1. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
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2. I. THEORIES OF SOCIAL & PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
I. THEORIES OF SOCIAL & PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
In early adulthood individuals take on a series of roles that involve new relationships with other people
The timing and content of the various adult roles obviously differ from one culture to another, from one cohort to another, and even from one individual to another
Adults’ social connections become far more complex between the ages of 20 and 40—through marriage, divorce, parenthood, and career development
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3. A. Erikson’s Stages of Intimacy versus Isolation
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
A. Erikson’s Stages of Intimacy versus Isolation
Intimacy versus isolation: Erikson’s early adulthood stage, in which an individual must find a life partner or supportive friends in order to avoid social isolation
Intimacy: the capacity to engage in a supportive, affectionate relationship without losing one’s own sense of self
Successful resolution of the intimacy versus isolation stage depends on a good resolution of the identity versus role confusion crisis encountered in adolescence
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4. B. Levinson’s Life Structure
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
B. Levinson’s Life Structure
Life structure: a key concept in Levinson’s theory: the underlying pattern or design of a person’s life at a given time, which includes roles, relationships, and behaviour patterns
Adults cycle through periods of stability and instability
An adult passes through three phases when a new life structure is required: novice phase, mid-era phase and the culmination phase
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5. Levinson’s Model of Adult Development
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Levinson’s Model of Adult Development
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6. CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
C. Emerging Adulthood
A growing number of developmentalists view the period between ages 17 and 22 as a transitional one
Emerging adulthood is the period from the late teens to early 20s when individuals explore options prior to committing to adult roles
Neuroimaging studies have provided some support for the notion that emerging adulthood is a unique period of life
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7. II. INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
II. INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS
Intimate relationships form the secure base from which most young adults move out into the adult world
Marriages in Canada are quickly starting to mirror our sociodemographic diversity
In addition to the legalization of same-sex marriages, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in mixed unions among those with differing sociodemographic and cultural characteristics
Internet relationships have added a whole new dimension to courtship and dating
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8. A. Theories of Mate Selection
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
A. Theories of Mate Selection
Evolutionary theories often cite research on sex differences in mate preferences and mating behaviour to support their views
Men prefer physically attractive, younger women
Women look for men with higher socioeconomic status, offering earning potential and stability
Parental investment theory says that sex differences in mate preferences and mating behaviour are based on the different amounts of time and effort men and women must invest in child-rearing
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9. CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
B. Social Role Theory
Social Role Theory: the idea that sex differences in mate preferences and mating behaviour are adaptations to gender roles
Both men’s and women’s mate preferences change as women gain economic power; women’s emphasis on potential mates’ earning power declines, and men’s focus on potential mates’ domestic skills decreases
People are drawn to those who are of a similar age, education, social class, ethnic group membership, religion, attitudes, interests, and temperament
Assortative mating (homogamy): sociologist’s term for the tendency to mate with someone who has traits similar to one’s own
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10. C. Psychological Aspects of Marriage
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
C. Psychological Aspects of Marriage
In predicting the quality of relationships as well as who mates with whom, several psychological factors seem to be of importance
Attachment
Love
Conflict management
Relationship Quality
A large majority of adults believe that intimacy issues are more important than material aspects
Each partner brings skills, resources & traits
Personality is especially important
Attitudes toward marriage affect marital stability
(continued)
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11. Psychological Aspects of Marriage (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Psychological Aspects of Marriage (continued)
The Role of Attachment
Adults create internal models of attachment to a prospective spouse that are similar to their attachment to their parents
New couples must let go of families of origin in favour of their new family
The Role of Love
Sternberg suggests 3 key components of love:
Intimacy, Passion, Commitment
When these components combine in all possible ways, the result is 7 sub-varieties of love
Intimacy, which includes feelings that promote closeness and connectedness
Passion, which includes a feeling of intense longing for union with the other person, including sexual union
Commitment to a particular other, often over a long period of time
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12. Sternberg’s Theory of Love
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Sternberg’s Theory of Love
Sternberg’s theory suggests that the characteristics of the emotional bond that holds a couple together influence the unique pattern of interaction that develops in each intimate relationship.
