Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood

Early Adulthood: Cognitive Development

• Cognitive development continues during early adulthood, characterized by the ability to think abstractly in WEIRD nations
• Abstract thinking involves understanding concepts that exist independently of direct experience, such as humor, success, and justice.
• 30-year-olds are more practical and realistic than 15-year-olds due to life experiences, enabling them to make better choices.
• Postformal thought involves recognizing both right and wrong in viewpoints, as well as acknowledging that not every idea is universally true. This aspect is essential to dialectical thought
• Formal thought (in adolescents) focuses on fundamental, unchanging realities, whereas postformal thought emphasizes change, perspectives, and interconnectedness.
• Formal operational thinking is necessary for individuals to use dialectical thinking to appreciate and synthesize contradictory ideas.
• Higher levels of dialectical thinking are associated with personality traits like openness to experience and conscientiousness, as well as increased creativity and emotional regulation.

How to Think and Act Dialectically

• Recognize that multiple perspectives exist for any situation.
• Avoid extreme positions; instead, focus on finding common ground between opposites.
• Acknowledge the interconnectedness between oneself and others. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
• Embrace change and find acceptance within it.
• Understand that actions and behaviors have consequences, and that everything is interconnected and caused.
• Be mindful of your impact on others and how they influence you.

Finishing Education and Settling into a Career

• High school graduation rates have steadily increased in the U.S., with variations in specific states.
• College graduation rates in the U.S. are higher than in many other countries, with Canada having the highest college graduation rate and Mexico having the lowest.
• Graduating seniors face increasing student loan debt, with average debt levels fluctuating annually.
• Graduate degrees are correlated with significant student loan debt for students in the medical field, including master's degrees ($42,335) and doctoral/professional degrees ($95,715 and $141,000).
• College-educated individuals earn more throughout their careers compared to those with high school or less education, globally and in the US.
• Factors like education levels influence individual qualities (e.g., social competence, reduced dogmatism, and ethnocentrism), promoting worldly views and engagement.

Career Development and Employment

• Career development progresses through stages.
• In stage one, children are captivated by glamorous aspects of careers.
• In stage two, teenagers consider their abilities and limitations with choices.
• In stage three, older teens and emerging adults weigh career requirements, rewards, and downsides, aligning them with personal interests, values, and future aspirations.
• In stage four, some adults settle into their careers in their thirties with continuous progress, while others find themselves in dead-end jobs.
• Recent years have shown a pattern of increased job-hopping and returns to education among young adults; however, occupation-related interests often remain consistent.
• Millennials have demonstrated characteristics such as a desire for meaning, and engagement at work.
• Many occupations do not necessitate a four-year degree, but educational attainment often correlates with higher salaries.
• High-risk occupations such as truck drivers, tree trimmers, loggers, and commercial pilots are notable examples, with fatal accidents remaining high.

Most Common and Most Dangerous Occupations

• Occupations that do not require a bachelor's degree are frequently among the most common jobs.
• Dangerous occupations often lack formal education requirements and can include truck driving, tree trimming, logging, etc.

Gender and Career Choices

• Gender plays a role in shaping career choices.
• Women tend to cluster in service sectors (education, nursing, and childcare), whereas men dominate technical and scientific fields.
• Women in these traditionally male-dominated fields often face lower pay, status, and career advancement opportunities.
• Gender discrimination frequently occurs when professions are predominantly male.
• Despite having more women in the workforce, women are significantly underpaid for the same labor compared to men.
• The number of NEETs (Not Engaged in Education, Employment or Training) varies across nations and genders, with women being more likely to be NEETs.
• Women's career paths are often interrupted by childbirth; therefore, career-related opportunities may not emerge at the same rate as men.