Early Adulthood to Late Adulthood: Developmental Stages and Challenges

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and key concepts related to physical, cognitive, and social development across the lifespan.

Emerging Adulthood

A life stage characterized by exploring different possibilities and working towards commitments essential to an adult life.

Social Clock

Shared age norms that serve as guideposts to what behaviors are appropriate at a certain age.

Primary Appraisal

An individual’s assessment of an event as positive, negative, or neutral regarding potential stress.

Problem-Focused Coping

Managing stressful situations by changing them to be less stressful.

Postformal Thinking

The ability to consider multiple viewpoints, typically embraced by young adults.

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

A theory that categorizes intelligence into three types: Analytical, Creative, and Practical.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

An Erikson psychosocial stage in adulthood focused on creating something for future generations.

Allostatic Load

The measurement of how stress impacts an individual’s overall health and cognitive performance.

Major Neurocognitive Disorder

Serious, progressive cognitive losses often related to aging.

Grief

The emotional response to one’s loss, involving processes such as confrontation and mourning.