Emerging Adulthood:

Psychosocial

Demirchyan, LaylaIbrahim, AimanPapazian, ChristinaWharton, Amy

Personality Patterns

Personality endures lifelong Nature and nurture both play major roles

in the formation of a personality▪ Origins are genetic; early childhood

experiences shape the expression of genetic impulses

New personality dimensions are particularly likely to appear in emerging adulthood Personality is far from static after

childhood

Continuity and Change The personality patterns of adults of every age are affected

by the norms of their culture and by their social context Emerging adults today make choices that are adventuresome

breaks with their past Have not yet settled into a chosen family or lifestyle

▪ Therefore, not surprising that personalities may change Psychological research on personality traits of twins from

ages 17 to 24 finds both genetic continuity and developmental improvements

Longitudinal studies have shown that actual patterns of change are complex

Plasticity is evident Personality is not fixed in emerging adults but is rather open to

new experiences Major decisions—going to college, leaving home, becoming

independent, or stopping drug abuse—have the potential to change the life course Does not mean total change is possible

Mental Health and Illness Emerging adults usually feel quite pleased

with themselves Dealing with transitions successfully

correlates with well-being (Schulenberg et al., 2005)▪ The stresses of emerging adulthood might be thought

to reduce self-esteem, but research has evidenced otherwise

Allows young adults to be less self-centered and more caring of other people (N. Eisenberg et al., 2005; Padilla-Walker et al. 2008)

Taking on one responsibility makes it easier to take on another (Sneed et al., 2007)

Mental Health and Illness (cont’d)

Tibetan Personality Test

1. Put the following five animals in order by preference: cow, horse, tiger, sheep, and pig

2. Write one word that describes each of the following items: dog, cat, rat, coffee, and sea

3. Think of someone who you know, who also knows you, that is important to you which can relate to the following colors.  Do not use the same person twice: yellow, orange, red, white, and green

Your Answers…

1. This will define your priorities in life:     Cow signifies career     Tiger signifies pride     Sheep signifies love     Horse signifies family     Pig signifies money

2. Your description of :Dog implies your personality

     Cat implies your partner's personality     Rat implies the personality of your enemies     Coffee is how you interpret sex     Sea implies your own life

3. Yellow: someone you'll never forget Orange: someone you consider a true friend Red: someone you really love White: your twin soul Green: someone you will remember for the rest of your life

Psychopathology

Most emerging adults benefit from independence Some become overwhelmed by the many obstacles they face

From ages 18 to 25, “young people are coming to grips with their lives” (Galambos et al., 2006, p. 360) Average well-being increases, but so does the incidence of

psychopathology, or mental disorders Adults are more likely to have an episode of mental illness

during emerging adulthood than during any later time Researchers agree that the late teens and early 20s are a

sensitive period Diathesis-stress model is the view that psychological

disorders, such as schizophrenia, are produced by the interaction of a genetic vulnerability (the diathesis) and stressful environmental factors and life events

Some of the actions of emerging adults disrupt healthy emotions For instance, substance use disorder, or drug abuse

Specific Mental Disorders Each particular psychopathology has a developmental trajectory

Substance use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia are more likely to appear in emerging adulthood

Mood disorders About one-quarter of mood disorders begin in adolescence, and another quarter being in young

adulthood Before age 30, 15% of U.S. residents suffer from a mood disorder such as major depression

▪ Origins of major depression are biochemical, involving imbalances in neurotransmitters and hormones, but stresses can be triggers

Anxiety disorders Occur in about one-fourth of all emerging adults in the United States

▪ Include PTSD, OCD, panic attacks, and eating disorders Influenced by age, cultural context, and economic pressure

▪ A new anxiety disorder in Japan called hikikomori, or “pull away,” may affect more than 100,000 young adults▪ A person with hikikomori is intensely anxious about the social and academic pressures of life

Pressures to succeed in all aspects can overwhelm young adults Schizophrenia

About 1% of all adults experience at least one episode of schizophrenia Partly genetic

▪ A child who has a biological parent with schizophrenia has about 1 chance in 8 of developing the disorder Other factors beyond heredity increase the rate, including anoxia at birth, malnutrition while the brain is

developing, and social pressure Developmentalists find an interest in the relationship among age, gender, and schizophrenia

▪ Almost never does a first episode occur before age 10 or after age 25▪ Diagnosis is most common from ages 18 to 24▪ Young males are particularly vulnerable

▪ Something in the bodies, minds, or social surroundings of young men are factors in the onset of schizophrenia

