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Chapter 10:Constructing an Adult Life
Emerging into Adulthood
O Emerging adulthood – defined by testing out different possibilities and developing self
O Not a universal life stage; only exists for a minority of young people
O Begins after high school and tapers off by late twenties
O .
Emerging Adulthood: challenges and changes
This stage of life is typically considered themost challenging and change-inducing
stage of life based on:
O The need to re-center life roles – focusing on responsibility, supporting self, and making independent decisions about life
O The change to an unstructured path (e.g., college, independent living, work world, as opposed to the previously highly structured environment of adolescence)
United States: Independence vs.
DependenceO There are similarities with U.S. young people as in Scandinavian countries and southern European scenes. Cohabitation Children before marriageLeaving home after high school (age 18)O In the United States, one exception to these
similarities occurs–there is less focus on helping young people emerge into the world of work.
O This exception causes a less smooth, predicable transition to adulthood.
O Income inequalities and diversity of cultures have affected the financial independence of this group.
Beginning and End Points
O Entry point – nest leavingO Does leaving home produce better parent−child
relationships?O Research says yes. Relationship improves due to adult-
to-adult conversations, etc.
O Does leaving home make people more adult?O Research says yes. However, the expected
independence does not necessarily develop. Tends to be a Western society tradition. May be impacted by economic issues and culture.
Constructing an Identity – Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage
Identity versus Role ConfusionJames Marcia − Identity Statuses Diffusion young people drifting aimlessly toward adulthood
without goals. This compares to Erikson’s role confusion. Foreclosure young people who adopt an identity without
any self-exploration or thought. Moratorium young people who engage in exciting, healthy
search for adulthood. This is often an internal process that can be anxiety-provoking due to the exploration of different philosophies and ideas.
Achievement the end result where identity formation is complete.
Other tasksO Find a career- One key to predicting a successful transition to a
career is the teen’s interest in work (being productive) vs. those only interested in playing (avoiding work).
O Personality Growth- Conscientiousness – a term developmentalists used to describe the maturing of the frontal lobe, which helps develop self-control
O Developing interests/flows- feeling of being totally absorbed in an activity.
O Going to College or not going to College- different statistical outcomes
Erikson's Psychosocial Stage
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Intimacy – the search for a soul mate or enduring love; finding love
How?
Mate Selection Theory
Attachment Styles (Secure, Insecure)
Values & Expectations (next chapter)
Murstein’s Structured Three-Phase Mate Selection Theory
O Stimulus-Value-Role Theory1) Stimulus Phase
O We approach people who visually appear to fit us: “I think this person looks like we might mesh.”
2) Value Comparison PhaseO Then as we date, we try to figure out whether we
match up according to values. 3) Role Phase
O Now we have decided that this is the one, and discuss our plans for our shared life.
O Matches are made based on Homogany (similarity).
O Choices are often based on “ideal-self”–the person we want to be.
O Relationships with family can also have an impact on mate choices.
The Impact of Personality: Adult Attachment Styles
Based on Ainsworth’s infant attachment styles, Hazan and Shaver (1987) examined adult attachment styles.
O Preoccupied/ambivalent (insecure)
O Clingy; needy; over-engulfing
O Avoidant/dismissive (insecure)
O Withholding; aloof; distant O Securely attached
O Joyfully able to reach out in loveO Responsive to a mate’s signalsO More likely to have happy marriages or be
involved in enduring relationships
