The Stages of Life: A Groundbreaking Discovery: The Steps to Psychological Maturity [Hardcover]

M.D. Clifford Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 1995

A new theory about the psychological maturation process proposes the existence of a template built into the human unconscious that is responsible for overseeing psychological growth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In an alternately engaging and confusing primer, Anderson, a Houston psychoanalyst, sets forth a new theory of psychological maturation. Growing up, he says, results from the mind's innate impetus to understand the world, and key components of this process are contextual thinking, independent action and developing a sense of self and of God. Anderson provocatively maintains that psychological immaturity can continue into a person's 30s and early 40s. Equally challenging is his contention that getting married and having children may be attempts to facilitate emotional maturation. The midlife crisis, in his theory, is actually the last in a series of normal developmental dramas beginning with the oedipal conflict around the age of five and continuing through the identity crisis of adolescence. Although marred by stodgy writing and jargon, this manual equips adventurous readers with a map of the detours and roadblocks that can sabotage emotional and mental growth. 75,000 first printing; $100,000 promo budget; author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this work, psychoanalyst Anderson disputes the developmental theory of psychological maturation and sets out his own theory, which he calls "maturation theory." He argues that, contrary to current belief, the mind needs at least three decades to establish the psychological abilities necessary for understanding the world correctly. This has significant implications for those who make lifelong commitments earlier in life. The centerpiece of Anderson's theory is that the so-called midlife crisis, in fact, marks the change from immaturity to maturity, as the mind becomes capable of nonlinear thinking. This final stage of maturation naturally causes some confusion and upheaval until its completion. These are interesting, promising ideas, but Anderson does not clearly state what they are based on (other than years of observation). For large psychology collections.?January Adams, ODSI Research Lib., Raritan, N.J.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 222 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press; 1st edition (August 12, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871134810
• ISBN-13: 978-0871134813
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,780,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It worked for me., September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stages of Life: A Groundbreaking Discovery: The Steps to Psychological Maturity (Hardcover)

I bought the book some time ago, but as is my habit, did not read it until recently. I am astounded by the recent reviews. I found this book to be one of the most helpful and enlightening books I have ever read, and I have read many. Just the part about organizers and borrowing was an eye-opener for me. It explains what my life has been all about recently, what with the difficulty my wife and I are having finalizing our divorce. In fact, it helps explain why we grew apart in the first place.

I am so grateful to have the information Dr. Anderson presents. When "placed in developmental perspective" behavior takes on an entirely different meaning. My wife and I can both stop feeling guilty now. Also, I think the author's suggestion that we are still immature as a species and still going through phases and stages--just as we did in childhood and adolescence--is brilliant.

From the reviews you have received, I guess one either loves the book or hates it. And I guess that all depends on how much of the book one "gets." I got it - at least enough to make a difference in my life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for mature individuation and beyond., October 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stages of Life: A Groundbreaking Discovery: The Steps to Psychological Maturity (Hardcover)

Quick spiral reading, and a model for what many sixties revolution baby-boomers have been trying to put into other-than-New-Age or Jungian words: Some of us are reaching new and emerging levels of human cognitive capacity. This explains why we feel that we are taking care of children in both generational directions and were raised by children ourselves, that our parents really are from "Another Country" and require our patient parenting no less than our children do. This model fits well with Lloyd deMause's famous Psychohistory of Childrearing tables and with Ken Wilber's Full Spectrum and Integral Psychology. All serious Wilber fans will find more confirmation of pivotal unfolding stages to One Taste and of the extraordinary accelerated point in time we are trying to live creatively with faith in an unfolding God and some measure of stability. I hope to hear more from Dr. Anderson and other researchers confirming his findings and to see a more comprehensive best seller emerge from his theories.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Stages of Life: A Groundbreaking Discovery:, December 26, 1999

By 

Karen A. Kelsey - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stages of Life: A Groundbreaking Discovery: The Steps to Psychological Maturity (Hardcover)

I read Dr. Anderson's book about 3-4 years ago after another psychologist recommended it after I asked her why I kept making the same mistakes and how I could go about addressing that issue rather than just trying to work out the individual conflicts resulting from the mistakes. This book changed my life. It immediately answered my questions and gave me a new way of looking at events in my life. Since that time I free-associate on a regular basis by writing every morning. My life is changing -- slowly but consistently. I am going FOR more fulfilling and meaningful activities and projects rather than spending so much time trying to figure out what I should have done in the past. Dr. Anderson understands the mind and how it works and how we can make the most with what we've got if we follow the steps. I hope he will have another book in the future to reveal more of his insights and knowledge. His ideas are working for me when I thought nothing would help me out of the quicksand I was in. The harder I struggled, the more I would sink. As I approach my mid-50's and the new millenium, I find myself thinking more positively and looking forward to all that life has in store. His theories work and I thank him for this gift.