Ch. 14 Early Adulthood (18-40 yrs)

Question 1

Cohabitation

Answer 1

The lifestyle of unmarried couples who have a sexually intimate relationship and who share a residence

Question 2

Companionate Love

Answer 2

Love based on warm, trusting affection and valuing of the other

Question 3

Compassionate Love

Answer 3

Love these done concerning for the others will being, Express through caring efforts to alleviate the others distress and promote the others growth and flourishing

Question 4

Egalitarian Marriage

Answer 4

A form of marriage in which partners relate as equals sharing power and authority will try to balance the time and energy they devote to their occupations and children and their relationship

Question 5

Family Life Cycle

Answer 5

A series of phases characterizing the development of most families around the world.

Question 6

Intimacy VS Isolation

Answer 6

In Ericksons theory, the psychological conflict of early the hood, evident in young person’s thoughts and feelings about making a long-term commitment to an intimate partner and enclosed, mutually gratifying friendships

Question 7

Passionate Love

Answer 7

Love based on intense sexual attraction

Question 8

Social Clock

Answer 8

Age graded expectations for major life vents such as beginning of first job, getting married, birth of the first child, buying a home, and retiring

Question 9

Traditional Marriage

Answer 9

A form of marriage involving clear division of rules, husband as head of household responsible for family economic well-being, wife as caregiver and homemaker

Question 10

Triangular Love Theory

Answer 10

Sternberg’s view of love as including three components, passion, intimacy, and commitment. That shift in emphasis as romantic relationships develop

Question 11

Emerging Adulthood

Answer 11

A new transitional period late teens to mid-twenties. Many young people don’t view themselves as fully adult. Those with economic resources engage in extended exploration of alternatives in education, work, and personal values. Aprolonged exploration of life’s options. In industrial nations,Young adults are now moving slower into adulthood.

Most Emerging Adults say constructing a worldview or set of beliefs & values is essential for attaining adult status- even more so than finishing education or establishing a career or marriage.

35% of EAs will participate in community service, double the number a generation ago.

Todays EAs have stonger pluralistic orientation(disposition for living in diverse society)

Moving through their age 20’s – there is a feeling of personal control over life events

Question 12

Identity Development

Answer 12

Continues to be central focus from late teens to mid-twenties

During college years, young adults refine approach to constructive identity.

This includes Exploring Breadth- weighing multiple possiblities and making commitments and also
Exploring Depth- evaluating existing commitments”

Question 13

Dual Cycle Model

Answer 13

This is a model for Identity Development – a FEEDBACK LOOP that EXPLORES NEW options and RECONSIDERS OLD schemes – until you feel certain of your choices

College students benefit from moving thru in-depth exploration to certainty of commitment “

Question 14

Emerging Adulthood as a New Stage of Development (Arnett,)

Answer 14

Arnett is the leader of movement of Emerging Adulthood as a new transitional period. He has 5 features:

1. feeling in-between(neither adolescent nor adult)
2. Identity Exploration(esp. in love, work, and worldview
3. Self-Focused(not self-centered but lacking obligations to others)
4. Instability(frequent changes in living arrangements, relationships, education, and work)
5. Possibilities(able to choose among multiple life directions)

Question 15

Identity Diffused

Answer 15

NOT yet fully realized their social identity or defined their personality traits - and they are NOT actively seeking to.

Identity difused young adults tend to be poorly adjusted-anxious, depressed & have higher alcohol & drug use.”

Question 16

Personal Agency

Answer 16

When one feels responsible for their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Question 17

Enduring Commitments

Answer 17

Term given to those who have found who has commited to a long-term Identity

Some cultures take longer to reach these commitments

Italy- young people live at home until 30-As result, an Italian, Emerging Adult who shows prolonged, in-depth exploration, tend to be better adjusted then their counterparts in other cultures.

Question 18

Pluralistic Orientation

Answer 18

Feeling comfortable living in a diverse society

Question 19

Religion (Facts)

Answer 19

1/3 of US, 18-29 year olds are unaffiliated with any religion

1/2 US young people remain stable in religious commitment(or lack of) from adolescence into early adulthood.

