1 Young Adulthood

2  The adult phase of development encompasses the years from the end of adolescence to death:  Young adulthood 20 – 40  Middle adulthood 40 – 65  Late adulthood over 65

3 z Maturity: the state of maximal function and integrating or the state of being fully developed. z Mature persons are open to new experiences and continued growth z They can tolerate ambiguity, are flexible, and can adapt to change

4 z Mature persons also assume responsibility for themselves, make decisions and accept responsibility for these decisions z This is a period of exploration z Trying out new possibilities for a career. z It is a period of escaping from parental domination (Psychological separation from parents) z Substituting friends for family

5 z Friendship is important throughout the life span z Friendship is a form of close relationship providing people with yEnjoyment yAcceptance yTrust, respect, and mutual assistance yConfidences shared and a sense of understanding

6 z Young adults are typically busy people z They are expected to assume new roles at work, in the home and in the community and to develop interests, values and attitudes related to these roles. z Deciding whether or not to have children

7 z Establishing adult relationships with parents z Acquiring marketable skills z Choosing a career z Using money to further development z Assuming a social role z Adopting ethical and spiritual values

8 Physical development: Twenties z The prime years physically z The musculoskeletal system is well developed and coordinated z This is the period when athletic activities reach their peak z All other systems of the body are also functioning at peak efficiency

9 z Body shape and proportions finally reach their finished state (physical changes are minimal), with the exception of: yweight and body mass as they may change as a result of diet and exercise yExtensive physical and psychosocial changes occur in pregnant and lactating women

10 z Muscles continue to gain strength throughout the twenties and reach peak strength at age thirty depending on exercise and genetic z Men have larger muscles that can produce more force than the muscle tissue of women.

11 z Dental maturity is finally achieved in the twenties with the emergence of the last four molars called wisdom teeth z The reproductive systems are fully mature: best time for reproducing children z Brain cell development reaches its peak

12 Physical development: Thirties z Physically adults begin to gradually slow down in their thirties z Muscle size and strength can be maintained with regular exercise. Without it muscles begin a progressive decline z Skin begins to lose its resilience and elasticity. Both women and men begin to notice wrinkles in their thirties.

13 z Hair may grow more slowly, be lost or occasionally lose its pigmentation (grey hair) z Genetic predisposition toward baldness or early greying z Gradual shrinking of the brain cells after about age thirty (not a cause of great concern) z While visual acuity remains stable through middle age, hearing begins to decline in the late 20s.

14 Erik Erikson: psychosocial development z Establishing Intimacy yErikson’s stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation is the psychosocial challenge of young adulthood. yChoices must be made about education and employment, marriage and having children

15 z Intimacy should occur after one is well into establishing a stable and successful identity yFailure to achieve intimacy results in social isolation yIntimacy’s most important aspect is commitment yResearch shows that some women resolve intimacy issues after their children have grown and moved away.

16 z What motivates one to be attracted to another? z People actively seek out others to associate with yFamiliarity is necessary for a close relationship yPeople seek others who are similar to themselves but opposites do attract in certain instances z Physical attractiveness may not be the primary factor in establishing and maintaining a relationship z Standards of what is attractive are always changing over time and across cultures

17 Cognitive Development z Cognitive structures are complete during formal operation period z Piaget: adolescents and adults think qualitatively in the same way – formal operational thought z Others believe idealism decreases as young adults enter world of work and face constraints of reality z Other researchers have found differences in how adolescents and adults process information.

18 z Researchers have suggested a fifth higher stage of cognitive development that may follow formal operations, Post-formal operations: they are able to comprehend the contradictions (love & hate) that exist in both personal and physical reality

19 Postformal operations yPart of postformal thinking is the recognition that individuals’ experiences differ and will therefore result in different ways of thinking about things. yIn postformal thinking there is a recognition of the importance of emotion integrated with logic in decision-making.

20 Health problems z Accidents: leading cause of death z Suicide z Hypertension z Smoking ySmoking is the leading contributor to health problems. yNicotine is a known potent teratogen. yQuitting smoking is usually beneficial, regardless of how or when it happens.

21 Health problems z Substance abuse z Sexually transmitted disease z Abuse of women z Malignancies z Infertility