Chapter 7 - Emerging and Early Adulthood (1).pptx

Physical development in our 20s   Physical maturation complete Functioning at its peak in:        Muscle strength Reaction time Sensory abilities Cardiac functioning Reproductive system Motor skills Lung capacity Physical development in our 30s  Lens of the eye starts to stiffen and t...

Physical development in our 20s   Physical maturation complete Functioning at its peak in:        Muscle strength Reaction time Sensory abilities Cardiac functioning Reproductive system Motor skills Lung capacity Physical development in our 30s  Lens of the eye starts to stiffen and thicken      Presbyopia – Difficulty focusing on close objects Sensitivity to sound decreases Hair starts to thin and become gray Skin becomes drier and wrinkles start to appear Declines in:     Response time Ability to recover from physical exertion Immune system functioning Reproductive capacity College students’ alcohol use   About 20% meet criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder 80% of college sexual assaults involved alcohol     Social pressures and expectations of college life Limited adult supervision Unstructured time Active Greek system and athletic program Drug use in early adulthood    Peaks ages 19-22 Adults 18-25 are the largest abusers of prescription medications (ADHD, opioids, anti-anxiety) 2014: 6% of college students use marijuana daily   Rate doubled for same-age adults not in college Drug use increases risks of:    Violent death Sexually transmitted infections Birth defects if pregnant Sex and gender   Sex – Physical or physiological differences Gender – Social or cultural distinctions associated with a given sex    Social construct – Concept created by cultural and societal norms Children socialized to conform to certain gender roles based on biological sex and assigned gender Gender role – Society's concept of how men and women are expected to act and behave Gender identity  Sense of self as a member of a particular gender   Separate from sexual orientation Cisgender – Individuals who identify with a role that corresponds to the sex assigned to them at birth Being transgender  Individuals who identify with a role that is different from their biological sex     May occur in different ways (e.g., agender, genderfluid) Not all transgender people choose to physically transition Transgender people likely to experience harassment, discrimination, bullying, and violence Transgender individuals of color face additional financial, social, and interpersonal challenges Sexuality in adulthood  Human sexuality – People's sexual interest in and attraction to others      Includes capacity to have erotic experiences and responses May be experienced and expressed in a variety of ways Biological and physical aspects = Human sexual-response cycle Emotional aspects = Expression of bonds or feelings Social aspects = How social messages affect sexuality Sexual response cycle      Physiological responses occurring during sexual activity Excitement – Intrinsic motivation to pursue sex arises Plateau – Period of sexual excitement with increased heart rate and circulation Orgasm – Release of tension Resolution – Unaroused state before the cycle begins again The brain and sex       Brain translates nerve impulses into pleasurable sensations Brain controls nerves and muscles used in sexual activity Brain regulates the release of hormones Cerebral cortex is origin of sexual thoughts and fantasies Limbic system is origin of emotions and feelings Hypothalamus receives input from the limbic system  Libido – General desire for sexual activity Figure 7.12 Endocrine glands Hormones and sex  Oxytocin released during sexual intercourse when orgasm achieved    Believed to be involved with maintaining close relationships Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) triggers egg maturity and stimulates sperm production Luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers the release of a mature egg during ovulation Hormones and sex (continued)    In males, testosterone appears to contribute heavily to sexual motivation Vasopressin involved in the male arousal phase Relationship between hormones and female sexual motivation not well understood  Estrogen increases motivation, progesterone decreases it Sexual responsiveness  Men – sexual responsiveness tends to peak in the late teens and early 20s   Begins a slow decline in the late 20s and into the 30s Women – sexual responsiveness often peaks in late 30s or early 40s  May be due to greater self-confidence and reduced inhibitions about sexuality Sexually transmitted infections   Illnesses that have a significant probability of transmission through sexual behavior CDC statistics from 2014:     1.4 million cases of chlamydia, 350,000 cases of gonorrhea, and 20,000 cases of syphilis Increase from previous years Most affected: Younger, gay/bisexual males, and females Most effective way to prevent STIs: Practice safe sex (avoid direct contact of skin or fluids) Cultural and societal views on sexuality   Often influenced by religion Media shapes views of sexuality     Body image Social scripts about relationships Sexual roles of men and women Views and practices about premarital sex and cohabitation differ across cultures Sexual orientation    Emotional and sexual attraction to a particular sex or gender Also includes sense of identity and community associated with specific sexual orientation Kinsey: Sexual orientation is a continuum Some types of sexual orientation    Heterosexuality – Attraction to individuals of the opposite sex/gender Homosexuality – Attraction to individuals of one's own sex/gender Bisexuality – Attraction to any sex or gender   Pansexuality/polysexuality may include nonbinary attractions Asexuality – No sexual attraction to any sex/gender Development of sexual orientation    Awareness usually develops by early adolescence Experiences/behavior not necessary Believed to be biologically based    Concordance rate high in identical twins Correlation with exposure to prenatal androgens Maternal immune hypothesis – Maternal immune response to Y-linked protein changes with births of subsequent sons Sexual orientation discrimination   American culture heteronormative – Supports heterosexuality as the norm Homophobia – Negative attitudes and actions toward people identified or perceived as LGBT    Institutionalized – Policies that discriminate against LGBT people (e.g., health insurance benefits) Internalized– LGBT people believe negative views LGBT people more likely to experience discrimination and harassment  May combine with racial discrimination Cognitive development: Postformal thought     Basing decisions on what is realistic and practical, not idealistic Making adaptive choices Not as influenced by what others think Experience teaches us that possibilities ≠ reality Cognitive development: Dialectical thought    Bring together salient aspects of two opposing viewpoints or positions Adolescents tend to think in dichotomies Dialectical thought more realistic because nothing’s perfect Cognitive development in early adulthood  Does everyone reach formal operations and beyond?  Formal operational thought influenced by experience and education Experience in abstract thinking  May be related to specific education received  Abstract thinking in one area ≠ abstract thinking in all areas  Stages of career development (Patton & McMahon, 1999)   Stage One: In childhood, select careers based on what appears glamorous or exciting Stage Two: Teens consider abilities and limitations when narrowing choices Stages of career development (Patton & McMahon, 1999 continued)  Stage Three: Older teens/emerging adults narrow choices further     Consider requirements, rewards, and downsides of careers Compare possible careers with interests, values, and future goals Some may “fall-into” careers due to factors other than interest Stage Four: Settle in careers by mid-to-late 30s (Super, 1980)  Some people may feel trapped if little opportunity for advancement Millennials and careers  More likely than previous generations to jobhop    Basic career interests may remain similar More likely to want to feel engaged/purposeful NEETs: Neither employed nor in education/training   Often influenced by negative economic conditions 2015: Nearly 17% of 16 to 29 year-olds in U.S. Gender, careers, and sexism  Sexism – Prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender    May influence career choices and advancement May influence educational opportunities and views of behavior Occupational sexism – Discriminatory practices, statements, or actions in the workplace  Women make 78 cents for every dollar a man earns Table 7.3 Descriptions of the Big Five personality traits Dimension Description Openness to experience A general appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination, curiosity, and variety of experience Conscientious A tendency to show selfness discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement Extraversion The tendency to experience positive emotions and to seek out stimulation and the company of others Agreeablenes A tendency to be s compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic toward others; reflects individual differences in general concern for social harmony Neuroticism The tendency to experience Examples of behaviors predicted by the trait Individuals who are highly open to experience tend to have distinctive and unconventional decorations in their home. They are also likely to have books on a wide variety of topics, a diverse music collection, and works of art on display. Individuals who are conscientious have a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior. Extroverts enjoy being with people. In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves. Agreeable individuals value getting along with others. They are generally considerate, friendly, generous, helpful, and willing to compromise their interests with those of others. Those who score high in neuroticism are more Personality changes in adulthood    Neuroticism and openness decrease with age; conscientiousness increases Life events (e.g., divorce, illness) may produce their own changes Conscientiousness predicts important life outcomes:    Job success Health and longevity Quality of relationships Table 7.4 Attachment in young adulthood Which of the following best describes you in your romantic relationships? I find it relatively easy to get close to others and am Secure comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I don’t often worry about being abandoned or about someone getting too close to me. I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others; I Avoidant find it difficult to trust them completely, difficult to allow myself to depend on them. I am nervous when anyone gets too close, and often, love partners want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being. I find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would Anxious/ Ambivalen like. I often worry that my partner doesn’t really love me or won’t stay with me. I want to merge completely with t another person, and this sometimes scares people away. Attachment in