lecture 14

Question 1

THeoretical Perspectives

What stage of Erikson’s theory is early adulthood (20-40)?

define intimacy

Answer 1

• intimacy vs isolation: must find a life partner or supportive friends in order to aviod social isolation
• intimacy: the capacity to engagse in a supportive, affectionate relationship without losing one’s own sense of self
• successful resolution of this stage depends on the good resoltuion of the identity vs role confusion crisis

Question 2

Theoretical Perspectives

Explain Levinson’s life structure theory

explain the 3 phases

Answer 2

• the underlying pattern of a person’s life at a given time; about roles at a different time
• cycle through periods of stability and instability
• three phases when new life structure is required
  1. novice phase: adjusting to adulthood
  2. mid-era phase: increase in compentence, reorganization and reassessment
  3. culmination: succeeded in creating a life strucutre that allows them to mangae the demands of the new developmental challemehed with more confidence and less distress

Question 3

Theoretical persepctives

Explain Jeffery Arnett’s Emerging adulthood

define the 5 characteristics, and the 5 domains

Answer 3

• early adulthood (20-40) is divided into emerging adulthood (17-22/25) and early adulthood (22/25-40)
• age of: identity exploration; instability; self-foucs; feeling in-between adolescence and adulthood; age of possibilites
• address developmental tasks in five domains: academic; friendship; conduct; work; romantic

Question 4

Interactions with others

describe intimate relationships

Answer 4

• form the secure base from which most young adults move out into the adult world
• marriages in Canada are quickly starting to mirror sociodemographic diversity

Question 5

Theories of mate selection

describe the evolutionary theorys on mate selection

define: parental investment theory

Answer 5

• men perfer physically attractive, younger women -> as amother she will be more successful with childre
• women look for men with higher socioeconmic status -> man that can provide for his family; offering earning potential and stability
• sex difference in mate perferences and mating behavioru are based on the different amounts of time and effort men and women must invest in child-rearing

Question 6

Theories of mate selection

Explain the social role theory on mate selection

define assortative mating (homogamy)

Answer 6

• idea that sex differences in mate perferences and mating behaviour are adaptations to gender roles
• norms been decreasing as women gain economic power
• womens less emphasis on mate’s earning power
• mens less focus on mates domestic skills
• assortative mating: tendency to mate with someone who has traits similar to one’s own

Question 7

Theories of mate selection:

explain the neuroscience of human attachment

define neuro-sychrony

Answer 7

• parent-infant and romantic couple bonds share much of the same neural architecture and phisology: dopamine and oxytocin
• EEG scans show there is greater neuro-sychrony among couples and close friends than there is among strangers

Question 8

Psychological aspects of marriage

describe the type of relation quality in marriage

Answer 8

• majority of adults believe intimacy issues are more important than material aspects
• each partner brings in skills, resources, and traits
• personality is important
• attitudes toward marriage affect martial stability