HDFS Chapter 14

Cohabitation

Unmarried couples living together

Emerging Adulthood

A period for the exploration of adulthood without many of the responsibilities permanent structures of adulthood

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Young adults must develop the capacity for intimacy and make a permanent commitment to a romantic partner

Intimate Violence

Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse directed at a romantic partner

Role Overload

Social Clock

Age-related expectations for major life events (marriage, parenthood, retirement)

Describe Erikson’s stage of intimacy vs. isolation.

Young adults must develop the capacity for intimacy and make a permanent commitment to a romantic partner. Not attaining a sense of intimacy and not making commitments to others creates a feeling of isolation, loneliness, and self-absorption.

Describe differences between male-male, male-female, and female-female friendships.

Women tend to have more intimate and long-lasting friendships and rely on friends more or meet social and emotional needs. Men’s friendships tend to center around sharing information and activities rather than self-disclosure, but as the friendships endure self-disclosure increases. Male-female friendships tend to not last as long as same-sex friendships but are still a good source of companionship, support, and an opportunity to learn about gender differences.

Describe the three aspects of love according to Robert Sternberg.

Passion: excitement and happiness that accompany intense physical attraction, physiological arousal, and cognitive preoccupation, but may not be accompanied by intimacy. Intimacy: emotional engagement, warm communication, closeness, connectedness, and caring for the other person’s well-being. Commitment: grows as people spend more time together, create shared goals, and solve problems together.

Identify characteristics of intimate partner violence, influences on violence, and ways of addressing it.

Characteristics of intimate partner violence are physical violence such as throwing and breaking possession, punching holes in walls, and hitting as well as emotional abuse including threats and coercive behaviors such as humiliation, control, and isolation from friends and family. Factors that contribute to violence are economic stressors, poverty, unemployment, and a lack of community resources. Ways of addressing it are crisis hotlines, shelters and clinics that provide support, counseling, and treatment to victims.

What does the research on cohabitation reveal about divorce rates?

Cohabitation is not more or less likely to cause divorce and actually tends to be about as stable as marriages are.

Discuss the transition to marriage and predictors of marital success and divorce.

The transition to marriage is challenging, making decisions about living arrangements, housework, eating habits, and sexual activity are stressful. Predictors of marital success are being older when they marry, the degree of similarity between the couple (SES, education, religion, age, beliefs, values), and perceived equity. Predictors of divorce are unequal distribution of chores, poor education, poverty, not attending religious services, experiencing multiple life stressors and role overload, and communication and problem-solving style.

Describe the effects of parenthood on young adults.

Compare and contrast the experience of stepparents, never-married parents, and same-sex parents.