The Psychic Alternation Theory (PAT) – Model of Life Stage Crises in general and Mid-life Crisis in Particular

Abstract

Human mind in the psychoanalytic framework is understood to be structurally consisting of the triad of Id, ego and super ego. According to the psychic alternation outlook; the ego rather than being a mere mediating force, is understood to be a dynamic concept, subjected to inherent internal transformations, periodically. Hence there is a cyclic transformation of the ‘ego’ under the influence of its inherently predetermined and periodically fluctuating driving forces (‘eros’& ‘thanatos’). The “Psychic Alternation Theory” postulates that, this inherent tendency towards ego transformations, contributes to the possible origin of life stage crises like Midlife-crisis. This transformation appears to be an unconscious tendency inherent to all individuals irrespective of racial, cultural or geographical differences. Moreover this transformation of the nature of the unconscious aspect of ‘ego’, from ‘life-centered’ to ‘death-centered’, seems to be persistent and periodically cyclic in any individual. In spite of this the appearance of a life-stage crisis at any vulnerable point in lifespan is not a universal phenomenon, owing to the influence of the ‘ego-strength’ emanating from the cross sectional disposition of the ‘will’.