Chapter 12: Young Adulthood - Physical and Cognitive Development

Gould's Transformations in Early Adulthood Ages 22 to 28

"Doing things my parents' way will bring results; if I fail only own, they will rescue me" Young adults become less self-centered and more disciplined and accept full responsibility for their lives

Gould's Transformations in Early Adulthood Ages 16 to 22

"I'll always belong to my parents and believe in their world" Young adults must construct their own identity that parents cannot control

Gould's Transformations in Early Adulthood Ages 28 to 34

"Life is simple and controllable, and there are no major contradictions I must face." Young adults begin to recognize repressed and unfulfilled needs because they have developed a sense of their own limitations, yet remain confident of their abilities

Tasks of middle adulthood

- Achieving adult civic and social responsibility - Establishing and maintaining an economic standard of living - Developing adult leisure-time activities - Assisting teenage children to become responsible and happy adults - Relating to one's spouse as a person - Accepting and adjusting to the physiological changes of middle age - Adjusting to aging parents

Tasks of older adulthood

- Adjusting to decreasing physical strength and health - Adjusting to retirement and reduced income - Adjusting to death of a spouse - Establishing an explicit adulation with one's age group - Meeting social and civic obligations - Establishing satisfactory physical living arrangements

Tasks of early adulthood

- Selecting a mate - Learning to live with a marriage partner - Starting a family - Rearing children - Managing a home - Getting started in an occupation - Taking on civic responsibility - Finding a congenial social group

Suggest three limitations of normative theories

1. They overemphasize life crises 2. They ignore the significance of individual uniqueness and idiosyncratic events 3. They undervalue the impact or multiple contexts, or 4. They overemphasize the experiences and values of a particular cohort group.

According to Piaget, individuals achieve the highest level of cognitive development beginning at about age ____

12

Herpes

A group of viruses that include herpes simplex virus, types 1 and 2, and affects about 1 out of 6 U.S adolescents and adults (1 in 4 women; 1 in 9 men). Although there is no cure for herpes, there are treatments that can limit the severity of outbreaks. Infections usually occurs through contact with sores or outbreaks on the skin, so abstinence or use of condoms is recommended, especially during outbreaks.

The law that protects the right of people with disabilities is referred to as the ____

Americas with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Syphilis

Can cause severe health problems, including sterility and even death if left untreated. Pregnant women with untreated syphilis can infect their developing fetus. Affects about 36,000 new people in the United States each year. Rates among men have increased to nearly two thirds of case reported for men who have sex with men. Symptoms often are silent for year, even though complications are developing.

Gonorrhea

Can cause starlet and other chronic problems if left untreated or if treated at an advanced stage. Over 700,000 new people are infected with gonorrhea each year, and infection rates appear to be riding. Symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating and sometimes a discharge; these often are mild or absent, especially in women.

Selected Theorists' Views of the Major Tasks of Early Adulthood Gould

Casting off erroneous assumptions about dependency, developing competence, acknowledging personal limitations, and accepting responsibility for one's own life.

Chlamydia

Causes urinary tract infections in men, also responsible for testicular infection. In women, chlamydia can cause inflammation of the cervix and fallopian tubes. Although the infection is earlier treating antibiotics, failure to treat it may result in permanent damage, including infertility. Approximately 1.3 million new cases of chlamydia occur ear year, and infection rates appear to be rising. Many cases of undetected and/or untreated, as symptoms are often mild or absent

Managing emotions

Controlling emotional responses, such as anger Example: Although Bob is angry with his boss's suggestion, he responds politely and appropriately

Selected Theorists' Views of the Major Tasks of Early Adulthood Levinson

Developing an early life structure, which includes establishing a career and an intimate relationship with a special partner

Establishing intimacy

Discovering one's own strength and vulnerabilities and finding a special person with whom one can be emotionally intimate

Selected Theorists' Views of the Major Tasks of Early Adulthood Erikson

Establishing a meaningful and deep personal relationship that involves intimacy while continuing to develop a secure personal identity.

Defining a dream

Establishing an ideal goal for what one hopes to accomplish in adulthood Men: a unified vision of their future Women: "Split" dreams that involve a sense of having to trade off a career against having to raise a family

Finding a mentor

Finding a trusted person who is approving of one's dream, supportive, and helpful in giving advice without being authoritative Men: Learning from a more experience yet supportive role model Women: Less likely to find a mentor due to fewer women mentors being available; male mentors can involve sexual attraction or confusion over appropriate roles

Selected Theorists' Views of the Major Tasks of Early Adulthood Schale

Flexibility applying intellectual, cognitive abilities to accomplish personal and career goals

intimacy versus isolation

For Erikson, a crisis in young adulthood characterized by the conflict between establishing a mutually satisfying relationship with another person as opposed to falling to find such an intimate relationship.

HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficieny viris (HIV) is a virus that destroys the body's immune system, leading to the development of acquired immune deficiency symptoms (AIDS), the disease that results from HIV infection. Although combinations of drugs, including AZT, can be effective in suppressing the virus, AIDS is currently considered an incurable disease. It's incidence in the United States has decline, but it exists in epidemic proportion throughout many parts of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Developing emotional self-awareness

Separating feelings from actions Example: although Shaynell does not like one of her coworkers, she is able to work effectively as part of a team

Handling relationships

Solving relationship problems effectively Example: Jack is able to create a work situation where two employees who do not like each other are able to cooperate on work-related tasks.

