Lecture 3

Young Adulthood

Intimacy/Isolation

In young adulthood, according to Erikson’s stages, individuals seek meaningful relationships (Intimacy/Isolation)

Intimacy

• Form secure, trusting relationships → emotional connection, commitment

• Leads to long term emotional fulfilment

• Encourages communication and partnership

• Provides social support in times of difficulty

Isolation

• No meaningful relationships → loneliness, emotional withdrawal, fear of intimacy

• Leads to social anxiety, depression, loneliness

• Difficulty forming deep connections later in life

• Can create fear of emotional dependence on others

Love

Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love

Suggests that love consists of three core components that combine in different ways to form different types of relationships

1. Passion (physical and romantic attraction) - physical and emotional component

   • Intense sexual attraction, excitement, and romantic desire

   • Fueled by physiological and psychological factors

   • strongest in the early stages of a relationship

2. Intimacy (emotional connection) - emotional component

   • Warm, trusting communication, self-disclosure, and mutual care

   • Fosters a deep sense of closeness and connection between partners

3. Commitment (long-term dedication) - cognitive component

   • Conscious decision to maintain love over time

   • Provides stability and dedication, helping relationships endure beyond fluctuation of passion

Types of Love

• Liking (intimacy): deep friendships, without romantic attraction or commitment

• Passionate love/Infatuation (passion only): intense attraction without emotional closeness or commitment

• Empty love (commitment only): staying together out of duty

• Romantic love (Intimacy + passion)

• Compassionate love (intimacy + commitment): deep friendship based love

• Consummate love (all 3): ideal love

Childhood Attachment and Adult Relationships

1. Secure Attachment → Healthy, stable relationships

   • Develops from consistency, responsive caregiving in childhood

   • Tend to have trusting, emotionally supportive relationships

   • Feel comfortable with intimacy and independence

   • More likely to communicate openly, resolve conflicts constructively, and maintain long-term relationships

2. Insecure-Resistant Attachment → Clingy, fear of abandonment

   • Develops from inconsistent caregiving, where a child sometimes receives love, but other times is ignored

   • Fear of abandonment, excessive need for reassurance, emotional fluctuations

   • Prone to jealousy, overanalysing a partner’s actions, seeking validation

   • May fall in love quickly

   • May stay in toxic relationships due to fear of being alone

3. Insecure-Avoidant Attachment → Emotionally distant, independent

   • Develops from emotionally unavailable or rejecting caregivers, leading to self-reliance (working model of self as disliked)

   • Avoid deep emotional connections, struggle with vulnerability, and prioritise independence

   • Often withdraw during conflicts, fearing dependence on partner

   • May have commitment issues and prefer casual relationships over deep emotional bonds

4. Disorganised Attachment → Conflicted, unstable love patterns

   • Develops from trauma, neglect, or abuse, leading to conflicting feelings about closeness

   • Crave intimacy, but fear getting hurt

   • May push partners away when feel too close, but fear abandonment

   • Often struggle with trust, self-worth, emotional regulation

Changing Relationship Norms

• More inclusivity & diverse relationship models: greater acceptance, multi-partner, long-term casual relationships

• Open conversations about love and commitment: people are open about expectations, non-traditional relationships, mental health

  Rise of commitment hesitation: delay commitment, traditional milestones, opting for casual

• Ghosting culture: avoid difficult conversations → emotional disconnect

Middle Adulthood

Generativity/Stagnation

Individuals focus on contributing to society, mentor younger generations, create meaningful impact

Generativity

• Give back to society, mentor younger generations, create meaningful impact

• Leads to sense of purpose and contribution

• Legacy building, mentorship

• Enhances life-satisfaction and well being

Stagnation

• Sense of unproductiveness, lack of growth, feeling stuck in life

• May lead to midlife crises or regret

• Can cause feelings of emptiness or purposelessness

• Results in detachment from society and personal

Career Peak and Professional Growth

• Increased job stability, financial security, career satisfaction

• Shift in career priorities (career-improvement → seeking purpose, mentoring others, work-life balance)

• Some experience burnout and career plateaus

Career Transitions and Reinvention

• Lifelong learning and upskilling

• Work-life balance and remote work adaptation

• Individuals who feel their work has purpose and impact report higher well-being and satisfaction.

Changing Family Roles

• “Launching” children

  • Transition from active caregiving to supporting child’s independence

  • Some experience pride and relief

  • Some struggle with loneliness/loss of purpose (empty nest syndrome)

• Becoming grandparents

  • Joy and fulfilment

  • Outlet for mentorship

• Evolving romantic relationships

  • Couples may reconnect and strengthen bond after child bearing years

  • Others may experience marital strain

• Sandwich Generation

  • Caring for both children and aging parents

  • Can be rewarding and exhausting

  • May delay retirement, adjust work schedules, or seek support networks to manage responsibilities

  • Cultural differences

    • Collectivist: multigenerational households

    • Individualistic: assisted living or elder care

Late Adulthood

United Nations’ Decade of Healthy Ageing

• Shift from living longer to living well

• Improved healthcare, nutrition, active lifestyles

• Third Age: post-retirement focus on pursuing growth, learning, new experience

• Extended workforce and social engagement

• Cosmetics

Ego Integrity/Despair

Ego Integrity

• Feeling at peace with one’s life choices and accomplishments

• Leads to acceptance of life’s journey

• Encourages peace of mind and wisdom

Despair

• Feeling regret, disappointment, and fear of death

• Wishes they had lived differently

• Struggles with feelings of unfulfillment

• Leads top regret, hopelessness and fear of aging

Successful Aging

• Active engagement with life

  • Maintaining social connections

  • Participating in meaningful activities

  • Adapting to life changes with resilience

  • Embracing new opportunities for personal growth

• Avoiding disease and disability

  • Preventative care

  • Healthy lifestyle choices

• High cognitive and physical functioning

  • Engaging in mentally stimulating activities

  • Regular physical activity

  • Prioritising sleep and stress management

Positive Aging

• Individuals with positive attitudes towards aging live longer

• Attitudes towards aging predict health, health behaviours, and longevity

• Individuals who believe they have control over their aging engage in more health behaviours