Identity and Intimacy

Identity Achieved…The search for identity begins at

puberty and continues on through emerging adulthood Erickson believed that, at each stage,

the outcome of earlier crises provides the foundation of each new era▪ Childhood experiences affects adult

development

Identity and Intimacy (cont’d)

Ethnic Identity In the U.S. and Canada, about half of the 18- to 25-year-

olds are either children of immigrants or are native-born adults

Ethnicity is a significant aspect of identity Emerging adults have friends with more diverse

backgrounds than any other age group It is particularly difficult for immigrants to forge an identity Ethnic identity may affect choices in language, manners,

romance, employment, neighborhood, religion, clothing, and values

Ethnic identity is always complex: It is reciprocal, both a personal choice and a response to others It depends on context, so it changes with time and

circumstances It is multifaceted: Emerging adults choose to accept some

attributes and reject others Changing contexts of life require ethnic identity to be

reestablished at each phase In addition, combining past and future is a complex but crucial task

Vocational Identity Establishing a vocational identity is widely

considered part of adulthood A correlation between college education and

income has always been apparent Correlation is not perfect (1% of those in the top one-fifth

income bracket are not high school graduates), but it is high

Majority of emerging adults are employed while they are in college Whether in college or not, most young adults move from

job to job▪ Between ages 18 and 27, the average U.S. worker has eight

jobs (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006) Hiring and firing seem disconnected from the

worker’s training or need for a steady job, especially for younger workers

Vocational Identity (cont’d)

Intimacy

Erickson forcefully noted the reality that people need each other Erickson’s sixth psychosocial stage, intimacy

versus isolation, particularly emphasizes that humans are social creatures

All intimate relationships are common in many ways Intimacy progresses from attraction to close

connection to ongoing commitment Erickson noted that each relationship demands

some personal sacrifice People need “concrete affiliations and

partnerships”

Friendships Friends are chosen for the very qualities that make

them good companions:▪ Trustworthy, reliable, understanding, loyal, affectionate,

humorous They defend against stress and provide joy

Traditionally, young men and women choose to be friends with their own sex and engage in sex-specific activities with them Males: shared activities▪ Sports, cars, contests

Females: intimate, emotional activities▪ Self-disclosing talks about health, romances, and relatives

Today’s common contexts of emerging adulthood all foster multiple acquaintances and friends of both sexes

RomanceThe Dimensions of Love… Robert Sternberg described 3 distinct aspects of love:

Passion, intimacy, and commitment Passion is the connection between a couple; it’s the dominant

aspect of love for young adults Characterized by excitement, ecstasy, and euphoria

▪ The entire body and mind, hormones, and neurons are activated

Intimacy is established when couples know each other well enough to share secrets, as well as sex

Commitment is the one that takes time Occurs through decisions, caregiving, shared possessions and secrets

Passion may fade, intimacy may grow, and commitment may develop This pattern may occur for all types of couples

Contemporary Lovers… People who marry young are likely to get divorced because they

rush and do not develop the three dimensions of love Establishing a non-sexual relationship that later leads to one is

proven to be more successful than otherwise College students engage in what they call "hookups," purely sexual activity with

no relationship

Romance (cont’d)

Romance (cont’d)

Cohabitation… Cohabit means to live with an unrelated

person—typically a romantic partner—to whom one is not married May share expenses and routines as well as a

bed but not a belief in long-term commitments Domestic violence and excessive drinking are

more likely to occur among young adults who cohabit than among those who marry Married couples are more likely to divorce if

they have lived together before marriage▪ Divorce is common (ending 45% of U.S. marriages) and

difficult

Family ConnectionsFamilies are “our most important individual support system.”

All members of each family have linked lives The experiences and needs of family members at one stage of

life are affected by those of members at other stages Parents continue to be crucial influences after age 18

Fewer emerging adults today have established their own families, secured successful jobs, or achieved a definite understanding of their identity and goals

In many aspects, parents of emerging adults are relatively well off Financially stable

▪ Lack thereof in some cases is a problem for emerging adults affected by it▪ College is costly; living expenses are not cheap

Worldwide, college graduation rates decrease as family income falls

Health wise, most can expect to live for decades longer ▪ Reasoning as to why they want their adult children to be successful

Family Connections (cont’d) Most emerging adults, like humans of all

ages, have strengths as well as liabilities Many survive risks, overcome substance abuse,

combat loneliness, and deal with many of the challenges of life

Most find liberation in postponing major life decisions—marriage, parenting, career success—until their identity is firmly established Then they are ready for the commitment and

responsibility of adulthood…