week 10 Flashcards
events in early adulthood
romantic relationships
career development
transition to parenthood
events in middle adulthood
romantic relationships
career conolidation
work/life balance
what is timing of events theories
refers to the understanding of life events as following a normative pattern of sequences and timing
what does the timing of events theories emphasise
the importance of the developmental context and the sociocultural and historical contexts
what are norms subject to
constant transition across culture and time eg. changes with what the norms are
types of social clock
on time
off time
what is on time
following the social timetable
what is the social clock
out of phase with peers
what does the timing of events theories seek to do
describe and explain patterns of behaviour
explain diversity across groups
what do cultural and generational differences reflect
expectations
what are normative crisis theories
theoretical models that describe psychosocial development in terms of a definite sequence of optimal age-related changes
based on the normative crisis theories, what happens in unsuccessful completion of a particular stage
is believed to hinder optimal development
what theorists are normative crisis theories
erikson
grant/vaillant
levinson
what stage is early adulthood in Erikson
intimacy vs isolation
what stage is middle adulthood in Erikson
generativity vs stagnation
what is generativity vs stagnation
the mature adults striving to be needed
the crisis entails the clash between making a worthwhile contribution to future generations vs a profound sense of boredom, self-preoccupation and doubt
what did vaillant expand on
eriksons theory: he used eriksons theory as a guiding framework
what was Vaillant: normative crisis theory based on
on the results of the harvard “grant study”
what stage did Vaillant add to eriksons theory
career consolidation vs self-absorption for early middle adulthood
what is career consolidation vs self-absorption
involves “expanding ones personal identity to assume a social identity within the world of work”
what were the key conclusions from the harvard grant study
experiences of warmth and love in relationships across lifespan results in happiness
within the harvard grant study, members who did not master identity:
never achieved independence from their family/institution
were not able to commit to work or intimate relationships
what does Vaillant believe alcoholism is the enemy to
relationships
financial wellbeing
longevity
what is a criticism of the harvard grant study
lack of sample heterogeneity
strong selection bias
what was the harvard grant study able to identify
adaptive vs maladaptive mechanisms
what did Vaillant identify as adaptive mechanisms
sublimation
humour
altruism
suppression
what did Vaillant identify as maladaptive mechanisms
projection
passive aggression
dissociation
acting out
fantasy
what does healthy development see
movement from maladaptive to more adaptive mechanisms across the transition to adulthood and beyond
what does Levinson biopsychosocial model believe
all aspects of development interact during developmental eras
what are Levinsons ears/seaons of the biopsychosocial model
early adult transition: 17-22
midlife transition: 40-45
late adult transition: 60-65
age range of preadulthood era
0-22
age range for early adulthood era
17-45
age range for middle adulthood era
40-65
age range for late adulthood era
60- dead
characteristics of the era of early adulthood in Levinsons normative crisis theory
dream of adult accomplishment (idealism)
forming mentor relationships
developing an occupation
establishing intimate relationships
characteristics of the era of middle adulthood in Levinsons normative crisis theory
coming to terms with an unfulfilled dream
dream of adult accomplishment revised (pragmatism)
what are some broad issues with normative crisis theories
reflect western cultural ideology
inflexible to considerations of culture
generation or context
who is the theorist for emerging adulthood
Arnett
what is the volitional years
a period of exploration in love, work, identity and values
what are the characteristics of Arnetts theory of emerging adulthood
can be marked by feelings of both:
freedom and autonomy
insecurity and self-doubt
what is arnetts theory of emerging adulthood characterised by
changing worldviews
what is arnetts theory of emerging adulthood
development of characteristics that help individuals become self-sufficient, but also committed in relationships and work
characteristics surrounding partner selection
partners tend to be similar
meet within their social networks
motivation is a committed relationship
what are desired traits in partner selection
warmth
kindness
expressiveness
openness
sense of humour
are the desired traits different from marriage partner to causal sex
they’re pretty similar
why did sternberg develop the theory of love
to explain different types of love based upon the strength of the 3 components
what are the 3 components of sternbergs theory of love
passion
intimacy
decision/commitment
what is consummate love
when you have all 3 components
passion
intimacy
commitment
