DEVPSY C7-8

Emerging adulthood

Ages 18-25

Intermediate period between adolescence and adulthood Early adulthood

Ages 26-45

Arnett’s characteristics of emerging adulthood

Age of identity exploration; Age of instability Age of self-focus;Age of feeling in-between; Age of possibilities

Cultural variations in emerging adulthood

Influenced by governmental policies and programs; Free college education; Unemployment benefits; Housing allowances

When does adulthood begin?

Traditionally marked by marriage and parenthood

Economic and social changes

have affected that Delay marriage and parenthood; extend education; Financial independence and self-responsibility currently viewed as more important; But may be SES/cultural differences

Factors influencing living arrangements

Postponing or avoiding marriage/cohabitation; Lack of employment and lower wages; Higher education

Physical development in our 20s

Physical maturation complete; Functioning at its peak in Muscle strength; Reaction time; Sensory abilities; Cardiac functioning; Reproductive system; Motor skills; Lung capacity

Physical development in our 30s

Lens of the eye starts to stiffen and thicken; Sensitivity to sound decreases; Hair starts to thin and become gray; Skin becomes drier and wrinkles start to appear

Presbyopia

Difficulty focusing on close objects

1-2 pounds per year

Average person gains \___ from early adulthood into middle adulthood

Drug use in early adulthood

Peaks ages 19-22

prescription medications

Adults 18-25 are the largest abusers of \___ (ADHD, opioids, anti-anxiety)

Drug use increases risks of

Violent death; Sexually transmitted infections; Birth defects if pregnant

Sex

Physical or physiological differences

Gender

Social or cultural distinctions associated with a given sex

Social construct

Concept created by cultural and societal norms; Children socialized to conform to certain gender roles based on biological sex and assigned gender

Gender role

Society's concept of how men and women are expected to act and behave

Gender identity

Sense of self as a member of a particular gender Separate from sexual orientation

Cisgender

Individuals who identify with a role that corresponds to the sex assigned to them at birth

Transgender

Individuals who identify with a role that is different from their biological sex; May occur in different ways (e.g., agender, genderfluid); Not all transgender people choose to physically transition

Transgender people likely to

experience harassment, discrimination, bullying, and violence

Transgender individuals of color face

additional financial, social, and interpersonal challenges

Human sexuality

People's sexual interest in and attraction to others Includes capacity to have erotic experiences and responses; May be experienced and expressed in a variety of ways

Biological and physical aspects (Human sexuality)

Human sexual-response cycle

Emotional aspects (Human sexuality)

Expression of bonds or feelings

Social aspects (Human sexuality)

How social messages affect sexuality

Spiritual aspects (Human sexuality)

Spiritual connection with others through sexuality

Sexual response cycle

Physiological responses occurring during sexual activity

Excitement

Intrinsic motivation to pursue sex arises

Plateau (Sexual response cycle)

Period of sexual excitement with increased heart rate and circulation

Orgasm (Sexual response cycle)

Release of tension

Resolution (Sexual response cycle)

Unaroused state before the cycle begins again

pleasurable sensations, sexual activity

Brain translates nerve impulses into \___; Brain controls nerves and muscles used in \___; Brain regulates the release of hormones

Cerebral cortex is origin of

sexual thoughts and fantasies

Limbic system is origin of

emotions and feelings

Hypothalamus receives input from

the limbic system

Libido

General desire for sexual activity

Oxytocin released during sexual intercourse when orgasm achieved

Believed to be involved with maintaining close relationships

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

triggers egg maturity and stimulates sperm production

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

triggers the release of a mature egg during ovulation

sexual motivation

In males, testosterone appears to contribute heavily to \___

Vasopressin

involved in the male arousal phase

Estrogen, progesterone

\____ increases motivation, \____decreases it

Men (sexual responsiveness)

tends to peak in the late teens and early 20s; Begins a slow decline in the late 20s and into the 30s

Women (sexual responsiveness) often peaks in late 30s or early 40s; May be due to greater self-confidence and reduced inhibitions about sexuality

Sexually transmitted infections

Illnesses that have a significant probability of transmission through sexual behavior

Most affected (STIs)

Younger, gay/bisexual males, and females

Most effective way to prevent STIs

Practice safe sex (avoid direct contact of skin or fluids)

Cultural and societal views on sexuality

Often influenced by religion

Sexual orientation

Emotional and sexual attraction to a particular sex or gender; Also includes sense of identity and community associated with specific sexual orientation

Kinsey

Sexual orientation is a continuum

Heterosexuality

Attraction to individuals of the opposite sex/gender

Homosexuality

Attraction to individuals of one's own sex/gender

Bisexuality

Attraction to any sex or gender

Pansexuality/polysexuality

may include nonbinary attractions

Asexuality

No sexual attraction to any sex/gender

Development of sexual orientation

Awareness usually develops by early adolescence; Experiences/behavior not necessary; Believed to be biologically based; Concordance rate high in identical twins; Correlation with exposure to prenatal androgens