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13. Psychological Aspects of Marriage (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Psychological Aspects of Marriage (continued)
Conflict Management
How a couple manages conflict is a predictor of relationship quality
Couples with stable, or enduring marriages may be
Validating
Volatile
Avoidant
Couples with unsuccessful marriages may be
Hostile/engaged
Hostile/detached
Most often, couples become unhappy because they are negative
Successful marriages are like secure attachments
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14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
D. Divorce
Longitudinal studies show that 38% of marriages in Canada will end in divorce within 30 years of marriage
Men divorce at the average age of 43.1 years and women at the age of 40.5
The divorce rate generally peaks during the fifth year of marriage
The average marriage lasts 14.2 years
(continued)
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15. Divorce (continued) Psychological Effects:
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Divorce (continued)
Psychological Effects:
Divorce is associated with increases in mental health problems, especially depression
Compared to those who stay married
Men are 3 times more likely to become depressed following marital breakdown
Women are 2½ times more likely to become depressed following marital breakdown
(continued)
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16. Divorce (continued) Economic Effects:
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Divorce (continued)
Economic Effects:
Most men commonly leave a marriage with far greater earning power than women
They are more likely to have had continuous work histories
Women usually retain custody of the children
Divorced men generally increase their economic positions to above average
Divorced women are strongly adversely affected, with an average decline in income to below average
For many women, the financial effect never disappears, unless they were above-average earners before divorce
(continued)
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17. Divorce (continued) Effects on Life Pathways:
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Divorce (continued)
Effects on Life Pathways:
It may lengthen the total number of years of child rearing
If the individual remarries, there may be a reduction in the number of years that the remarried couple has between the departure of the last child and the time when their elderly parents may need economic or physical assistance
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18. E. Cohabiting Heterosexual Couples
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
E. Cohabiting Heterosexual Couples
Many young people want to be sure the person they marry is someone they want to be with for the rest of their lives
Studies in Canada, the U.S., and several European countries show that those who cohabit before marriage are less satisfied with their subsequent marriages
The divorce rate for those who cohabit before marriage is double that of couples who did not cohabit
Cohabiting leads to development of a life structure for cohabiting, not for marriage
Adults who choose to cohabit before marriage are different, in key ways, from those who do not
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19. F. Gay and Lesbian Couples
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
F. Gay and Lesbian Couples
One in five same-sex couples is married while the majority are in common-law relationships
Attachment security is just as important in same-sex unions as in heterosexual ones
Gay and lesbian partners are often more dependent on each other for social support
Homosexual couples seem to be more egalitarian than heterosexual couples
Monogamy is important to gay male couples but is considered to be negotiable by most
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20. CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
G. Singlehood
Mature singles who do not intend to marry do not value being part of a couple or a family as highly as singles who expect to marry
Continual singlehood has benefits over singlehood that follows a divorce or the death of a spouse
Many singles still have intimate relationships
Once singles have determined that they expect to stay single, this self-affirmation may help protect singles from some of the negative aspects of singlehood
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21. Development in the Real World: Internet Relationships
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Development in the Real World: Internet Relationships
The appeal of Internet dating seems to be its capacity to allow individuals to bypass conventional relationship "filters"—physical attractiveness, socioeconomic status, and age
Some research says that interpersonal communication on the internet is viewed as more pleasurable than in-person communication
Drawbacks to Internet dating:
Internet relationships may retard the development of social skills in young people
The possibility of being deceived exists with Internet dating
Extramarital affairs can begin or are carried out exclusively on the Internet; most people believe this is still infidelity
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22. III. PARENTHOOD & OTHER RELATIONSHIPS
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
III. PARENTHOOD & OTHER RELATIONSHIPS
The second major new role typically acquired in early adulthood is that of parent
The transition into this new role brings with it unique stresses and, to make matters more complicated, it usually happens when most other social relationships are in transition as well
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23. A. Parenthood The Desire to Become a Parent
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
A. Parenthood
The Desire to Become a Parent
The great majority of young adult women and men expect to have a child
92% of parents believe parenting is the most important thing they could do
More men than women see parenting as positive
Postpartum depression: a severe mood disturbance resulting in feelings of sadness lasting a few weeks, or rarely, for a year or more
(continued)
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24. Parenthood (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Parenthood (continued)
The Transition Experience
New parents may argue about child-rearing philosophy as well as how, when, where, and by whom child-care chores should be done
Parents are usually also physically exhausted, perhaps even seriously sleep-deprived, because their newborn keeps them up for much of the night
Some cultures have ritualized rites of passage that help the new parents cope
Postpartum depression: a severe mood disturbance resulting in feelings of sadness lasting a few weeks, or rarely, for a year or more
(continued)
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25. Parenthood (continued)
Postpartum Depression
Between 10% and 25% of new mothers experience a severe mood disturbance called postpartum depression (PPD)
The greatest predictor of PPD is depression during pregnancy, but hormones also play a role
(continued)

26. Parenthood (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Parenthood (continued)
Developmental Impact of Parenthood
Positive behaviour change, such as decreased risky behaviours, often accompany parenthood
The general pattern is that marital satisfaction is at its peak before the birth of the first child, after which it drops and remains at a lower level until the last child leaves home
