Separation-individuation phenomena in adulthood: General concepts and the fifth individuation

The elaboration of separation-individuation theory in the years beyond chil dhood has been a psychoanalytic focus for several decades. In this paper, t he nature of separation-individuation phenomena in adulthood and the termin ology and controversy surrounding the use of the terms third, fourth, and f ifth individuation are considered first; a detailed elaboration of the conc ept of the fifth individuation in late adulthood follows.