Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Development Through the Lifespan Chapter 14 Emotional and Social Development in Early Adulthood This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:  Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network;  Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images;  Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Erikson’s Theory: Intimacy versus Isolation Intimacy  Making a permanent commitment to intimate partner  Involves giving up some newfound independence, redefining identity  Strong identity helps  Affects friendships, work Intimacy  Making a permanent commitment to intimate partner  Involves giving up some newfound independence, redefining identity  Strong identity helps  Affects friendships, work Isolation  Loneliness, self- absorption  Hesitate to form close ties  Fear of losing identity  Compete  Reject differences  Threatened by closeness Isolation  Loneliness, self- absorption  Hesitate to form close ties  Fear of losing identity  Compete  Reject differences  Threatened by closeness

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Levinson’s Early Adult Season  Early adult transition  Dream  Mentor  Early adulthood life structure  Men: “settling down”  Women: continued instability, more roles  Age 30 transition  Reevaluate life structure  Often focus on underdeveloped aspects  Early adult transition  Dream  Mentor  Early adulthood life structure  Men: “settling down”  Women: continued instability, more roles  Age 30 transition  Reevaluate life structure  Often focus on underdeveloped aspects

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Vaillant’s Adaptation to Life  20s – intimacy concerns  30s – career consolidation  40s – generative  50s – 60s – “keepers of meaning”  70s – spiritual and reflective

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Social Clock  Age-graded expectations for life events  Less rigid than in earlier generations  Following a social clock lends confidence, contributes to social stability  Distress if not following or falling behind

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Selecting a Mate  Physical proximity  Most select partners who are similar  Gender differences  Women: intelligence, ambition, financials, morals  Men: attractiveness, domestic skills

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Childhood Attachment and Adult Romantic Relationships Attachment History Working ModelAdult Relationships Secure Comfortable with intimacy; unafraid of abandonment Trust, happiness, friendship Avoidant Stress independence, mistrust, anxiety about closeness Jealousy, emotional distance, little physical pleasure Resistant Seek quick love, complete merging Jealousy, desperation, emotional highs & lows

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Triangular Theory of Love  Three components:  Intimacy  Passion  Commitment  Three components:  Intimacy  Passion  Commitment  Passionate love early; companionate love later  Passion gradually fades while intimacy, commitment grow  Cultural differences  Passionate love early; companionate love later  Passion gradually fades while intimacy, commitment grow  Cultural differences

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Keeping Love Alive  Make time for relationship  Tell partner you love them  Be available when partner needs you  Communicate constructively about problems  Make time for relationship  Tell partner you love them  Be available when partner needs you  Communicate constructively about problems  Show interest in important aspects of partner’s life  Confide in partner  Forgive minor offenses  Try to understand major offenses

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Friendships in Early Adulthood  Friends usually similar age, sex, SES  Common interests, experiences, needs  Add to pleasure of friendship  Enhance self-esteem, make life more interesting  Trust, intimacy, loyalty continue important  Siblings often friends  Friends usually similar age, sex, SES  Common interests, experiences, needs  Add to pleasure of friendship  Enhance self-esteem, make life more interesting  Trust, intimacy, loyalty continue important  Siblings often friends

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Gender and Friendship Same-Sex Friendships  Gender differences  Women’s more intimate  Individual differences  Longer friendships more intimate  Single people more intimate with friends Same-Sex Friendships  Gender differences  Women’s more intimate  Individual differences  Longer friendships more intimate  Single people more intimate with friends Other-Sex Friendships  Fewer, shorter-lasting than same-sex  Educated, employed women have most  Benefits to both genders  Men: opportunity for expression  Women: new views  Sexual attraction must be considered

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Factors in Loneliness Age  Peaks in late teens, early 20s  Declines through 70s Circumstances  Separated, divorced, widowed  Immigrants to individualist from collectivist cultures Personal Characteristics  Socially anxious  Insecure models of attachment  Defeating behaviors, attitudes

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Loneliness and Emotional Distress at Different Ages

