Unit 7 Young Adulthood

Unit 7 Project

Eco-Map Project Details

An eco-map is a graphic visual that illustrates the systems in a person’s life that influence their behavior.

There is a sample eco-map on page 623 of your text and also there is a more detailed description in the project tab for this unit.

Creating an Eco-Map

Create an eco-map for Luis.

Be sure to include all systems and influences that affect his behavior.

In addition to filling in the circles, be sure to add lines that signify the strength of the relationship between Luis and each system (see example on page 623)

A few tips:

I don’t care what shapes, colors, etc. you use. PLEASE make sure to include a key so that I know what everything means!

Remember, the only thing you write in each circle is the name of the person, place, or thing that affect Luis’ behavior. You will have the opportunity to explain those systems in your final project (Unit 9).

Young Adulthood (22-34 years old):

Theories of adulthood Transition involves

reaching maturity, leaving home, new responsibilities, and other major life changes

Erikson’s stage: Intimacy vs. Isolation

What does Erikson have to say about this stage of life?

Intimacy v. Isolation

Intimacy refers to the ability to share one’s true self (good and bad) Involves taking

risks, sharing things about yourself

Those who cannot effectively resolve the tasks of intimacy are often left to isolation

Developmental Tasks

Two critical developmental tasks: economic

independence & independent decision-making

How does the economy impact this stage?

A Few Questions…

Is young adulthood defined by age or by social and economic factors?

Young adults are getting married an average of 4 yrs later than 30 yrs ago (25 for women, 27-men)

Many young adults are living at home with parents

Have they entered adulthood or are they in an extended period of adolescence?

Emerging Adulthood (Arnett 2000, 2004):

A distinct stage of development that is neither adolescence nor young adulthood Characterized by a period

of transition into adult roles, but constitutes a distinct period of the life course that emphasizes change & exploration of possibilities

Those emerging into adulthood do not see themselves as adolescents or entirely as adults but as somewhere in between

Daniel Levinson’s Theory of Adult Development

Young adulthood (ages 17-33 years old

Focus on choices of love, occupation, friendship, values and lifestyle

Novice phase of development – primary task is to move into adult world and build stable life structure

Levinson’s eight stages of adult development

17-22: Leave adolescence; make preliminary choices for adult life

22-28: Initial choices in love, occupation, friendship, values, lifestyle

28-33: Change in life structure, either a moderate change or, more often, a severe & stressful crisis

33-40: Establish a niche in society; progress on a timetable, both in family & career accomplishments

Levinson Continued… 40-45: Life structure comes into question; usually a time of

crisis in the meaning, direction and value of each person’s life; neglected parts of the self (talents, desires, aspirations) seek expression

45-50: Choices must be made & new life structure formed; the person must commit to new tasks

50-55: Further questioning & modification of the life structure; men who did not have a crisis at age 40 are likely to have one now

55-60: Build a new life structure; can be a time of great fulfillment

Biophysical Strengths &

Hazards

Biophysical strengths Physical performance is

usually the strongest during early 20’s

Young adulthood is a good time for individuals to develop health-conscious behavior patterns

This stage is the best period for a woman to become pregnant

Biophysical hazards Poor men of color have worse

health, especially African American men (e.g., stress and smoking)

One of the strongest determinants of health is socioeconomic status (SES)

Cultural beliefs, such as masculinity, can impact on health

Cognitive Development

Adults are better able to harness formal operational thinking because of their reduced egocentrism. Adults approach problems more objectively.

Many people do not achieve the level of formal operational thinking. 15

Piaget: Formal Operational Thought

• What are the qualities of this stage of thought?

http://asiasociety.org/files/systems-thinking.png

Styles of Communication

True or false? Women have much

greater level of intimate communication with each other than men do

True or false? Studies have found that

most of the women and few of the men report lack of communication as a major reason for divorce

Communication…

True or false?

Men are socialized to see the social world as hierarchical, and thus approach conversations as negotiations for achieving the upper hand

True or false?

Women are socialized to see the social world as a community and to focus on their connections with other people, and thus approach conversations as negotiations for closeness and to reach consensus

Miscommunication Deborah Tannen believed that gender differences in communication are often the source of much frustration and anger between men and women.

Where do the miscommunications start and what do they result from?

Men and women often don’t understand each other.

Many people believe that men and women speak different languages – but they don’t!

It is mostly a matter of misunderstanding that emerge from HOW we learn to communicate throughout life.

Psychological Hazards Young adult years are one of the most difficult

periods in a person’s life. Their decisions have a great impact on their life’s trajectory

Growing and major responsibilities can create stress and problems

Many become frustrated when inadequately prepared for the life challenges they now face

Such frustrations & immense responsibilities often cause psychological problems, such as mental illness

Depression in Young Adulthood

Depression is a common psychological hazard among young people

A growing number of college students are suffering from depression – from 7% in 1992 to 18% in 2001 (Kluger, 2003)

Many students rely on medical solutions, such as antidepressants, which may hinder their ability to develop critical coping skills

Women experience high rates of depression – 70% of all reported cases

Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Many major mental illnesses

become evident in late adolescence and early adulthood

Schizophrenia is a prominent thought disorder that includes delusions, inappropriate affect, and disorganized speech

Heredity is major factor in developing disorder 45% chance for identical

twin or offspring of two persons with disorder; 15% for fraternal twin or offspring of one person with disorder; 10% for a sibling; 4% for nephew or niece

Schizophrenia

People who suffer from schizophrenia can be grouped into three broad categories Those treated successfully with a full recovery Those in partial recovery leading a reasonably normal life Those with little or no recovery having repeated

hospitalizations

Four factors that promise for recovery Sudden rather than gradual onset Onset that occurs at a later age Good social and work environment before onset Informal support system within the patient’s family

Social Dimension Marriage and the emergence of the “family” become one

of the most significant life changes in young adulthood. People are delaying marriage and are also cohabitating

longer rather than getting married. Stats on marital satisfaction (pg. 475) Gottman’s research: “…it isn’t the lack of compatibility

that predicts divorce but the way couples handle their inevitable incompatibilities, not whether they fight all the time or never fight at all but the way they resolve conflicts and the overall quality of their emotional interactions.”

Gottman’s “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” What about those who remain/end up single? What

issues or stigmas do they face?

23

Transition to Parenthood…or Not

What are some adaptations that a new parent needs to make?

Not everyone becomes a parent. Issues of infertility Voluntary

childlessness24

The transition to parenthood brings many new challenges and changes and the adaptation period can be difficult.

Multicultural Considerations

Native Americans

Many of their unique problems stem from a history of discrimination, broken treaties & prejudice.

Poor academic attainments (only 57% are high school graduates).

Extremely high unemployment rates.

Language problems have affected progress.

Stereotypes promoted by television and movies

African Americans Dialect differences have

challenged them.

The stereotype of the “violent black” is influencing their social progress.

Poor academic progress and lack of social progress.

Social conditions that are detrimental to self-improvement like discrimination, racism and lack of opportunities.

Asian Americans

Language problems have been a challenge.

The “model minority” stereotype.

With acculturation, family roles & expectations can conflict with the white American culture.

Value changes in family relationships can lead to a schism between younger and older generations.

Hispanic Americans Language problems are

critical because many Hispanics speak only Spanish.

Poor academic progress and lack of social progress.

Improvement in middle-paying &high-paying jobs.

Lack of appropriate skills for coping in the dominant white society & with discrimination &prejudice.