Early Adulthood II Lecture Notes

University of Lethbridge

  • Course: KNES 3630: Early Adulthood II

  • Instructor: Kelsey Kendellen, PhD

Lecture Objectives

  • Explore how young adults respond to the need for intimacy & friendship.

  • Describe Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love.

  • Explore how young adults choose spouses.

  • Understand the relationship between infant attachment styles and adult romantic relationships.

Erikson’s View of Young Adulthood

  • Intimacy vs Isolation

    • Importance of close, intimate relationships.

    • Key aspects of intimacy include:

      • Selflessness

      • Sexuality

      • Deep devotion

    • Difficulties in this stage can lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and fear of relationships.

Friendship

  • Importance of Friendships

    • Close friendships are a basic psychological need for relatedness.

    • Factors that influence how people become friends:

      • Proximity

      • Similarity

      • Personal qualities

  • Characteristics of Friendship in Young Adults

    • Young adults typically have the largest friendship networks.

    • Friendships are less stable than in adolescence/adulthood due to factors like relocation.

    • Committing to parenthood often leads to a sharp decrease in the size of friendship networks.

    • Receiving support from friends can lower depressive symptoms and enhance well-being.

Understanding Love

  • Love's Significance

    • Intense feelings of affection & tenderness have been documented universally throughout history and cultures.

    • Romantic love is part of our evolutionary heritage.

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love (1986)

  • Three Components of Love

    • Passion

    • Intimacy

    • Commitment

  • Types of Love Based on Dimensions:

    • Infatuation: Passion (low intimacy & commitment)

      • Defined as whirlwind romances driven by passion without depth, such as "love at first sight".

    • Romantic Love: Passion + Intimacy (low commitment)

      • Emphasizes sexual desire and initially strong attraction without plans for the future.

    • Liking (Friendship): Intimacy (low passion & commitment)

      • Involves feelings of closeness and warmth but lacks intense passion or long-term commitment.

    • Companionate Love: Intimacy + Commitment (low passion)

      • Represents long-term friendships typically seen in marriage; passion diminishes over time.

    • Empty Love: Commitment (low intimacy & passion)

      • Common in long-term relationships where emotional connection has faded, like marriages for children's sake.

    • Fatuous Love: Passion + Commitment (low intimacy)

      • Commits based on passion without stable intimacy; often leads to failure.

    • Consummate Love: Passion + Intimacy + Commitment

      • Represents the ideal love characterized by high levels of passion, intimacy, and mutual commitment. Lower in adolescents than in young adults.

Seeking a Spouse: Does Love Matter?

  • Cultural Perspectives:

    • In Western societies, love is often the primary reason for choosing a spouse.

    • Other cultures prioritize different qualities, for example:

      • US emphasizes love and mutual attraction.

      • China's focus is on good health for men and emotional stability for women.

      • South Africa emphasizes emotional stability for men and dependability for women.

  • Universal Characteristics:

    • Key traits sought in partners include love, mutual attraction, dependability, emotional stability, and intelligence.

    • Gender Differences:

      • Men tend to prefer younger and physically attractive partners.

      • Women often prefer older partners with financial stability.

Seeking a Spouse: Evolutionary Factors

  • Mating Preferences:

    • Evolutionary influences dictate that humans seek partners with beneficial genes.

    • Men generally favor younger women due to high reproductive capacity.

    • Women favor wealth for resource provision.

Filter Models of Mate Selection

  • Concept of progressing through filters from potential partners to final choice.

  • Initial filters focus on broader determinants of attractiveness.

Homogamy

  • Tendency to marry individuals with similar age, race, education, religion, etc.

  • Importance of homogamy is declining; once ensured, look for complementarity.

Adult Attachment Styles

  • Bowlby's Attachment Theory:

    • Attachment experiences in infancy inform future romantic relationships.

    • Adult attachment styles influence:

      • Romantic relationship quality

      • Work behavior

      • Parenting and caregiving

      • Adjustment in old age

  • Types of Adult Attachment:

    • Secure:

      • Positive view of self and others; low anxiety and avoidance.

      • Comfort in relationships and trust.

    • Preoccupied:

      • Positive view of others but negative self-view; high anxiety and dependence.

    • Dismissing:

      • Positive self-view, but mistrusts others; avoids intimacy; emotionally self-reliant.

    • Fearful:

      • Negative views of self and others; a mix of neediness and reluctance to engage emotionally.

Conclusion

  • Adults with secure attachment styles enjoy healthy relationships characterized by trust and effective conflict resolution.

  • Every attachment style presents unique challenges and influences relational dynamics.