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Family Life Cycle  Early adulthood  Leaving home  Joining families in marriage  Parenthood  Middle adulthood  Launching children  Early adulthood  Leaving home  Joining families in marriage  Parenthood  Middle adulthood  Launching children  Late adulthood  Retirement  Death of spouse  Late adulthood  Retirement  Death of spouse

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Leaving Home  SES, ethnicity affect ability, interest in leaving  Family relationships can improve  SES, ethnicity affect ability, interest in leaving  Family relationships can improve  Average age decreasing  50% of 18- to 25-year-olds live with parent  Depart for education earlier, marriage later  Too early long-term disadvantage  Many return briefly  Average age decreasing  50% of 18- to 25-year-olds live with parent  Depart for education earlier, marriage later  Too early long-term disadvantage  Many return briefly

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Trends in Marriage  Marrying later  More cohabiting before marriage  Fewer marriages  Staying single, cohabiting, not remarrying  But North Americans still pro-marriage  Legalization of same-sex marriage in some places  More religious and ethnically mixed marriages  Marrying later  More cohabiting before marriage  Fewer marriages  Staying single, cohabiting, not remarrying  But North Americans still pro-marriage  Legalization of same-sex marriage in some places  More religious and ethnically mixed marriages

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Traditional and Egalitarian Marriages Traditional  Clear division of roles  Woman: cares for husband, children, home  Man: head of household, economic support Traditional  Clear division of roles  Woman: cares for husband, children, home  Man: head of household, economic support Egalitarian  Partners relate as equals  Share authority  Balance attention to jobs, children, home, spouse

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Gender and Housework

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Factors Related to Marital Satisfaction  Family backgrounds  Age at marriage  Length of courtship  Timing of first pregnancy  Relationship to extended family  Financial and employment status  Family responsibilities  Personality characteristics  Family backgrounds  Age at marriage  Length of courtship  Timing of first pregnancy  Relationship to extended family  Financial and employment status  Family responsibilities  Personality characteristics

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Partner Abuse  Men and women both become violent  Same-sex or other-sex partnerships  Women more likely to get seriously injured  Violence-remorse cycles common Factors include:  Personality  Developmental history  Family circumstances  Culture  Much treatment not very effective  Need whole-family approach, alcohol treatment, services for men  Men and women both become violent  Same-sex or other-sex partnerships  Women more likely to get seriously injured  Violence-remorse cycles common Factors include:  Personality  Developmental history  Family circumstances  Culture  Much treatment not very effective  Need whole-family approach, alcohol treatment, services for men

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Assaults Against Women by Intimate Partners

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Trends in Having Children  Fewer married couples have children - 70%  Mothers’ careers  Divorce  Have first child later  Smaller numbers of children  Average of 2 or fewer  Fewer married couples have children - 70%  Mothers’ careers  Divorce  Have first child later  Smaller numbers of children  Average of 2 or fewer

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Transition to Parenthood  Many profound changes  Roles often become more traditional  Roles get less traditional with second birth  Marriage can be strained  Problems before children predict problems after  Sharing care predicts happiness  Later parenthood eases transition  Couple’s groups, paid leave help, too  Many profound changes  Roles often become more traditional  Roles get less traditional with second birth  Marriage can be strained  Problems before children predict problems after  Sharing care predicts happiness  Later parenthood eases transition  Couple’s groups, paid leave help, too

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Relationship of Mothers’ Mental Ability to Family Size

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Parenting  With adolescents  Brings sharp changes  Challenges: negotiation of roles, dip in marital satisfaction  With adolescents  Brings sharp changes  Challenges: negotiation of roles, dip in marital satisfaction  Powerful source of adult development  With young children  Best parents work together as coparenting team  Challenges: few social supports; hard to find child care  Powerful source of adult development  With young children  Best parents work together as coparenting team  Challenges: few social supports; hard to find child care

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Parent Education  Parenting books  Doctors  Social networks  Especially mothers  Classes  Parenting books  Doctors  Social networks  Especially mothers  Classes

