What are the three sets of developmental tasks in Levinson's model?

• A. Build, modify, and enhance life structure; form and modify single components of the life structure such as life dream, occupation, love-marriage, family relationships, mentor, and forming mutual relationships; and develop and partake in tasks to become more individuated.
• B. Developing social skills, forming friendships, and pursuing education.
• C. Focusing on early career success, marriage, and parenthood only.
• D. Addressing biological aging, cognitive changes, and social roles.

Answer: (A)

Levinson’s model describes adult development in three interrelated task sets. First, you build, modify, and sustain the life structure—the overall pattern of roles, relationships, and daily routines that give a person’s life its architecture. Second, you form and adjust the components within that life structure, such as your life dream, occupation, love/ marriage, family relationships, a mentor, and mutual connections. Third, you undertake tasks that promote becoming more individuated—developing a clearer sense of self and autonomy while remaining embedded in relationships. This framework shows how adults shape their life pattern, tailor its parts, and continually work toward greater self-definition.

Other options don’t fit this threefold framework. They either focus narrowly on social skills or education, emphasize only early-life milestones like career start or marriage, or center on aging and cognitive changes rather than the broader life-structure and individuation processes Levinson describes.