Social and Emotional Development in Early Adulthood: Chapter 12

What is the age range for Emerging Adulthood?

Ages 18-29

What characterizes the beginning stage of adulthood?

New legal statuses and intense exploration across eight dimensions.

What are the eight dimensions of development during Emerging Adulthood?

Physical health, psychological well-being, life skills, ethical behavior, healthy relationships, educational attainment, constructive engagement, and civic engagement.

What is the 'Social Clock'?

Cultural expectations about normative behavior and achievements associated with age.

How can the Social Clock create pressure for individuals?

It can create pressure when individuals feel 'off time' compared to their peers.

What trend has been observed in living arrangements among young U.S. adults?

The percentage living with parents has increased, with one-third of U.S. adults aged 18-34 living at home.

What is a Quarter-Life Crisis?

Feelings of helplessness, panic, indecision, and apprehension during emerging adulthood.

What factors can influence a Quarter-Life Crisis?

Individual and environmental factors, including inflexible goal commitment and the presence of social support.

What are some strategies for coping with a Quarter-Life Crisis?

Change your environment, practice self-awareness, be decisive, stay positive, practice resilience, and seek support.

What is Erikson's challenge for early adulthood?

Intimacy vs. Isolation, focusing on establishing close and trusting relationships.

What did George Valliant add to Erikson's theory?

He added the 'career consolidation' stage and identified mature and immature coping mechanisms.

What is the Five-Factor Model of personality traits?

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism (OCEAN).

What does Social Investment Theory suggest about personality development?

Personality responds to adult roles with measurable changes, including increases in agreeableness and conscientiousness.

What is Identity Diffusion in Marcia's Identity Status Theory?

A state where there is no exploration or commitment to identity choices.

What is Identity Foreclosure?

Commitment to identity without exploration, often following parental expectations.

How does the concept of 'Self' evolve in early adulthood?

It evolves through developmental tasks and life events, becoming broader and more complex.

What is an example of a challenge faced during early adulthood?

Struggling to define oneself in the context of changing roles and expectations.

What role does social support play during early adulthood?

It can reduce anxiety and help individuals cope with challenges like a Quarter-Life Crisis.

What is the significance of the 'Tryout Twenties' identified by Gail Sheehy?

It refers to the period of provisional adulthood where individuals explore various options.

What does rank-order stability in personality traits mean?

A person's ranking on traits remains stable relative to others over time.

What is mean-level change in personality traits?

The level of personality traits can fluctuate over the lifespan.

What is identity moratorium?

Active exploration of identity without commitment.

What does identity achievement entail?

Exploration leading to a commitment in one's identity.

How can economic conditions influence identity status?

Economic conditions and parenthood can impact the exploration and commitment phases in identity development.

What is intersectionality?

A framework for understanding how multiple aspects of identity interact, particularly in the context of privilege and discrimination.

Who coined the term intersectionality?

Kimberle Crenshaw.

How does intersectionality relate to identity development?

It involves understanding both who you want to be and who you don't want to be, influenced by multiple identity aspects.

What is ethnoracial identity?

An umbrella term that captures both racial and ethnic aspects of identity, particularly salient for ethnic and racial minorities.

What are the components of ethnoracial identity?

Identity salience, centrality, and regard (positive/negative feelings).

What challenges do first-generation college women face regarding identity?

They may experience 'hyper-invisibility' in predominantly White institutions and navigate challenges of being first-generation students.

What is the significance of Black Girl Magic in identity development?

It highlights the increased salience of Black identity and the challenges faced by Black women in educational settings.

How do gender and sexual identity develop in early adulthood?

They are often viewed as blurred and non-linear, continuing to evolve as young adults encounter new roles and environments.

What is self-determination theory?

A theory suggesting that success and well-being are maximized by balancing the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

How do friendships change in early adulthood?

Friendships evolve to a state of autonomous interdependence, providing deeper intimacy and support.

What role do family support systems play in early adulthood?

Families remain a primary support system, often providing financial assistance while young adults seek independence.

What is the trend in religious affiliation among young adults in the U.S.?

The percentage of Christians has dropped from 90% in the 1970s to 63% in 2021, while unaffiliated adults increased from 5% to 29%.

How does identity development involve both exploration and commitment?

Young adults may cycle between periods of exploration (moratorium) and commitment (achievement) in their identity.

What is the impact of cross-group friendships?

They increase understanding of diverse perspectives and can expand social networks beyond family.

What is an example of identity moratorium in a young adult's life?

Leila takes a sabbatical to explore other career options before recommitting to education.

How do young adults renegotiate relationships during identity development?

They must balance their needs for autonomy while maintaining connections with friends and family.

