Early Adulthood

Question 1

What ages are considered early adulthood?

Answer 1

20-40

Question 2

How do young adults describe their health?

Answer 2

Majority report their health is good/better than it was during childhood.

Question 3

Describe emerging adulthood.

Answer 3

period between late teens and mid-to late twenties when individuals are not adolescents but are not yet fully adults; “prolonged adolescence”, “tryout twenties”

Question 4

Describe a quarter time crisis.

Answer 4

time of exploration that can be time of crisis; confusing time since there’s no “rite of passage” to adulthood in our culture

Question 5

What are some milestones that young adults consider to constitute adulthood?

Answer 5

completing education (70% of young adults do this), begin F/T work, move out of childhood home, financial independence, marriage, parenting

Question 6

What is considered a critical aspect of young adults’ lives (according to them)?

Answer 6

Occupation, work

Question 7

What 3 purposes does work serve in a young adult’s life?

Answer 7

Economic (supplies us with the money we need to live), Social (provides an opportunity for social interaction, establishing friendships), Psychological (gives us a sense of self-worthy or identity)

Question 8

Which of Erikson stages are young adults in?

Answer 8

Intimacy v Isolation: development of a close intimate relationship with someone else (usually opposite sex) is very important

Question 9

Describe how each gender relates to identity and intimacy during early adulthood.

Answer 9

Men & career-oriented women tend to find identity first, then pursue intimacy
Women in general tend to pursue intimacy first (marriage/children) then identity later.

Question 10

Describe the struggle for early adults.

Answer 10

There is a struggle between a desire for intimacy (which involves commitment) while still retaining a sense of personal intimacy (independence); Instead of parent being safe base during childhood, the mate or spouse becomes safe base - “I can trust you so I can go explore who I am”

Question 11

Describe Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 11

Three major points: Passion - desire to be with another person (romance, attraction)
Commitment- decision to maintain & cultivate the relationship
Intimacy- Closeness, correctedness, bondedness

Question 12

Describe Non-Love according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 12

No passion, no intimacy, no commitment; “who? I didn’t notice him”

Question 13

Describe Liking according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 13

intimacy, no passion, no commitment; “She’s nice to talk to”

Question 14

Describe Infatuation according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 14

passion, no intimacy, no commitment; “I just want to be with him physically”

Question 15

Describe Romantic Love according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 15

passion and intimacy, no commitment; “He’s for me; He’s the one - at least for the time being”

Question 16

Describe Companionate Love according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 16

intimacy, commitment, no passion; “She’s like a sister - in it for the long haul”

Question 17

Describe Fatuous Love according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 17

commitment and passion, no intimacy; “I need him physically, can’t leave. But need to talk to you”

Question 18

Describe Empty Love according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 18

commitment, no passion or intimacy; “We’ll stick out - only for the kids”

Question 19

Describe Consummate Love according to Sternberg’s Model of Love.

Answer 19

intimacy, passion and commitment; “I want him. I like him. I’m his forever.”

Question 20

What were the average ages for first marriages for men/women in 2000? 2013?

Answer 20

2000: men 26.8, women 25.1
2013: men 28.6, women 26.6

Question 21

In North America, most relationships are ___.

Answer 21

monogamous; serial monogamy “we’re free to marry, divorce, and remarry any number of times”

Question 22

Marital Happiness Research shows that most couples overall marital satisfaction is the ______ at the ________ of marriage, drops with onset of _____ and ______, rises again in later life.

Answer 22

highest at the beginning, drops at children and life pressures

Question 23

What 3 things attribute to a successful marriage?

Answer 23

1. The older or more mature the couple, the better.
2. Similarities in values and interest.
3. Each partner contributing something to the marriage that the other would be hard pressed to provide.

Question 24

In _____, the US Supreme asserted the right of same sex couples’ marriage; By _____, 16 states and DC had legalized same sex marriage.

Answer 24

2013; 2016

Question 25

According to research, how are children of gay parents?

Answer 25

they show normal levels of adjustment and self-esteem

Question 26

How do gay men relationships compare to lesbian relationships?

Answer 26

Gay men tend to have more short-term relationships; Lesbians tend to have fewer, longer-lasting relationships.

Question 27

Describe the cohabitation effect.

Answer 27

living together without marriage; this is due to the slide v decide effect; cohabitation in the US has increased 10x over the past 30 years

Question 28

What are the 3 main reasons couples cohabit?

Answer 28

Part-time/limited cohabitation (convenience, sharing expenses, sexual accessibility), Premarital cohabitation (trial marriages), Substitute marriage (long-term commitment without a legal marriage; more common in older adults)

Question 29

Describe instances of singlehood.

Answer 29

Never married (some choose, some postpone, some unsuccessful in finding a mate), divorced, separated, widowed.

Question 30

Describe divorce in the U.S.

Answer 30

More than 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce; majority of those divorced will remarry; more men remarry than women; men remarry sooner (usually within 4 years)

Question 31

How does divorce effect women?

Answer 31

usually more difficult on women; reduction in income; need to return to work/change jobs; establishing new social relationships while juggling parental responsibilities

Question 32

What do studies show about men’s happiness in relation to their marital status?

Answer 32

Married men are happier than never married men. Divorced men are least happy.