Young Adulthood Flashcards
intimacy versus isolation
Erik Erikson’s description of the developmental task of young adulthood, a time when individuals move from the identity fragmentation, confusion, and exploration of adolescence into more intimate engagement with significant others or become isolated
emerging adulthood
a developmental phase distinct from both adolescence and young adulthood, occuring between the ages of 18 and 25 in industrialized societies
Expressive communication
The expression of emotions and possession of a perspective that is sensitive to how others feel.
Instrumental communication
Communication focused on identifying goals and finding solutions.
human capital
individual assets such as talents, skills, intellectual capacity, social development, and emotional regulatory capacity
Intimacy
characteristic of close interpersonal relationships, includes interdependence, self-disclosure, and affection
romantic love
an intimate relationship that is sexually oriented
community assetts
community resources such as public infrastructure (eg adequate transportation to get to work), community networks, and educational opportunities
developmental indiviualization
one possible pathway in young adulthood, which involves making transitions defined by personal agency and deliberately charted growth opportunities in intellectual, occupational, and psychosocial domains
default individualization
one possible pathway in young adulthood, which involves making transitions defined by circumstance and situation
Developmental Themes of Young Adulthood
The 2 most critical developmental tasks during the age of young adulthood are economic independence and independent decision-making. Adulthood is seen as reaching maturity, leaving home, and taking on new responsibilities. Many “young adults” are still in transition stage from adolescence to adulthood. Young adulthood involves role experimentation with choices involving love, occupation, friendship, values, and lifestyle.
Piaget’s Formal Operational Thought
Formal operational thought is the last stage of cognitive development, therefore young adulthood is also chattered by formal operational thought. It consist of conceiving abstract concepts, systematic thinking and step-by-step logic. In late adolescence and young adulthood, people refine their formal operational approach to problem solving.
Cognitive Skills (Young Adulthood)
Adults are better able able to harness formal operational thinking because of their reduced egocentrism, and therefore approach problems with greater objectivity. Adults also are able to access past experiences and education more effectively in using cognitive operations.
Cancer
Breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer among women, after skin cancer, and is often fatal: it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (lung cancer is the first). Testicular cancer is a common disease for men between 15 and 35 years old and the leading cause of cancer death among young adult males.
Health Statistics
Poor men of color have the worst health. They have higher rates of illness and mortality than non-minorities. In general, men are sicker and die sooner than women. One of the strongest determinants of health is socioeconomic status (SES). Smoking, alcohol and drug use, and unprotected sex are all less common among those with higher income and education. Stress, which is also linked to health, is lower as one climbs the SES scale.