In US, early adulthood- religion is more important in their lives than in other developed countries.

The small number of early adults that incrase their religiosity are mostly women, African American or Hispanic.

US- EAs who are religious/spiritual tend to be better adjusted, higher in self esteem & psych well-being. Less likely to engage in substance abuse.

Question 20

Culural Changes in Emerging Adulthood

Answer 20

Rapid culture change is a reason for recent appearance of Emerging Adulthood

Reasons: need more education for entry level jobs & wealthy nations- people live longer= no pressing need for young people’s labor.

Emerging Adulthood is limited to cultures that postpone entry into adult roles intil the twenties.

Developing Nations- only privileged minority have the luxury of Emerging Adulthood.

Question 21

Fourishing vs Floundering Emerging Adult

Answer 21

Emerging Adults flourish with-personal attributes as well as more resources: conitive, emotional & social, financial

Certain resources stregnthen others- relationship w/parents has a wide ranging influence.

For Best outcomes- secure, affectionate parent-emerging adult bond; autonomy-supportive parents

For Worst outcome- parental overprotection; exposure to multi-negative life events

Question 22

Erickson’s Intamcy vs Isolation

Answer 22

His psychological conflict of early adulthood.

In Sum: Identity, intimacy and generativity are concerns of early adulthood.

It is about making a commitment to an intimate partner and in close, mutually, gratifying friendships. Without intimacy, young adults face negative outcome of this stage, which is loneliness and self-A secure identity fosters attainment of intimacy.

Successful resolution of intimacy versus isolation prepares person for middle adulthood stage which focuses on Generativity (caring for next generation and help improve society.

Question 23

Generativity

Answer 23

Erikson’s middle adult stage. Generativity(caring for next generation and help improve society.

Question 24

Levinson’s Seasons of Life

Answer 24

Adult development is sequence of qualitatively distinct eras(seasons) coinciding with Erikson’s stages and separated by transitions.

Levinson interviewed 35-to-45 year old men ( and then later, same aged women).

Question 25

Life Structure

Answer 25

Levinson’s key concept. Life Structure is underlying design of persons life. Consists of relationships with individuals, groupd and institutions. Lots of components, but only a few relating to family, close friends, and occupation are central.

He found during Transition to early adulthood- young people construct a dream- imagine a world that guides their deciscion making. In their dream, Men emphasize career achievement, they spend their 20s aquiring professional skills

Women have split dream- marriage and career; their career development extend into 30s.

Second Transition- around age 30, young people who are preoccupied with career start to focus on finding life partner.

Question 26

Dynamic System

Answer 26

Levinson- interacting biological, psychcological, and social forces.

Question 27

Valliant- Adaption to Life

Answer 27

His theory also built on Erikson’s stages.

Valiant followed 250 men born in 1920s (longitudinal study)who were students at competetive liberal arts colleges. Interviews took place while at school and decades later.Also interviewed about work, family and health at ages 47, 60, 70, and 85. Determined men focus:

Intimacy in their 20s

career consolidation in 30s

generative in 40s

generativity and keepers of meanig in 50s & 60s

more spiritual - later in life

Question 28

Social Clock

Answer 28

Age graded expectations for major life events.

Following a social clock of some kind fosters confidence & social stability by guaranteeing young people will develop skills, engage productively in work and gain understanding of self & others.

Question 29

Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love

Answer 29

Identifies 3 components: passion, intimacy, and commitment. These shift as relationship develops.

Passionate Love- passion declines in favor of intimacy & commitment, forming two additional forms of love:

1- Companionate Love- warm, trusting, affectionate
2- Compassionate Love- concern for others’ well-being”

Question 30

Ethological Theory of Attachemnt- Bowlby

Answer 30

Early attachment bounds lead to internal working model that serves as a guide for close relationships.

Studies in Israel, Australia & US were consistent w/ Bowlby’s theory that adults’ memories & interpretations of childhood attachment patterns were good indicators of internal working models and relationship experience.

