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Young Adulthood

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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

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Maturity: the state of maximal function and integrating or the state of being fully developed.

Mature persons are open to new experiences and continued growth

They can tolerate ambiguity, are flexible, and can adapt to change

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Mature persons also assume responsibility for themselves, make decisions and accept responsibility for these decisions

This is a period of explorationTrying out new possibilities for a career. It is a period of escaping from parental

domination (Psychological separation from parents)

Substituting friends for family

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Friendship is important throughout the life span

Friendship is a form of close relationship providing people with Enjoyment Acceptance Trust, respect, and mutual assistance Confidences shared and a sense of

understanding

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Young adults are typically busy people

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.

Deciding whether or not to have children

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Establishing adult relationships with parents

Acquiring marketable skillsChoosing a careerUsing money to further developmentAssuming a social roleAdopting ethical and spiritual values

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Physical development: Twenties

The prime years physicallyThe musculoskeletal system is well

developed and coordinatedThis is the period when athletic

activities reach their peak All other systems of the body are

also functioning at peak efficiency

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Body shape and proportions finally reach their finished state (physical changes are minimal), with the exception of: weight and body mass as they may

change as a result of diet and exercise Extensive physical and psychosocial

changes occur in pregnant and lactating women

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Muscles continue to gain strength throughout the twenties and reach peak strength at age thirty depending on exercise and genetic

Men have larger muscles that can produce more force than the muscle tissue of women.

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Dental maturity is finally achieved in the twenties with the emergence of the last four molars called wisdom teeth

The reproductive systems are fully mature: best time for reproducing children

Brain cell development reaches its peak

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Physical development: Thirties

Physically adults begin to gradually slow down in their thirties

Muscle size and strength can be maintained with regular exercise. Without it muscles begin a progressive decline

Skin begins to lose its resilience and elasticity. Both women and men begin to notice wrinkles in their thirties.

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Hair may grow more slowly, be lost or occasionally lose its pigmentation (grey hair)

Genetic predisposition toward baldness or early greying

Gradual shrinking of the brain cells after about age thirty (not a cause of great concern)

While visual acuity remains stable through middle age, hearing begins to decline in the late 20s.

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Erik Erikson: psychosocial development

Establishing Intimacy Erikson’s stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation

is the psychosocial challenge of young adulthood.

Choices must be made about education and employment, marriage and having children

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Intimacy should occur after one is well into establishing a stable and successful identity Failure to achieve intimacy results in social

isolation Intimacy’s most important aspect is

commitment Research shows that some women resolve

intimacy issues after their children have grown and moved away.

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What motivates one to be attracted to another? People actively seek out others to associate with

Familiarity is necessary for a close relationship People seek others who are similar to themselves but

opposites do attract in certain instances

Physical attractiveness may not be the primary factor in establishing and maintaining a relationship

Standards of what is attractive are always changing over time and across cultures

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Cognitive Development

Cognitive structures are complete during formal operation period

Piaget: adolescents and adults think qualitatively in the same way – formal operational thought

Others believe idealism decreases as young adults enter world of work and face constraints of reality

Other researchers have found differences in how adolescents and adults process information.

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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

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Postformal operations

Part of postformal thinking is the recognition that individuals’ experiences differ and will therefore result in different ways of thinking about things.

In postformal thinking there is a recognition of the importance of emotion integrated with logic in decision-making.

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Health problems

Accidents: leading cause of death Suicide Hypertension Smoking

Smoking is the leading contributor to health problems.

Nicotine is a known potent teratogen. Quitting smoking is usually beneficial,

regardless of how or when it happens.

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Health problems

Substance abuseSexually transmitted diseaseAbuse of womenMalignanciesInfertility