Gay male adult development: Some stage issues of an older cohort

This paper is a qualitative investigation into developmental stage issues, using a sample of older gay males. Twenty Ohio informants were obtained thr ough convenience sampling for unstructured oral interviews. Erik Erikson's developmental stage model serves as representing traditional stage theory. The traditional view portrays life course in heterosexual terms. While the developmental issues addressed across the life course are likely the same o r similar, the traditional schedules of these issues: are not apt for gays. Gay life paths start at different ages, based on when identity-acceptance begins. Only then can a gay person undertake successful adult development. Findings indicate that as closeted homosexuals, gay men may experience a fa lse development, resulting from living a double-life. With the acceptance o f one's homosexuality, developmental regression occurs in an effort to addr ess gay identity issues previously denied or ignored. Many of the developme ntal issues arise not from being gay, per se, but from discovering how to a ssimilate being gay into one's life pattern. This paper thus shows an imper fection in traditional stage models.