part 1

How does the economic environment impact developmental experiences, life opportunities, and choices for young adults?

• High living costs and entry-level wages often cause expenses to exceed income (e.g., average expenses around $33,000 vs. incomes around $31,000). This financial strain delays complete economic independence, causes young adults to stay home longer or return home (Boomerang generation / renesting), and prolongs the transition to normative adult milestones like buying a home, marrying, or starting a family.

Cohort Effect

Baby Boomers experienced greater marital instability in early adulthood, a pattern that persisted as they aged.

Longer Life Expectancy

Adults realize they may have 20–30+ healthy years remaining and choose to leave unsatisfying unions rather than stay in unhappy marriages.

Marital History

Divorce is significantly higher among those in remarriages or shorter-duration marriages, though one-third of gray divorces occur in marriages lasting over 30 years.

What is gender convergence?

• A developmental transition in middle adulthood where men and women become more androgynous by incorporating traits and roles traditionally associated with the other gender. Men often become more expressive, nurturing, and relationship-focused, while women often become more assertive, independent, and career-oriented.

5 Developmental Tasks of middle adulthood

(1) Managing a career/job

(2) Nurturing an intimate relationship

(3) Expanding caring relationships

(4) Managing the household

(5) Accepting and adjusting to physiological changes

Crisis

• Generativity vs. Stagnation (investing in the next generation vs. self-absorbed narcissism).

Central Process

•  Person-environment interaction and creativity.

Adaptive Ego Quality

• Care (a widening commitment to nurture people, products, and ideas).

Core Pathology

•  Rejectivity (unwillingness to include certain persons or groups in one's generative concern).