Lifespan Development Chapter 10-12

Emerging Adulthood

The phase of life that begins after high school, lasts through the late twenties, and is devoted to constructing an adult life.

cohabitation

sharing a household in an unmarried relationship

nest-leaving

moving out of ones childhood home and living independently

Social clock

the concept that we regulate our passage through adulthood by referring to our society’’s timetable that tells us which life activities are appropriate at certain ages

Age norms

Cultural ideas about the appropriate ages to engage in particular activities or life tasks.

On time

Being on target in a culture’s timetable for achieving adult life tasks.

Off time

Being too late or too early in a culture’s timetable for achieving adult life tasks.

identity

in Erickson’s theory, the life task of deciding who to be as an adult

role confusion

Erikson’s term for a failure in identity formation, marked by the lack of any sense of a future adult path.

Identity statuses

Marcia’s four categories of identity formation

Identity diffusion

an identity status in which the person is aimless or feels totally blocked without any adult life path

Identity foreclosure

an identity status in which the person decides on an adult life path (often one spelled out by an authority figure). without any thought or active search

Moratorium

an identity status in which the person actively explores different possibilities to find a truly solid adult life path

Identity achievement

A fully mature identity, when a young person decides on a satisfying adult life path

ruminative moratorium

When a young person is unable to decide between different identities, becoming emotionally paralyzed and extremely anxious.

ethnic identity

how people come to terms with who they are as people in relation to their unique ethnic or racial heritage

biracial or multiracial identity

How people of mixed racial backgrounds come to terms with who they are as people in relation to their heritage.

Flow

Csikszentmihalyi’s term for feeling total absorption in a challenging, goal-oriented activity.

School-to-work transition

the change from the schooling phase of life to the work world

intimacy

Erikson’s first adult task, which involves connecting with a partner in a mutual loving relationship.

Mediterranean Model

Southern Europe at home until marriage

Scandinavian Plan

nest-leaving at brink of emerging adulthood

United States

colliding conceptions dramatic income inequalities

For parents

no micromanaging and nagging

For children

resist being babies and totally subsidized; seek parental emotional support

For parents and children

talk openly about concerns; develop shared rules

Barriers to career goals

GPA, high cost education, low grades in math and science

Executive function

Planning, self-control and focus

Reasons for dropping out

money

Erikson Intimacy

developing close meaningful relationships

Erikson Isolation

fear of commitment and inability to open up

Same Sex Romance

homophobia, fear, and dislike of LGBTQ people is still evident. Some sexual-minority young people often undergo emotional turmoil during teen years

Early Adulthood

19-39

Setting the context

the changing landscape of marriage

Throughout History

Marriage was often based on practical concerns

Mid-twentieth Century (1950s)

Marriage in the 1920s had the expectation of maintaining the relationship for a half-century; defined gender roles

1964

No fault divorce. Late twentieth century. Marriage is significantly refined

Focuses more on choice

do you want to be with this person?

Serial Cohabitation

living with someone with out the intention to marry. Breaking up and living with someone else.

India

From arranged marriages to hybrid model of Marital choice

Middle East

Male-dominated marriage

True or false: Marriage is better than Cohabitation

False

The Main Marital Pathway

Downhill and then maybe up

Increase in gray divorce

Divorce after 50.

Triarchic Theory of Love

Intimacy- emotional closeness, Passion- sexual, Commitment-staying together

Components of commitment

involves values that do not allow for divorce

Prosocial attitudes

compassion,empathy, and validation

Happy couples

Engage in a higher ratio of positive to negative comments

When is divorce most common?

7-8 years

Truly unhappy divorce

more well-being

Divorce

less well being

Do most men remarry or women?

men

What is the marriage divorce rate?

50 percent

2nd and 3rd marriage divorce rate?

2nd:60% and 3rd: 70%

Marital Equity conflict

who should do what

How fathers act

typically spend more time with sons than daughters. Love rough-and-tumble play

Finding career happiness strategy 1

Match career to your personality

John Holland (1997)-

The closer a person gets to their ideal personality- career-fit, the more satisfied and successful they will be at their jobs

Middle adulthood

40-64

Exploring physiological sexual changes

most common reason for not having sex in middle and late adulthood is lack of partner

Menopause

cessation of menstrual cycle

Perimenopuase

time leading up to menopause when ovaries become less responsive to hormonal signals from pituitary

Hot flashes

#1 complaint in perimenopause in American women can disrupt sleep. Tissues in vagina thinner, dryer, less flexible and more painful intercourse

Overall intelligence peaks in

the late 50s

Crystallized intelligence

Accumulated knowledge. tends to increase with age, until later then begins to fall

Fluid intelligence

ability to reason quickly when facing totally new intellectual tasks

Cognitive abilities overall peak in

40s and 50s

Allostatic load

how well a person is functioning on a # of physical measures

Changes in executive functions

make complex tasks more difficult

Select

decide on what you want to focus on

Optimize

work especially hard on what you selected

Compensate

rely on external aids, and accept help

Openness

Openness to experiences. enjoy getting outside comfort zones

Conscientiousness

self-disciplined but erratic and irresponsible

Extroversion

sociable and friendly

Agreeableness

easy to get along with, empathetic. but stubborn and gets into fights easily

Neuroticism

hostile and high strung. reliant and stable

Conscientiousness predicts

stable marriages, steady income, and better health

Generativity

Focus on next generation and leaving a legacy

Stagnation

self-absorbed and no purpose. feels stuck

Is Erikson correct that generativity is the key to happiness during adult life?

Depends. it is based on hedonistic happiness and eudiomonic

As long as basic needs are met, things do not lead to happiness-

experience increases happiness

Attitudes decrease happiness -

spending time with people outside your political, racial, and religion increases happiness

Self-reported happiness peaks in

60s and 70s

Redemption sequence

growth during difficult times. a chance to give back

Sandwich generation

not common. Care for parents and kids at the same time

Sources of stress

role reversal and balancing roles