PSYC-225: Ch 12 - Early Adulthood Physical and Cognitive Development

Early adulthood

A culturally defined period that typically ranges between the ages of 18 and 30 and is marked by tremendous individual flexibility and potential, but less structure and assistance than adolescence

Emerging adulthood

Describes the period between the ages of around 18 and 29 in which young people consciously postpone some of the milestones of adulthood to explore their identity

Relativistic thinking

A type of thinking that acknowledges there is no absolute truth, but rather a collection of different perspectives

Dialectical thinking

The ability to look at the opposing side of a problem, explore the contradictions between them, and accept that the solution may lie somewhere in between

Postformal thought

A stage of thinking that allows young adults to think through complex issues by reviewing different viewpoints, considering emotional, contextual, and interpersonal facts

Growth stage

The first stage of the process of career development that begins as ambitious dreams in childhood and adolescence

Career exploration

The second stage of the process of career development, in which young adults research employment options

Career establishment

The third stage of the process of career development, in which a general interest is made a reality and becomes a job

Maintenance stage

The stage of the process of career development that occurs later in life, where people maintain their skills to keep up with a changing workplace, and may need to start all over again as the economy, their interests, or their life demands change

Work values

The specific beliefs or core principles that we have that relate to work