Achieving a balance between work and family is an important but elusive goal that affects satisfaction
Pre-existing positive conflict-resolution strategies and having both parents in the home are predictors for less dissatisfaction after the child is born
Refer to Figure 14.4 (next slide) Page 410
(continued)
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27. Marital Satisfaction over the Family Cycle
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Marital Satisfaction over the Family Cycle
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28. Parenthood (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Parenthood (continued)
Life Without Children
Marital satisfaction fluctuates less over time for childless couples
Childless couples report higher cohesion than do couples with children
Women without children are much more likely to have full-time continuous careers
Motherhood earnings gap: a measure showing how much the earnings of women with children are below those of women without children
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29. B. Social Networks Family Friends
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
B. Social Networks
Family
Parents remain significant parts of the young adult's life
Relationships are strongly influenced by proximity
Family connectedness over time has strong cultural influences
Friends
Friends are chosen from among those we see as like ourselves in education, social class, interests, family background, or family life cycle stage
(continued)
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30. Social Networks (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Social Networks (continued)
Sex Differences in Relationship Styles
Women have more close friends, and their friendships are more intimate, with more self-disclosure and more exchange of emotional support (female friends talk to one another)
Male friends are less likely to agree with each other or to ask for or provide emotional support to one another (male friends do things together)
Kin-keeper: a family role, usually occupied by a woman, which includes responsibility for maintaining family and friendship relationships
Women have a larger relationship role than men do
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31. CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
IV. THE ROLE OF WORKER
Most young people need to take on this role to support themselves economically
Satisfying work also seems to be an important ingredient in mental health and life satisfaction, for both men and women
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32. A. Choosing an Occupation
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
A. Choosing an Occupation
Family Influences
Young people tend to choose occupations at the same general social class level as those of their parents—although this is less true today than it was in decades past
Families also influence job choices through their value systems
Parental moral beliefs influence young adults’ willingness to enter various occupations
(continued)
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33. Choosing an Occupation (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Choosing an Occupation (continued)
Gender
More women than men are now enrolled in all the major fields of study except for architecture/engineering, mathematics/computer sciences, and personal/protective/transportation services
In 2007, women’s median full-time wages were roughly 75% of men’s
Non-stereotypical job choices are much more common among young people who see themselves as androgynous, or whose parents have unconventional occupations
Personality
People whose personalities match their jobs are also more likely to be satisfied with their work
Refer to Figure 14.5 (next slide) page 414 AND Table 14.1 (slide 34) page 415
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34. Women in the Canadian Workforce
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Women in the Canadian Workforce
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35. Holland’s Personality Types and Work Preference
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Holland’s Personality Types and Work Preference
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36. CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
B. Career Development
Career development: the process of adapting to the workplace, managing career transitions, and pursuing goals through employment
Super’s Stages of Career Development:
Growth stage (birth to 14 years of age)
Exploratory stage (roughly from 15 to 24)
Establishment stage (roughly from 25 to 45)
Maintenance stage (45 to retirement)
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37. Career Development (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Career Development (continued)
Job satisfaction
Is at its lowest in early adulthood and rises steadily until retirement
Individual personality traits affect job satisfaction
Young adults in careers for which they prepared in high school, college or university are more satisfied
(continued)
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38. C. Gender Differences in Work Patterns
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
C. Gender Differences in Work Patterns
It takes the average Canadian youth ~seven years to make the transition from school to full time work
The transitional delay means that young men are economically worse-off in comparison to men of previous generations
Young women, especially those who have continued to advance their education, are better-off than young women of earlier generations
From a heterosexual couple’s standpoint, the woman’s greater financial contribution compensates for the man’s losses as most couples form a two-worker family
Overall, it is advantageous to delay the transition into work, provided that one pursues an advanced education and puts off starting a family
(continued)
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39. Gender Differences in Work Patterns (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Gender Differences in Work Patterns (continued)
The great majority of women move in and out of the work force at least once, often many times
Women who work continuously have higher salaries and achieve higher levels in their jobs than do those who move in and out of employment
Short bursts of work, or part time work, allow women to do better economically in the long run
Women continue to have a conflict between work and childrearing
(continued)
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40. Gender Differences in Work Patterns (continued)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Gender Differences in Work Patterns (continued)
While women continue to do the majority of in-house work, Canadian men are gradually doing more
Young Canadian adults aged 25 to 44 experience the most time pressure of all age groups
Working women have more power in their marriages or partnerships than non-working women do
Women feel more role conflict between family and work roles than men do
Refer to: Development in the Real World: Strategies For Coping With Conflict Between Work And Family Life (Page 419)
Refer to Figure 14.6 (next slide) Page 418
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41. Sex Differences in Work Patterns
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
Sex Differences in Work Patterns
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