Final answer:
Shelley has developed a strong self-concept and personal identity, which allows her to guide her decisions based on her own values rather than external expectations, aligning with developmental and moral growth theories.
Step-by-step explanation:
In middle age, Shelley finds that she worries much less about what others expect of her and uses her own values to guide her decisions. Shelley has developed a strong sense of self-concept and personal identity. This development aligns with psychological theories of personal growth and moral development.
Carol Gilligan outlined stages of a woman's moral development, highlighting the progression from self-concern to an equal concern for self and others. Erikson's psychosocial stages also emphasize the importance of developing a firm sense of self that allows for intimate relationships without the fear of losing one's identity. Similarly, the ethics of care theory suggests that moral development, particularly in women, is also connected to the capacity for caring in interpersonal relationships.
The developmental milestone Shelley has reached indicates a balance between self-concern and empathy, where decisions are based on personal values reinforced by experiences and the natural progression of moral development over time.