pages 197-209 Play, Flow, and Tailoring Identity in Middle Adulthood (Kevin Rathunde, Russell Isabella)....Pages 211-232 Optimizing Challenges: Eminent Elders Meet Adversity with Identity Flexibility (Grant J. Rich)....Pages 233-246 Identity Flexibility and Buddhism (Jeff Rosenberg)....Pages 247-264 Identity Revised: A Clinician’s Perspective on What an Identity-Based Model of Mind Looks Like (Vedat Şar)....Pages 265-288 Caregiving Identity and Flexibility (Kim Shifren)....Pages 289-301 Dual Identities and the Artist: A Personal Reflection (Valerie A. Smith)....Pages 303-307 The Sick Self: A Personal Reflection (Elizabeth Stellhorn)....Pages 309-312 “Just When I Knew All of Life’s Answers, They Changed the Questions”: A Eudaimonist Perspective on Identity Flexibility During the Adult Years (Alan S. Waterman)....Pages 313-332 Back Matter ....Pages 333-339