Maternal immune hypothesis

Maternal immune response to Y-linked protein changes with births of subsequent sons

American culture heteronormative

Supports heterosexuality as the norm

Homophobia

Negative attitudes and actions toward people identified or perceived as LGBT

Institutionalized

Policies that discriminate against LGBT people (e.g., health insurance benefits)

Internalized

LGBT people believe negative views

Postformal thought

Basing decisions on what is realistic and practical, not idealistic; Making adaptive choices; Not as influenced by what others think; Experience teaches us that possibilities ≠ reality

Dialectical thought

Bring together salient aspects of two opposing viewpoints or positions; Adolescents tend to think in dichotomies; Dialectical thought more realistic because nothing’s perfect

Formal operational thought

influenced by experience and education; Experience in abstract thinking; May be related to specific education received; Abstract thinking in one area ≠ abstract thinking in all areas

Stage One (career development)

In childhood, select careers based on what appears glamorous or exciting

Stage Two (career development)

Teens consider abilities and limitations when narrowing choices

Stage Three (career development)

Older teens/emerging adults narrow choices further Consider requirements, rewards, and downsides of careers; Compare possible careers with interests, values, and future goals Some may “fall-into” careers due to factors other than interest

Stage Four (career development)

Settle in careers by mid-to-late 30s; Some people may feel trapped if little opportunity for advancement

Millennials and careers

More likely than previous generations to job-hop; Basic career interests may remain similar; More likely to want to feel engaged/purposeful

NEETs

Neither employed nor in education/training

Sexism

Prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender May influence career choices and advancement; May influence educational opportunities and views of behavior

Occupational sexism

Discriminatory practices, statements, or actions in the workplace; Women make 78 cents for every dollar a man earns

Openness to experience

A general appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination, curiosity, and variety of experience Individuals who are highly open to experience tend to have distinctive and unconventional decorations in their home. They are also likely to have books on a wide variety of topics, a diverse music collection, and works of art on display.

Conscientiousness

A tendency to show self- discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement; Individuals who are conscientious have a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior.

Extraversion

The tendency to experience positive emotions and to seek out stimulation and the company of others; Extroverts enjoy being with people. In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves.

Agreeableness

A tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic toward others; reflects individual differences in general concern for social harmony Agreeable individuals value getting along with others. They are generally considerate, friendly, generous, helpful, and willing to compromise their interests with those of others.

Neuroticism

The tendency to experience negative emotions, such as anger, anxiety, or depression; sometimes called “emotional instability”; Those who score high in neuroticism are more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening and minor frustrations as hopelessly difficult. They may have trouble thinking clearly, making decisions, and coping effectively with stress.

Neuroticism and openness, conscientiousness

\___ decrease with age; \___ increases

Secure attachment (in young adulthood)

I find it relatively easy to get close to others and am comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I don’t often worry about being abandoned or about someone getting too close to me.

Avoidant (in young adulthood)

I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others; I find it difficult to trust them completely, difficult to allow myself to depend on them. I am nervous when anyone gets too close, and often, love partners want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being.

Anxious/ Ambivalent (in young adulthood)

I find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I often worry that my partner doesn’t really love me or won’t stay with me. I want to merge completely with another person, and this sometimes scares people away.

Attachment related-anxiety

Fear of rejection or abandonment; Young adults show more of this than other adults

Attachment-related avoidance

Fear of opening up, becoming dependent, losing autonomy

Good relationship with parents

helps transition to adulthood; Both parents and children have to reappraise relationship

Parents who have trouble regarding children as adults

may hinder development; Living at home may exacerbate this

Intimacy vs. isolation

Must establish identity first

Intimate relationships

Friendships and romantic relationships

We’re attracted to people based on

Similarity, Consensual validation, Self-disclosure, Mere exposure

Consensual validation

Having others like and believe in the same things we do makes us feel validated in our beliefs

Self-disclosure

Frequent, accepting, empathetic communication Proximity – Physically near us

Mere exposure

Tendency to prefer things we see more frequently

Friendships between men

Sharing information, providing solutions, or focusing on activities

Friendships between women

Sharing weaknesses, emotions, or problems Friendships may diminish once a person has a partner or single friends may be replaced with couple friends

Sternberg’s theory of love

3 components; Passion, intimacy, commitment

Passion

Intense physical attraction

Intimacy

Sharing feelings, personal thoughts, and psychological closeness

Commitment

Conscious decision to stay together

Hooking up

Uncommitted sexual encounters (not formal dating)