Havighurst proposed that the two central taks of young adult-hood are ___ and ____

Starting a family and establishing a career

Selected Theorists' Views of the Major Tasks of Early Adulthood Havighurst

Starting a family and establishing a career

The leading cause of preventable death in the United States is ____

Tobacco/smoking

Reading emotions

Understanding the emotional reactions of others Example: Maria understands why a subordinate is upset at being asked to do an unpleasant task.

Which of the following statements concerning average declines in biological systems is true? a. Cardiovascular function declines more than useful lung volume. b. Useful lung volume declines more than nerve conduction speed. c. The greatest decline occurs in muscle strength. d. Muscle strength and kidney function decline at roughly the same rate.

Useful lung volume declines more than nerve conduction speed.

Trichomoniasis ("trich")

Very common STD caused by infection with a protozoan parasite. Affects about 3.7 millions people in the United States, making it a very common STD. Only 30% of people infected develop symptoms, which involve irritation and/or inflammation, especially during urination. Antibiotic treatment is effective.

Gould's Transformations in Early Adulthood Ages 35 to 45

Young adults cast off false assumptions and become fully involved in adults life.

lesbian

a female with a sexual orientation toward other females

age clock

a form of internal timing use as a measure of adult development; a way of knowing that we are progressing too slowly or too quickly in terms of key social events that occur during adulthood

gay

a male with a sexual orientation toward other males

bisexual

a person who is attracted to both males and to females

Which of the following is not one the ways that adult though differs from adolescent thought? a. Adult thought is much faster b. Adult though is more complex c. Adult thought is better to consider the emotional aspects of a situation. d. Adult though is based more on reality

a. Adult thought is much faster

Which statement about sexual orientation is true? a. Sexual orientation is not an either/or thing. b. A lower proportion of self-reported homosexuals attend or complete college than do heterosexuals. c. People who are considered androgynous are typically homosexual. d. More homosexuals have been determined to live in rural communities than in urban environments.

a. Sexual orientation is not an either/or thing.

For youths and young adults, what is the major cause of death in the U.S.? a. accidents b. cancer c. homicide d. suicide

a. accidents

The major functional drop-off of most of the body's biological systems occurs after a. age 40. b. age 30. c. age 50. d. age 60.

a. age 40.

After working for the same employer for 15 years, Marisol unexpectedly was laid off from her job. This is an example of a. an idiosyncratic event. b. feedback lifespan transition c. an age clock d. a normative event.

a. an idiosyncratic event.

Rachel lives with her elderly grandmother. She applied for and was accepted to a distinguished law school in another state. Although her dream is to become a successful lawyer, she is very concerned about leaving her grandmother on her own. To resolve this dilemma, Rachel must engage in what type of thinking? a. dialectical thought b. preoperational thought c. idealization d. moral reasoning

a. dialectical thought

According to Erikson the developmental task that is most characteristic of young adulthood is a. intimacy versus isolation. b. parents versus friends. c. pleasure versus responsibility. d. independence versus dependency.

a. intimacy versus isolation.

Which of the following suffers the greatest decline during adulthood? a. maximum breathing capacity b. kidney functions c. cardiovascular function d. muscle strength

a. maximum breathing capacity

Suppose Leila is concerned that she is the only 40-year-old among her friends who is not yet married. He concern is most directly related to the concept of a. social age b. chronological age c. psychological age d. personal age

a. social age

At about what age does a women's fertility generally terminate?

age 50

psychological age

an individual's current ability to cope with and apart to social and environmental demands

social age

an individual's current status as compared with cultural norms

biological age

an individual's position with regard to his or her expected lifespan

The usual course of treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis is

antibiotics

About ____ of women and ____ of men who are between the ages of 18 and 44 meet federal fitness guidelines. a. 30%; 60% b. 20%; 33% c. 50%; 50% d. 50%; 75%

b. 20%; 33%

Ovulation is relatively stable from ages _______, after which there is rapid decline in the regularity and number of ova released. a. 18-32 b. 25-38 c. 21-35 d. 28-50

b. 25-38

Which of the following statements concerning causes of death among youths and young adults is true? a. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youths. b. Accidents are the leading cause of death for both groups. c. The percentage of deaths due to cancer and heart disease is roughly equal for both groups. d. Homicide is the second-leading cause of death among young adults.

b. Accidents are the leading cause of death for both groups.

Which of the following statements concerning the global population living with AIDS is accurate? a. The population grew rapidly from 1990-2000 and then declined slowly. b. The population grew rapidly from 1990-2002 and then expanded more slowly. c. The population declined from 1990-1996 and then grew slowly. d. The population reached its peak in 2000.

b. The population grew rapidly from 1990-2002 and then expanded more slowly.

