ALD 603 Ch.11 Physical & Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood

emerging adulthood

transition from adolescence to adulthood. 18-25 years old. experimentation & exporation

key features of adulthood

identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling in between, age of possibilities

key milestones

people are taking longer to reach key milestones

education

emerging adults are better educated due to a gender difference reversal

work

more young people are working

transition to college

top-dog phenomenon replays after high school & movement to larger, more impersonal school structure. interacting w/ peers from diverse backgrounds & focus on achievement & assessment

positive features (transition to college)

intellectual challenges, time with peers, different lifestyles, greater independence

negative features (transition to college)

higher levels of stress and depression

peak physical performance

btw 19-26. muscle & strength decline around 30, sagging chins & protruding abdomens appear

mortality rate

more than twice of teens. engage in more health compromising behaviors, more likely to be overweight or obese, inadequate sleep

substance abuse

heavy binge drinking in college, delayed college graduation due to alcohol & marijuana, binge drinking peaks @ 21-26 years old

sexual activity

more than 60% of people have engaged. causal sex is more common

sexual orientation & behavior

98% of women & 97% of men engaged in vaginal intercourse. 30.9% of men & 19.1% of women reported being sexually inactive

sources of sexual orientation

seen as continuum from exclusive male-female relations to exclusive same-sex relations. sexual orientation is determination by genetic, hormonal, cognitive, & environmental factors

clarification of misconceptions of sexual orientation

research on hormones are inconsistent as the biological basis of same-sex relations. If gay men are given male sex hormones, their sexual orientation doesn’t change, their desire increases. Many gender differences noted in hetereosexual relationship exist in same-sex ones. Lesbians have fewer sexual partners & less permissive attitudes about casual sex than gay men