final exam study guide #3 psy 303 - early adulthood

ages of early adulthood

18 - 40 years

aging at the level of DNA and body cells

• “aging genes”

• telomere shortening - when the telomeres (protective structures of the chromosomes) shorten causing changes in gene expression

• spontaneous mutations and cancer

reproductive capacity in women and men

• ideal during 20s, declines with age

• fertility risks for women include a reduced number and quality of ova and problems in fertility jump sharply between 35-44 years

• fertility risks in men are gradual beginning at age 35 where there is a decreased sperm volume, motility and there’s and increased percentage of abnormal sperm

substance abuse

• in the U.S. 19- to 25-year-olds are more likely than younger or older individuals to smoke cigarettes, chew tobacco, use marijuana, and take stimulants to enhance cognitive or physical performance

• but this of course comes with many health risks such as brain damage, liver failure, mental function impairments

postformal thought

thinking that integrates logic with emotion, context, and experience to be able to handle ambiguity and contradiction and to reflect on one’s own thinking

epistemic cognition

refers to how people think about knowledge (ex. “what counts as knowledge?”)

dualistic thinking

everything they say is right, there is no ambiguity

relativistic thinking

thinking is contextual, constructed, and open to evaluation and multiple points of view

commitment to relativistic thinking

final, most mature stage in epistemic development in which individuals understand that knowledge is contextual and evidence-based but that they also take responsibility for their own reasoned beliefs and decisions

pragmatic thought

thinking is more flexible, realistic, and context-sensitive focusing on real-world problem solving

cognitive-affective complexity

the ability to appreciate complex thinking with mixed emotions

expertise and creativity

• expertise - the acquisition of extensive knowledge in a field

• 10-year rule in which it takes 10 years to gain experience (career age > actual age)

• expertise enhances information processing and is essential for creativity

• expertise is dependent on multiple personal and situation factors like cognitive style, personality, gender barriers

psychological impact of attending college

• college is a formative “developmental testing ground”

• college allows for exposure to new ideas which allows for a broader attitude and value, firmer sense of identity, reasoning about problems with no clear solution

dropping out of college

• due to personal factors like financial issues, low SES, motivation, emotional dependence on parents, inadequate institutional support services

• about 42% don’t earn a degree from a 4-year college after 6 years of enrollment

the transition from college to the labor market

• most graduates are unprepared when they enter the labor market because of grade inflation and academic demands receding

• most can have a high GPA but not be prepared in their skills

fantasy period in vocational development

before the age of 11, thinking “this sounds lovely :)”, period in which they dream about a job but don’t think realistically

tentative period in vocational development

between 11-16 years old, in terms of interests to thinking of skills and values

realistic period in vocational development

after age 16, a time of exploration and crystalizing choices

factors that influence vocational choice

personality, teacher support, current life circumstances, gender stereotypes, and family influences

vocational preparation of non-college-bound young adults

• US high school graduates are poorly prepared for skilled occupations

• lack of counseling to help with vocational placement but work-study jobs and internships can help though they are rare in the US

erikson’s theory - intimacy vs. isolation

• intimacy - making a permanent commitment to someone, giving up some independence, and redefining identity with fidelity

• isolation - hesitant to form close ties and fear of losing identity because of rejecting differences, competitiveness

emerging adulthood

• it is a distinct period of life between adolescence and adulthood defined by identity exploration, feeling in between, self-focused because of lacking obligations

• supporters of it being an actual stage say that with globalization emerging adulthood will become more widespread

• critics day that it is strongly linked to SES and higher education and it is variant on culture because in developing countries most youth marry early and in developed countries the stage is possible because of the extended trend toward blurring of age-related expectations

leaving home

• the average age of leaving home has increased over the last 60 years

• more than 50% leave and then return briefly which is due to college usually

• culture, SES, interest to leave influence

• leaving home very early is linked to disadvantages

traditional marriage

clear division of roles usually stereotypical in which the woman cares for the house and family while the man is head of the household and earns the money

egalitarian marriage

partners share authority in which there is a balance in attention, however while woman’s housework lessens it is not compensated for by the man’s housework hours

joining of families in marriage

deciding on new, joint daily routines, family traditions, rituals, etc. and there are additional decisions for couples of mixed races and backgrounds

transition into parenthood

• defining parental roles which are usually traditional with first child and then less with later children in which the father helps more

• later parenthood eases transition because of more life experience and time to reach relationship and occupational goals

• decision to have kids is because of personal and social rewards but can be hindered by concerns over loss of freedom, financial cost

• today parenthood is delayed because more women are dividing their time between their work and family

parenting

• with young children it is challenging to find childcare and it is effective to work together in a coparenting team

• with adolescents it is challenging because of increased bickering, resistance over everyday issues which can impact marriage and life satisfaction

• with adolescents, parental roles sharply change

divorce

• has decreased because of increased cohabitation

• usually occurs because of ineffective problem solving, demand-withdraw pattern

• other factors and predictors are infidelity, money issues, generational divorce, drug and alcohol use

remarriage

• most marry within four years of divorce with men marring sooner

• remarriages are more vulnerable to breakup because of differences in couple’s backgrounds and previous behaviors

• usually is takes 3 to 5 years to blend a new family