"Midlife" is a concept used everywhere and from many different vertexes, though mostly imprecisely, even within the psychoanalytic paradigm. This book tries to settle its proper meaning through the challenge of laying the foundations for the development of a true psychoanalytic metapsychology for "midlife", something that the editors believe in psychoanalysis was lacking. From this viewpoint, they invited fourteen renowned psychoanalysts to share their ideas about the issue. The outcome of that work is Updating Midlife: Psychoanalytic Perspectives, which, in addition to the various contributions, includes an introductory paper by the editors. This book is a true step forward in the development of a specific metapsychology for "midlife".

As developing countries increasingly confront the issues of an aging population, this important book identifies the key period in the life cycle in which changes to the body, as well as concomitant psychological developments, result in the entering of a new phase of life, maturescence. The author defines the metapsychology of maturescence from a psychoanalytic standpoint, detaching it from the concepts of midlife and middle age. Supported by clinical examples, the book defines the stimuli which are the precursors to this phase, before examining the complete set of psychological challenges it entails. The author also highlights how maturescence has been illustrated in key literary figures in the 20th century and draws parallels with the mythical cycle of the hero. This fascinating and original book will be essential reading for psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and any professional working with issues around aging.

As developing countries increasingly confront the issues of an aging population, this important book identifies the key period in the life cycle in which changes to the body, as well as concomitant psychological developments, result in the entering of a new phase of life, maturescence. The author defines the metapsychology of maturescence from a psychoanalytic standpoint, detaching it from the concepts of midlife and middle age. Supported by clinical examples, the book defines the stimuli which are the precursors to this phase, before examining the complete set of psychological challenges it entails. The author also highlights how maturescence has been illustrated in key literary figures in the 20th century and draws parallels with the mythical cycle of the hero. This fascinating and original book will be essential reading for psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and any professional working with issues around aging.