What example illustrates the intersection of racial and gender identity?

Min-ji, a Korean American woman, experiences both racial discrimination and gender bias in her engineering program.

What does the term 'hyper-invisibility' refer to?

The experience of Black women who feel overlooked in predominantly White institutions.

How does the college experience affect friendship dynamics?

It may expand the proportion of friends compared to family, enhancing social support networks.

What is the significance of the example of Tai, a transgender man?

It illustrates the journey of acceptance and understanding of gender identity in college.

What is the importance of support systems in young adulthood?

Support systems help navigate developmental challenges and maintain important relationships.

What factors influence the closeness of grandparent relationships in early adulthood?

Geographic proximity during childhood and young adults taking ownership of their relationships.

How do young adults typically manage their relationships with grandparents?

Some initiate more contact while others may end contentious relationships.

What role do grandparents play in the lives of young adults?

They influence values and decisions regarding careers, partners, and child-rearing.

What is a common trend regarding moving away from home among young adults?

Americans move about 12 times during their lifetime, with adults aged 20-29 moving most frequently.

What percentage of young adults live within 10 miles of their childhood home?

60% live within 10 miles, and 80% live within 100 miles.

Which demographic is least likely to live at home after reaching adulthood?

White young adults.

What cultural expectations influence the reasons for leaving home?

Chinese, Southern European, and South Asian families cite marriage as the most acceptable reason.

How do parent-child relationships typically change after a child moves out?

In the U.S., relationships often improve, with decreased conflict and increased communication.

What is a 'trajectory' in the context of early adulthood development?

A predicted pathway of development determined by behaviors within context.

What are some common post-high school pathways for young adults?

Options include enrolling in 2- or 4-year institutions, vocational training, full-time employment, military service, and volunteer work.

What challenges do rural young adults face regarding education?

They often encounter fewer opportunities and may view college as unrealistic due to lower socioeconomic status.

What is the impact of working part-time while in college?

Working part-time is associated with better college outcomes, while working more than 20 hours weekly can lower GPA and completion rates.

What percentage of college students change their major at least once?

30% of college students change their major at least once.

How many times does the average adult change careers in their lifetime?

The average adult changes careers 5-7 times.

What skills are considered key to professional readiness?

Transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.

What do two-thirds of employers seek in potential employees?

Adaptable employees with good communication skills.

What factors influence career goals?

Career goals are influenced by extrinsic factors (income, accessibility), intrinsic motivations (interest, development), and interpersonal influences (social responsibility, family).

How do collectivistic cultural values affect career goals?

Collectivistic cultural values, such as those in India and South Korea, are associated with extrinsic factors and interpersonal influences in career decision-making.

What intrinsic motivation might influence job selection?

An example is choosing a job with better work-life balance and alignment with personal values over a higher salary.

What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance refers to an arrangement that allows desired time on important activities, not necessarily equal time to everything.

How many hours do college students typically spend on educational activities weekly?

Approximately 30 hours.

What coping strategies are young adults with an internal locus of control more likely to use?

They are more likely to use active, problem-focused coping strategies.

What is the significance of identity development in romantic relationships?

Erikson suggested that identity development should precede intimacy, and research shows that identity development in adolescence predicts intimacy and relationship quality in early adulthood.

What characterizes high-quality intimate relationships?

High-quality intimate relationships are characterized by frankness, sensitivity, exclusivity, giving, trust, and secure attachment.

What is a friends-with-benefits relationship (FWBR)?

A FWBR is a casual sexual relationship where two people in a nonsexual relationship begin having sex without committing to becoming a romantic couple.

What is the most common reason for relationship endings in early adulthood?

The most common reason is that the partner did not meet the desire for connection, including intimacy and shared time.

What is homogamy in romantic relationships?

Homogamy is the preference for forming romantic relationships with those who are similar to us.

What are the primary settings for finding long-term love?

Classes, volunteer groups, religious services, and workplaces are rated highest for finding long-term love.

How does technology impact relationships among young adults?

Technology can increase positive behaviors like communication but can also lead to negative outcomes such as miscommunication and excessive contact.

What are the characteristics of 'happily consolidated' couples?

'Happily consolidated' couples are in committed and successful long-term relationships.

What percentage of unmarried U.S. adults in their late twenties are cohabitating?

One-quarter of unmarried U.S. adults in late twenties are cohabitating with a romantic partner.

What is the median age of first marriage for women and men in the U.S.?

The median age of first marriage is 28 for women and 30 for men.

What percentage of U.S. adults are parents by age 29?

45% of U.S. adults are parents by age 29.

What challenges do new parents often face?

New parents often experience stress over work-family balance and may see a reduction in relationship satisfaction.