what is liking based on theory of love triangle
intimacy alone
what is romantic love based on theory of love
intimacy and passion
what is infatuation in theory of love
passion alone
what is fatuous love in theory of love
passion and commitment
what is empty love in theory of love
commitment alone
what is companionate love
intimacy and commitment
what is passion
sexual attraction
romantic feelings
excitement
what is intimacy
feelings of warmth, caring, closeness, trust, and respect in the relationship
what is commitment
involves first deciding that one loves the other person and then committing to a longterm relationship
when are relationships most likely to fare best
if partners have similar balances of passion, intimacy, and commitment
when did erikson believe true intimacy is possible
only when both partners have resolved their own identity crises eg. have a strong sense of self and self in the world
what is early adult work
transition from work as economic activity to work as career/vocation/identity
early adult work is characterised by
career exploration, with caveats eg. access, suitability, support structures
early adult work early stages of career development
include trial commitment and adjustment to job (distinct from education and casual work)
who is work central to their lives
young men more than young women
young adults who are high in work centrality are more likely to:
perceive themselves as superior to others
to report a career/life vision
be willing to delay marriage
less likely to try different jobs
equally as likely to report goal instability
what is key to job satisfaction
ability to use skills and have these recognised
sense of autonomy in the work environment
sense of control in the work environment
what is the concept of self as worker critical to identity development
vocational/occupational identity
whats a challenge to developing a work identity
unstable career trajectories and societal priorites and conditions
who is more flexible in their aspirations and commitment
women over men
what is a change int he transition to parenthood
increasingly occurring in middle adulthood rather than early adulthood
what do egalitarian couples do in parenthood
still follow more traditional gender roles and divide their labour along traditional gender roles
when does marital satisfaction decline
somewhat in the first year after a baby is born
who experiences the marital dissatisfaction after a baby is born
women more than men
what is Eriks generativity vs stagnation (middle adulthood)
the mature adults striving to be needed
the crisis entails the clash between making a worthwhile contribution to future generations vs a profound sense of boredom, self-preoccupation and doubt
what is happening to the average marriage age
its increasing
types of marriages
conventional
egalitarian
junior-senior partnerships
at what point is marital satisfaction at the lowest point
20 years
what is the greatest marital satisfaction
before having kids
once the kids have moved out
what do happy marriages have
good communication
acceptance and respect for differences
commitment
affection
passion for one another
what is Australia divorce rate for first marriage
33%
what is australia divorce rate for second marriage
60%
changes in divorce
age is increasing
length of time married increasing
factors influencing divorce
legislative changes
personality/happiness
demographic variables
less expectation on commitment
lack of consensus/role allocation
how many remarry
more than half of divorced adults remary
remarriage quality relates to
background/contextual factors
couple interactional processes
attributes of the person
what are there for those whose timing of events is different to the social norms of their network or community (parenthood)
social and emotional consequences
examples of changing nature of adult family relationships
blended family
gay and lesbian relationships
multigenerational families
examples of changing nature of parenting
single parenting
gay and lesbian parenting
co parenting
what happens to social networks during early adulthood
they increase but then become smaller
supers theory of career in middle adulthood phases
- establishment phase
- maintenance phase
- decline or disengagement phase
what is seen in supers maintenance phase of careers
gaining experience and movement from idealism to realism
what is seen in supers decline or disengagement phase of career
disillusionment and desire for greater work life balance
havighursts theory of career stages
- becoming a productive person
- maintaining a productive society
- contemplating a productive and responsible life
what is a midlife crisis
reappraisal of ones goals and values in light of ones life so far
what are midlife crisis motivated by
feelings of stagnation and contemplation of death
where are midlife crisis experienced
across all facets of life:
work
family
relationships
identity
what can midlife crisis lead to
changes in career, relationships, lifestyle, values
what happens when you fail to resolve midlife crisis
may hinder the completion of identity achievement that is necessary for achieving a sense of generativity, and a sense of having lived with integrity