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Singlehood  Increasing  One-third of males, one-fourth of females  8-10% single for life  Increasing  One-third of males, one-fourth of females  8-10% single for life  Gender Differences  Women more likely to stay single  More high SES women, low SES men single after 30  Ethnic Differences  African Americans single longer  Stressful periods  Late 20s  Mid 30s for women  Gender Differences  Women more likely to stay single  More high SES women, low SES men single after 30  Ethnic Differences  African Americans single longer  Stressful periods  Late 20s  Mid 30s for women

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Cohabitation  Can be preparation for marriage  North Americans who cohabit before marriage more likely to divorce  Can be alternative to marriage  More accepted in Western Europe  Can be preparation for marriage  North Americans who cohabit before marriage more likely to divorce  Can be alternative to marriage  More accepted in Western Europe  Unmarried, sexually intimate, living together  Increasing  Unmarried, sexually intimate, living together  Increasing

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Increases in Cohabitation

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Divorce Rates  Stabilized since 1980s  45% U.S., 30% Canadian marriages  About 7% higher for remarriages soon after first marriage  Stabilized since 1980s  45% U.S., 30% Canadian marriages  About 7% higher for remarriages soon after first marriage  First seven years, midlife most common times  Young and adolescent children involved  First seven years, midlife most common times  Young and adolescent children involved

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Causes and Factors in Divorce  Background factors: age, religion, prior divorce, family background  SES  Gender roles, expectations  Background factors: age, religion, prior divorce, family background  SES  Gender roles, expectations  Ineffective problem solving  Separate lives  Major problems: Infidelity, money issues, substance abuse  Ineffective problem solving  Separate lives  Major problems: Infidelity, money issues, substance abuse

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Consequences of Divorce  Major change of life and self  Opportunities for positive and negative change  Major change of life and self  Opportunities for positive and negative change  Immediate consequences - generally subside in 2 years  Disrupted social networks, support  Increased anxiety, depression, impulsive behavior  Traditional women, noncustodial fathers may have more problems  New partner helps satisfaction  More important to men  Immediate consequences - generally subside in 2 years  Disrupted social networks, support  Increased anxiety, depression, impulsive behavior  Traditional women, noncustodial fathers may have more problems  New partner helps satisfaction  More important to men

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Remarriage After Divorce  Most within four years of divorce  Men sooner than women  Vulnerable to breakup  Reasons for marriage  Often too pragmatic  Carry over negative patterns  View divorce as acceptable resolution  Stepfamily stress  Takes 3-5 years to blend  Education, couples and family counseling can help  Most within four years of divorce  Men sooner than women  Vulnerable to breakup  Reasons for marriage  Often too pragmatic  Carry over negative patterns  View divorce as acceptable resolution  Stepfamily stress  Takes 3-5 years to blend  Education, couples and family counseling can help

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Options in Parenthood  Step Parenting  Single parents  Divorced  Never married  Gay and Lesbian Parents  Childlessness  Voluntary  Involuntary  Childlessness  Voluntary  Involuntary

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Career Development in Early Adulthood  Adjust expectations to opportunities to advance  Fewer opportunities, more work disengagement  Self-efficacy, mentoring affect adjustment, success  Adjust expectations to opportunities to advance  Fewer opportunities, more work disengagement  Self-efficacy, mentoring affect adjustment, success  Disappointment near start of career common  Many job changes in 20s  Most settle in after evaluation and adjustment  Disappointment near start of career common  Many job changes in 20s  Most settle in after evaluation and adjustment

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Challenges to Women’s Career Development  Discontinuous employment  Leave for child-rearing, family care  Hinders advancement  Concentration low-paying, low-advancement jobs  Contributes to salary gap  Discontinuous employment  Leave for child-rearing, family care  Hinders advancement  Concentration low-paying, low-advancement jobs  Contributes to salary gap  Low self-efficacy for male-dominated fields  Gender stereotyping  Few mentors  Low self-efficacy for male-dominated fields  Gender stereotyping  Few mentors

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hiring Bias

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Work-Family Balance  Dual-earner marriages dominant family form  Most also parents  Role overload common problem  Especially for women  Workplace supports can help  Time flexibility  Dual-earner marriages dominant family form  Most also parents  Role overload common problem  Especially for women  Workplace supports can help  Time flexibility