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Colarusso suggests that the two "individuations" described by Mahler and Blos are followed by a third, which occurs in "early" (20 to 40 years) and "middle" (40 to 60 years) adulthood. He discusses the events that bring it about: acquisition of a sexual partner; the births of children; the changes in parent-child relationships as these children grow up. Problems occur along the way, such as loneliness in the young
adult after becoming distanced from a parent but as yet without an important new love object. Colarusso discusses how the whole process is affected by events, such as the arrival of children and the working-out of a new relationship between the young or middle adult and the parents. Oedipal resolution, for example, proceeds further. Colarusso briefly mentions the possibility that a further individuation later occurs.
Some cases illustrate Colarusso's exposition. The paper is likely to add to our understanding of late adolescence and early and middle adulthood; it will help our treatment of patients in those years.