early adulthood: Bartholomew (1990)  Two dimensions:  Attachment related-anxiety – Fear of rejection or abandonment   Young adults show more of this than other adults Attachment-related avoidance – Fear of opening up, becoming dependent, losing autonomy Figure 7.19 Four-category model with the two dimensions of attachment Attachment in early adulthood: Influences and outcomes  Early attachments influence later ones   Secure people likely to have secure partners   But other relationships also affect adult attachments Not clear why this is Insecure attachments associated with:   Lower satisfaction More conflict Relationships with parents   Good relationship with parents helps transition to adulthood Both parents and children have to reappraise relationship   Parents who have trouble regarding children as adults may hinder development Living at home may exacerbate this Relationships with siblings  Frequency of sibling interactions declines in early adulthood     College, other relationships, jobs Must retain bond so can re-establish closeness later Conflict typically declines Quality of relationship in childhood associated with quality of relationship in adulthood  Unusual for siblings to initiate closeness in adulthood Erikson: Intimacy vs. isolation   Must establish identity first Intimate relationships = Friendships and romantic relationships Attraction   What makes people like/love each other We’re attracted to people based on:  Similarity    Consensual validation – Having others like and believe in the same things we do makes us feel validated in our beliefs Self-disclosure – Frequent, accepting, empathetic communication Proximity – Physically near us  Mere exposure – Tendency to prefer things we see more frequently Friendships   In our twenties, intimacy needs may be met in friendships, not romances Women’s and men’s friendships differ (Tannen, 1990)    Friendships between men: Sharing information, providing solutions, or focusing on activities Friendships between women: Sharing weaknesses, emotions, or problems Friendships may diminish once a person has a partner or single friends may be replaced with couple friends Sternberg’s theory of love  3 components    Passion – Intense physical attraction Intimacy – Sharing feelings, personal thoughts, and psychological closeness Commitment – Conscious decision to stay together Figure 7.22 Sternberg’s triangular theory of love Adult lifestyles: Singlehood  1960: 10% of adults age 25 or older had never been married   2012: 20% Reasons for increasing rates of singlehood    Later marriage Increased cohabitating and single parenthood Increased focus on careers and education Adult lifestyles: Hooking up     Uncommitted sexual encounters (not formal dating) Friends with benefits – Friends having casual sex without commitment Hookup attitudes influenced by social attitudes Potential risks:    Unbalanced emotional investment Feelings of regret, guilt, depression Often associated with drug/alcohol use Adult lifestyles: Online dating   2016: 20% of emerging adults report using a mobile dating app, 27% report using online dating Internet/social networking sites perform 3 tasks:  Access Reduce proximity  Access to network of potentially interested partners    Communication Matching on basis of traits and interests Adult lifestyles: Online dating (continued)  Online communication vs. face-to-face meetings   Fewer sensory cues to create first impressions Anonymity makes it easier to become intimate    People often disclose more quickly online Exchanges can be focused more on emotional attraction than physical appearance Online daters report valuing communication and personality characteristics over sexual attraction Adult lifestyles: Cohabitation   Cohabitation rates and length increasing Possible causes:     Increased individualism and secularism Better economic options for women Increased enrollment in post-secondary education Rates and attitudes may vary across cultures Adult lifestyles: Marriage  Delayed/reduced marriage rates worldwide  Most decrease in wealthier countries U.S. marriage rate dropped from 72-51% 19602010  Median age at first marriage increased 6 years   Marriage rates may increase due to legalization of same-sex marriage Cultural influences on marriage  Endogamy – Social rules about acceptable marriage partners (e.g., race, religion, SES)   Many cultures endorse homogamy – Maarriage between people who share social characteristics Arranged marriages still common in some cultures  Often related to economic opportunities Marital harmony  Gottman: Good communication is key    “Marriage killers”: Contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling Accumulated positive deposits can help in times of conflict Interventions include:    Increasing positive regard Strengthening the couple’sfriendship Improving communication and conflict resolution Intimate partner abuse   Highest rates in women aged 18-24 May include rape, physical abuse, stalking, psychological aggression   Physical violence most common for male victims Associated with physical and psychological consequences Parenthood   Average fertility rate for women about 2.1 (steady since 1970s) But age of childbearing has changed    Average of first childbirth: 26.3 years Birth rate declining for women in 20s, increasing in 30s Likely reasons: Education, careers, birth control The parent-child relationship   Bidirectional – Both parties influence each other Parenting strategies influenced by:      Parents’ personality traits Experiences growing up Child’s characteristics Socioeconomic factors Cultural expectations