Tâm lý học - Chapter 13: Physical and cognitive development in early adulthood

Life-Span Development Thirteenth Edition Chapter 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved1Becoming an AdultEmerging Adulthood: the transition from adolescence to adulthoodOccurs from approximately 18 to 25 years of ageKey FeaturesIdentity exploration, especially in love and workInstability, self-focused, and feeling in-betweenThe age of possibilities, a time when individuals have an opportunity to transform their livesThe Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood2Becoming an AdultMarkers of Becoming an Adult:Holding a full-time jobEconomic independenceTaking responsibility for oneselfThe Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood3Becoming an AdultThe Transition from High School to CollegeTop-dog phenomenonMovement to a larger school structureIncreased focus on achievement and assessmentSeveral positive featuresThe Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood4Physical Performance and Development:Peak physical performance typically occurs between 19 and 26Muscle tone and strength usually begin to show signs of decline around age 30Physical Development5Health:Emerging adults have twice the mortality rate of adolescentsFew chronic health problemsIncrease in bad health habitsPositive health behavior equals positive life satisfactionPhysical Development6Eating and WeightObesity:Prevalence of obesity in U.S. adults is increasingFactors Involved in ObesityHeredityLeptin: a protein involved in feeling fullSet pointEnvironmental factorPhysical Development7Regular Exercise:Helps prevent diseasesAerobic exercise: sustained exercise that stimulates heart and lung activityExercise benefits both physical and mental healthImproves self-concept and reduces anxiety and depressionPhysical Development8Substance AbuseAlcohol:Binge drinking:Increases in collegeAlcoholism: a disorder that involves long-term, repeated, uncontrolled, compulsive, and excessive use of alcoholic beverages and that impairs the drinker’s health and social relationshipsEnvironmental and genetic factors play a rolePhysical Development9Substance AbuseCigarette Smoking and NicotineSmoking linked to 30% of cancer deaths, 21% of heart disease deaths, and 82% of chronic pulmonary disease deathsFewer people smoke today than in the past50 million Americans still smoke todayPhysical Development10Sexual Activity in Emerging AdulthoodPatterns of Heterosexual Behavior include:Males have more casual sex partners, while females report being more selective60% have had sexual intercourse with only 1 individual in the last year25% report having sexual intercourse only a couple of times a year or not at allCasual sex is more common in emerging adulthood than in young adulthoodSexuality11Sexual Orientation and BehaviorHeterosexual Attitudes and BehaviorAmericans tend to fall into three categories:1/3 have sex twice a week or more, 1/3 a few times a month, and 1/3 a few times a year or not at allMarried (and cohabiting) couples have sex more often than non-cohabiting couplesMost Americans do not engage in kinky sexual actsAdultery is the exception rather than the ruleMen think about sex far more often than women doSexuality12Sexual Orientation and BehaviorSources of Sexual OrientationSexual orientation is a continuum from exclusive male–female relations to exclusive same-sex relationsMost likely a combination of genetic, hormonal, cognitive, and environmental factorsSexuality13Sexual Orientation and BehaviorAttitudes and Behaviors of Lesbians and Gay MalesMany gender differences that appear in heterosexual relationships occur in same-sex relationshipsLesbians have fewer sexual partners and less permissive attitudes about casual sex than gay menHate crimes and stigma-related experiences are a special concernSexuality14Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): diseases contracted primarily through sexAffect about 1 of every 6 U.S. adultsHIV/AIDS has had the biggest impact on sexual behavior in the last several decadesHIV leads to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)Sexuality15SexualitySexually Transmitted Infections16Forcible Sexual BehaviorRape: forcible sexual intercourse without consentMost victims are women and are often reluctant to report the incident, although rape of men does occur Males in the U.S. are socialized to be sexually aggressive, to regard women as inferior, and to view their own pleasure as most importantDate or acquaintance rape is an increasing concern todaySexual harassment: a manifestation of power of one person over anotherTakes many formsSexuality17Cognitive StagesPiaget’s View:Adolescents and adults think qualitatively in the same way (formal operational stage)Young adults are more quantitatively advanced because they have more knowledge than adolescentsSome developmentalists theorize that individuals consolidate their formal operational thinking during adulthoodMany adults do not think in formal operational ways at allCognitive Development18Cognitive StagesRealistic and Pragmatic Thinking:As adults face the constraints of reality, their idealism decreasesReflective and Relativistic Thinking:Adults think in favor of reflective, relativistic waysIs there a fifth, postformal stage?Postformal thoughtMore reflective judgment, solutions to problems can vary, emotions can play a role in thinkingCognitive Development19CreativityCreativity seems to peak in the 40s and then decline slightlyExtensive individual variation in the lifetime output of creative individualsCognitive Development20Developmental ChangesFrom mid-twenties on, individuals often seek to establish their emerging career in a particular fieldFinding a Path to a PurposeOnly 20% of 12 – 22-year-olds had a clear vision of where they want to go in lifeCareers and Work21Monitoring the Occupational OutlookBe knowledgeable about different fields and companiesThe Impact of WorkMost spend 1/3 of their lives at workImportant consideration is how stressful the work isWork During College81% of part-time U.S. college students are employedCareers and Work22The Impact of WorkUnemploymentUnemployment produces stress and is related to physical problems, mental problems, marital difficulties, and homicideDual-Earner Couples:Sometimes difficult to find a balance between work and the rest of lifeDiversity in the WorkplaceWomen have increasingly entered the labor forceCareers and Work23