Young Adult
Thomas Edison was partially deaf and his hearing became worse.
Then there was the period of studying telegraph technology and electrical science. Thomas became interested in Michael’s Faraday writings on electricity. According to Super’s career identity, it was the time of Thomas’s exploration, specifying and crystalizing his knowledge. As the result, he had tried different jobs before he joined Boston’s telegraph company in 1868 where he had to work very hard and continued his own projects. Finally, Edison established his interests in electrical sciences and phonography. It was the time of defining a dream and looking for mentors. There Edison acquainted with Franklin Leonard Pope who influenced his positive developmental outcomes and continued self-education. His first steps towards career development were not easy.
The scientist looked for an advancement at any possible ways. Edison’s electric vote recorder was unsuccessful, as he could not market it. He did not frustrate but continued working. An electric voice counter became his first patent. Then the machine for telegraphing stock market quotations and his partnership supplied Thomas with money to build a factory in Newark where other scientists helped him to carry out his experiments and inventions. For five years, he had been improving different telegraphic devices.
According Havighurst, major task for Thomas was to start a family and establish a career. In 1971, he married Marry Stilwell who gave birth to three children. At 29, she died.
In 1876, Edison established a unique research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he carried out one of his most famous inventions and applied for about 400 patents. Late 30th became the peak of the scientist’s creativity. In 1877, he found the phonograph to record and reproduce the sound. It was a great financial success. Finally, Edison was able to establish and maintain an economic standard of living.
In 1880, Edison patented the long-lasting incandescent light bulb and in 1882, he set up an electric station in London. While working with the bulb he discovered a scientific phenomenon called “Edison effect” that later influenced the development of a vacuum-tube electronics. He became more thoughtful, experienced and moved towards unique ways of thinking.
Middle Adulthood
Edison’s parenthood had already begun as he got three children but in 1886, he married Marion Estelle and had two sons and a daughter.
Edison’s hearing became worse. He did not gain stagnation as he continued working hard. According to Havinghurst, Edison achieved adult and social responsibility, reached perfect results in his career, assisted his children to become responsible and happy adults.
In 1892, Edison left Menlo Park for a better laboratory in West Orange where he invented the fluoroscope, a magnetic ore separator, a nickel-iron battery, an electric locomotive and others. For five years, he had been working together with William Dickson on the development of a motion picture camera (kinetograph). In addition, Edison built the first movie studio and made a film.
Older Adulthood
In 1890’s Edison built an unsuccessful iron-ore plant. Then he worked on the battery for electric vehicles and headed the Navy Consulting Board during World War I.
Thomas Edison gained successful aging. He was not lack in sociability, secure and multifaceted self-concept, and agreeableness. Being always busy, the scientist accepted his age. At the age of 84, Thomas Edison died.
References
- Thomas Alva Edison Biography. (2012, February 02). Retrieved from http://edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm
- Thomas Edison Biography. (n. d.). In Encyclopedia of World Biography online. Retrieved April 27, 2014 from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Du-Fi/Edison-Thomas.html