Chapter 14: Exam 5 Flashcards
Robert Havighurst Adulthood Development
Stages
- Getting started in an occupation
- Selecting and courting a mate
- Learning to live contently with one’s partner
- Starting a family and becoming a parent
- Assuming the responsibilities of managing a home
- Assuming civic responsibility
- Finding a cogenial social group
Separation
- Parents sometimes psychologically leave the “nest” [child’s room] the same for when the grown kids need it
- Highly traditional or insecure parents find their son’s or daughter’s departure to college to be so stressful that it damages the parent-child relationship.
More stressful for a daughter because women appear to be more vulnerable than men are “out there” in the “real” world and mothers report higher degrees of separation anxiety than fathers
Boomerang Generation
Young adults that may return home to live for financial reasons
Individuation
Young adults process becoming an individual by means of integrating his or her own values and beliefs with those of his or her parents and society at large.
*Most men consider this to be a key role in personality development [when they differ views of their parents, they are more likely to engage in an active struggle or fight for independence]
*Women, the establishment and maintenance of social relationships are also of primary importance [Work on becoming their own person, separating their values and patterns of behavior of their mothers]
Feelings of connectedness are related to the amount of financial and emotional support students receive from their parents
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Central conflict or life crisis of early adulthood, in which a person develops an intimate relationship with a significant other or risks heading down toward social isolation
Erik Erikson’s view on intimacy vs. isolation
*Believed that young adults who had not achieved ego identity may not be ready to commit themselves to others
- Young adults who do not reach out to develop intimate relationships risk retreating into isolation and loneliness
“Seasons”
Certain periods of life adults go through, according to Daniel Levinson.
He also viewed that psychological well being was shaped by the following social and physical demands:
a. development of relationships
b. child-rearing
c. establishing and developing a career
d. coming to terms with one’s own successes and failures
Life Structure
Levinson’s theory, underlying pattern of person’s life at a given stage, as defined by relationships, career, race, religion, economic status and the like.
“the dream”
The drive to become, to leave one’s mark on history, serves as a tentative blueprint for the young adult.
- Labeled ages 28 to 33, the age-30 transition, reassessment: “Where is my life going?” and “Why am I doing this?”
- Later 30s are often characterized by settling down and planting roots
Attraction
Research for many decades has shown – and keeps on showing – that physical attractiveness is a major determinant of interpersonal and sexual attraction.
*Men appear to be more responsive to visual stimuli than women
*Women are somewhat flexible and more willing to trade (some) good looks for a good relationship
Evolutionary Psychologists View on Attraction
Note that it would make sense for males and females to be more attracted to one another when the women is ovulating [capable to conceiving a child]
Tallness in attraction
- Taller men play a key role because it suggests social dominance, status, access to resources, protection, and a positive heritable trait.
- Consistent with stereotypical gender roles, tall women are not viewed so positively as tall men are.
Allure of Red
Cultural conditioning and biological heritage make the color red associated with feelings of attraction
Cultural Conditioning for the allure of red
Men found women more attractive when they were shown with red backgrounds as opposed to white.
Biological Heritage for the allure of red
Men: redding of the skin is caused by elevated estrogen (relative to progesterone), which increases the flow of blood under the surface of the skin [widely believed that reddish skin tones are a sexual signal that attracts mates, during time of ovulation]
- Women: red coloration could be indicator of health [highly oxygenated blood levels can be maintained only in organisms in good health]
Inborn attractiveness preferences (gender)
Gender differences in preferences for mates because they may provide reproductive advantages
- Cleanliness, good complexion, clear eyes, good teeth, good hair, firm muscle tone, and a steady gait are universally appealing to both females and males. [possibly markers of reproductive potential]
- Age and health relatively more important to woman’s appeal with her reproduction capacity [Biological Clock]
- Mens reproductive value may also depend on how well he can provide for his family
Nonphysical traits that affect the perception of attraction
A partner’s attractiveness is likely to be enhanced by traits such as familiarity, liking, respect, and sharing values and goals. [Also rate the attractiveness of faces when they are smiling than when they are not smiling.]
Truth or Fiction
People are considered to be more attractive when they are smiling
True
So put on a happy face!
Gender Differences in Perceptions of Attractiveness
Women are more likely to be attracted to socially dominant men than men are to be attracted to socially dominant women
Pew Research Center Survey:
- 78% of women say that it is very importantly to them that a spouse or partner holds a steady job, compared to 46% of men.
- 62% of men and 70% of women found it important that the couple shares similar beliefs and having and rearing children.
- 7% of men and 10% of women said very important that their partner or spouse share their racial or ethnic background.
Attraction-similarity hypothesis
View that people tend to develop relationships with people who are similar to themselves in physical attractiveness and other traits
Truth or Fiction
“Opposites Attract”
Fiction
It does not appear to be borne out by research evidence. People who are similar in physical attractiveness and attitudes are usually more likely to be attracted to one another.