Question 31

Secure Attachement - Bowlby

Answer 31

Adults who had warm, loving parents had internal working models that reflected this security.

They View themselves as likeable and easy to get to know.

Comfortable with intimacy and not worried about abandonment.

Love relationship- trust, happiness, friendship

Question 32

Avoidant Attachment - Bowlby

Answer 32

Parents were demanding, disrespectful, critical.

They display internal working models that stressed ondependence, mistrust of love partners, anxiety about people getting too close. Convinced others don’t like them.

Romantic love is hard to find, rarely lasts.

Love relationship- jealousy, emotional distance, lack support, little enjoyment of physical contact

Question 33

Resistant Attachement - Bowlby

Answer 33

Parents were unpredictable and unfair

They sought to merge completely with other person. Worry that intense intimacy will overwhelm others who really don’t love them and won’t stay with them.

Love relationship- jealousy, highs & lows

Resistant adults offer support in way that fit poorly with partner’s needs.

Question 34

Bowlby

Answer 34

Negative parent-child experiences can be carried into adult relationships. At sametime, internal working models are continuosly updated.

Question 35

Amae

Answer 35

Japanese- means love; to depend on another’s benevolence

Question 36

Social Media

Answer 36

90% of 18-29 year olds use social media causing expanded network of friends
on Facebook

Men engage with 10 friends, women engage with 16

Question 37

Living alone

Answer 37

By their early thirties, 90% early adults live on their own.

Percentage of young adults living w/ parents is higher today than any time in past 60 years.

Question 38

Marriage (Facts)

Answer 38

US average age of first marriage has risen from 20 for women and 23 for men in 1960 to 27 women and 29 men

16% of contemporary US 18 to 29 year olds are married, compared to 60% half century ago

2nd & 3rd marriages have declined due to people staying single, cohabitating or don’t remarry

49% US live togehter as married couples

12% marriages between different race, doubled from 1980

Same sex marriage – recognized in 20 nations
Traditional marriage – clearly defined gender roles
Egalitarian marriage – partners are equal

Question 39

Parenthood

Answer 39

6% Americans 18-40 years old say they dn’t want children; only slightly higher than quarter century ago

in US, adult 40 and older - 85% women & 76% men are parents

Family size has declined from 3.1in 1950 to 1.9 in US & Sweden, 1.8 UK, 1.6 Canada, 1.4 Germany, Italy and Japan

• parents in US will spend $300,000 to rear child from birth to 18(not including higher education)
• Even with planning, 35% of US births are unintentional- most born to low income, less educated women
• rearing children is powrful source of adult development”

Question 40

Adolescents

Answer 40

More people seek family therapy during this phase than any other time.

Question 41

Diversity of Life Styles

Answer 41

Current array of life styles dates back to 1960s

Singlehood-not living with intimate partner- this has increased in young adults. Rate of never married Americans age 25 and older has more than doubled since 1960 to 23% men & 17% women This is due to not marrying at all and divorce.

More than 1/3 African americans age 25 and older never married ( double that. of European Americans)- due to high unemployment

Cohabitation- unmarried couples who have sexually intimate relationship and share residence

This is preferred mode of entry to intimate partnership for US young adults. 70% couple 30 and younger cohabitat

60% US cohabits end within 3 years. Only 6 to 16% end in Western Europe.

Childlessness- childlessness in US women in mid 40s increased from10% in1975 to 20% in 2006 and then declined to 15% in 2014. The increse to 15%Z is due to more educated career women choosing to become parents.

  Involuntarily childless- don't find partner or infertility

  Voluntarily Childless- chose to be childless; this can change.

Question 42

Single Mom’s

Answer 42

40% US births to unmarried mothers, double from 1980
Teen pregnancy declined since 1990
more than 12% US children reside with single parent who never married and doesn’t have a partner-90% moms, 10% dads
more than 1/2 births to black moms in their 20s are to women without partner, compared to 14% for white women.
20-35% lesbian couples are parents
5-15% gay men couples are parents - most thru previous hetero marriages