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 through 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 or 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 false development, resulting from living a double-life. With the acceptance of one's homosexuality, developmental regression occurs in an effort to address gay identity issues previously denied or ignored. Many of the developmental issues arise not from being gay, per se, but from discovering how to assimilate being gay into one's life pattern. This paper thus shows an imperfection in traditional stage models.