Early Adulthood

Question 1

Emergent adulthood

Answer 1

Markers of fully fledged maturity are uncertain and constantly changing
Key milestone: marriage and parenthood
Full adulthood is rarely now achieved in the 20’s

Question 2

Life events and emergent adulthood

Answer 2

3 key life events 23-30 years old: Residential (moving out of family home)
Vocational (entry into career)
Inter-personal (development of couple relationships
Normative (on time) transition into significant life events = better psychological health

Question 3

Neurocognitive growth and functioning (early adulthood)

Answer 3

Brain growth continues throughout adult life
Neuroplasticity continues by synaptic pruning, synaptogenesis and neurogenesis (continues specialisation of function based on experience, decreased brain size & greater neural efficiency)
Allows for development of adult competencies (motor and cognitive)

Question 4

Cognitive development (early adulthood)

Answer 4

William Perry
Cognitive development occurs throughout early adulthood.
4 stages of mental and moral development: dualism, multiplicity, relativism, and commitment

Question 5

Dualism

Answer 5

Every problem is solavable (eg true vs false, good vs bad)

Question 6

Multiplicity

Answer 6

There are two types of problems: solvable and unknown

Question 7

Relativism

Answer 7

Recognition of the importance of context. Evidence is considered

Question 8

Commitment

Answer 8

Integration of external sources of knowledge with own experience. A commitment to values.

Question 9

Relationship maturity

Answer 9

Early adulthood is the peak of readiness for love.
Inverted U: early teens too young, late adults too old.
Romantic love is hard to study: no clear operational definition

Question 10

Neural basis of romantic love

Answer 10

fMRI scans performed while viewing images of loved ones.
Reduced activation occurred in the posterior cingulate gyrus and amygdala.
Similar neural responses for romantic and maternal love.

Question 11

Triangular theory of love

Answer 11

Sternberg
Passion
Intimacy
Commitment 
Pg 13

Question 12

Lifespan development theories of love

Answer 12

Romantic relationships progress through two stages of love:
Passionate love
Companionate love

Question 13

Passionate love

Answer 13

‘A state of intense longing for union with one another’
Important for the formation of a bond or the initation of a relationship
When reciprocated, leads to positive emotional states (fulfilment and ecstasy), unrequited leads to negative emotional states (anxiety and despair)
Equal across genders

Question 14

Companionate love

Answer 14

‘The affection we feel for those with whom our lives are deeply entwined’
Higher in women
Focus of equity: subjective sense of balance
Both loves decline equally over time

Question 15

Intimacy vs isolation

Answer 15

Erikson
Intimacy develops out of the central dialectical conflict of early adulthood.
State of ‘mutual devotion’
Major reorganisation of psychological make-up
Personal identity formation is important pre-requisite as intimacy involves fixing of personal identities to form new couple identity.

Question 16

Love and attachment styles

Answer 16

Attachment styles in adulthood influenced by attachment style in infancy. 
3 attachment styles in adulthood:
Type A: avoidant
Type B: secure
Type C: anxious/ambivalent

Question 17

What is early adulthood?

Answer 17

Age 18-30
Substantial changes in the everyday life of an individual:
Finishing school
Entering the workforce
Pursuing further education

Question 18

The first career

Answer 18

Important milestone into adulthood.
Involved in self-definition and identity formation.
Unemployment effects psychological well-being.
Occupational climate influences life, identity and career progression (normative progression is influenced by availablilty of opportunities)

Question 19

Career progression

Answer 19

Trial commitment: move from job to job to find right ‘fit’. Commit to place that suits psychological orientation, goals and ambitions.
Adjustment to job: common complaints are personal stagnation and thwarting of achievement

Question 20

Marriage

Answer 20

Important milestone in early/middle adulthood
Average age: men 30, women 28
Love vs arranged marriage

Question 21

Cohabitating

Answer 21

In Aust 80% couples live together before marriage
Requires an adjustment in habits
Responsibilities are divided according to 3 styles: traditional, egalitarian, colleague partnership

Question 22

Role division: traditional

Answer 22

Role specialisation based on social expectations

Question 23

Role division: egalitarian

Answer 23

All roles are shared equally without specialisation

Question 24

Role division: colleague partnership

Answer 24

Role specialisation independent of social expectations

Question 25

Parenthood: perceived benefits

Answer 25

Gaining and receiving love and affection
Gaining maturity though increased responsibility (personal growth)
Companionship

Question 26

Parenthood: perceived disadvantages

Answer 26

Stress and anxiety due to increased responsibilities
Reduced opportunities for travel
Financial burden
Loss of freedom/independence

Question 27

Parental expectations - Women: Prepared

Answer 27

High number of thoughts classified as positive and coping. Low uncertainty and negativity of thoughts

Question 28

Parental expectations - Women: Fearful

Answer 28

High number of thoughts classified as negative and uncertain. Low number of coping and positive thoughts

Question 29

Parental expectations - Women: Complacent

Answer 29

Relatively indifferent and unaffected by upcoming role

Question 30

Parental expectations - Men: Prepared

Answer 30

High coping responses and low anxiety

Question 31

Parental expectations - Men: Fearful

Answer 31

Low positivity and high anxiety

Question 32

Parental expectations - Men: Complacent

Answer 32

Low frequency of thoughts in any category

Question 33

Parental expectations - Men: Mixed

Answer 33

High frequency of thoughts in all categories except coping