Understanding McClusky’s Theory of Margin

EDU 630
Chapter 8 - "Seeker" Posting

Howard McClusky

In the early 1960’s  Howard Y. McClusky, a Professor of Educational Psychology and Community Adult Education at the University of Michigan set out to find ways to help adults uphold an optimistic view of life.

McClusky’s Theory of Margin was pertinent for understanding adults, especially as they aged and faced increasing demands or pressures. McClusky believed that adults faced continuous growth and transformation and with this growth and transformation a steady effort had to be made to use the energy available to meet ordinary living responsibilities. However, because adults have no control over many issues of their lives, they must discover ways to prepare themselves to meet erratic emergencies or predicaments as they arise. 

McClusky theorized that the main factors of adult life are the load the adult bears in living, and the power that is on hand to bear the load. Margin was considered a formula to communicate the relationship between the load and the power. According to McClusky  load is "the self and social demands required by a person to maintain a minimal level of autonomy…. [Power is] the resources, i.e. abilities, possessions, position, allies, etc., which a person can command in coping with load"[1]. In this formula for margin (M), he placed designations of load (L) in the numerator and designations of power (P) in the denominator (M = L/P)

However, the formula suggests that the greater the power in relationship to the load the more margins will be available. For instance, in our daily lives, the load-power ratio changes and adjusts throughout the adult years with changes in any of the power or load factors

Spare or excess power provides a cushion to better deal with load requirements. Margin can be increased by reducing load or increasing power. In simple terms, the more margin an adult has, the more equipped he or she will be to deal with the source(s) of the load. The less margin an adult has, the chance of dealing productively with the source(s) of load decreases.

Load factors can include such external things as family, career, and socio-economic status as well as internal things such as goals, future expectations, and desires. Power consists of external resources such as family support and economic abilities. It also includes internally acquired experiences such as coping skills and personality.

Thus, according to McClusky’s Theory of Margin, an adult must have some margin of power as an available resource in order to engage in learning or meet other life demands.

Resources
eAdult Education (2016). Howard McClusky’s Theory of Margin. 

McClusky, H. Y. (1970). An approach to a differential psychology of the adult potential. In S. M. Grabowski (Ed.), Adult Learning and Instruction. Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult Education.
 
Video - Laura Eng. (2013). Theory of Margin.