Death rates are lower for U.S. young adults than for any other adult age group. Which of the following is a major reason for this trend? a. Young adults receive more and better medical treatment than older adults. b. Young women are much less likely to die in childbirth than in the past. c. Older adults are unsafe drivers, so they are much more likely to be killed in accidents. d. Older adults tend to eat less-nutritional diets.

b. Young women are much less likely to die in childbirth than in the past.

According to Gould, at which stage does a significant shift toward adult attitudes occur, demonstrating a sense of competence and an acknowledgment of limitations? a. ages 35-45 b. ages 28-34 c. ages 22-28 d. ages 16-22

b. ages 28-34

Once we reach the part of the lifespan called adulthood, the developmental changes that take place a. begin to slow down. b. become both less predictable and more variable. c. maintain the same pace but are less variable. d. are more predictable and occur less often.

b. become both less predictable and more variable.

A 30-year-old with melanoma who is likely to die in the near future differs greatly in ________ age from a healthy 30-year-old who can expect to live another 45 years or more. a. medical b. biological c. psychological d. physical

b. biological

Although researchers differ on the origins of homosexuality, they do agree that a. parenting is responsible b. biological factors are involved c. it is a choice d. it is psychological

b. biological factors are involved

Most of human behavior is directly linked to ________: our ability to learn, remember, solve problems, and make judgments about a wide variety of situations. a. common sense b. cognitive development c. biology d. learning theory

b. cognitive development

Darryl's major goals are to get married, to start a family, and to establish his own business. According to Havighurst, Darryl is in the ________ period of development. a. older adulthood b. early adulthood c. senior d. middle adulthood

b. early adulthood

Jessie has been having problems getting pregnant, so she and her husband decided to see a doctor to determine their ability to have a child, or to assess their a. sperm viability. b. fertility. c. ovulation. d. age clock.

b. fertility.

At the age of 24, Claire moved out of her parents' house and into an apartment, even though living at home gave her more financial security. She was ready to take charge of her own life. According to Gould, Claire's thinking was focused on a. introspection b. goal orientation c. doubt and confusion d. self-centeredness

b. goal orientation

Which of the following STDs currently has no cure? a. gonorrhea b. herpes c. chlamydia d. syphilis

b. herpes

Peter believes that gays and lesbians suffer from a psychological disorder and should be treated and "cured." His views reflect a. sexual identity. b. homophobia. c. heterosexual ethnocentrism. d. sexual stereotyping.

b. homophobia.

Levinson's life-stage model is a good example of a ________ model. a. transformative b. normative c. social development d. change

b. normative

IQ, especially when it is measured by tests of cognitive speed and memory, is normally highest during which period of life? a. the teenage years b. the 20s and 30s c. the 40s and 50s d. the 60s and 70s

b. the 20s of 30s

What law makes it illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications? a. the Education for all Handicapped Children Act b. the Americans with Disabilities Act c. the Civil Rights Act d. the USA PATRIOT Act

b. the Americans with Disabilities Act

For the most part, our organ functioning, reaction time, strength, motor skills, and sensorimotor coordination are at their maximum in a. the thirties. b. the early to mid-twenties. c. the early forties to the mid-fifties. d. the late teens to mid-twenties.

b. the early to mid-twenties.

Even for high-risk groups, the likelihood of contracting HIV is about a. 2%. b. .01%. c. 0.1%. d. 5%.

c. 0.1%.

Globally, what percent of the adult population is living with AIDS? a. 2.2% b. 0.4% c. 0.8% d. 1.1%

c. 0.8%

In terms of voluntary muscle strength, such as the strength of the bicep muscles in the arm, you would expect a person to be strongest at ___ years of age a. 16 b. 18 c. 25 d. 32

c. 25

Over the course of a lifetime, a typical woman has ________ sexual partners; a typical man has ________. a. 6; 12 b. 4; 6 c. 2; 6 d. 5; 5

c. 2; 6

Roughly _______ of the U.S. female population is expected to reach the age of 80. a. 25% b. 40% c. 50% d. 30%

c. 50%

What percentage of 18- to 25-year-olds report binge drinking at least monthly? a. 10% b. 25% c. 50% d. 75%

c. 50%

Which of the following statements is most accurate? a. Women are more likely to report that they always experienced an orgasm. b. Women are slightly more likely than men to report being physically and emotionally satisfied by sex with their primary partner.. c. Men are slightly more likely than women to report being physically and emotionally satisfied by sex with their primary partner. d. A large majority of men report being dissatisfied with their current partner.

c. Men are slightly more likely than women to report being physically and emotionally satisfied by sex with their primary partner.

What is the relationship between sexual identity and sexual orientation? a. Sexual identity is genetically determined, whereas sexual orientation is strongly influenced by culture. b. Sexual identity is a key component of sexual orientation. c. Sexual orientation is a key component of sexual identity. d. An individual's sexual identity and sexual orientation often clash.

c. Sexual orientation is a key component of sexual identity.

Which of the following is the leading cause of death for young adults in the United States? a. heart attack b. cancer c. accidentas d. HIV/AIDS

c. accidentas

In comparison to other theories, Gould's view of adulthood focuses more on a. emotional development b. family structure c. cognitive issues d. historical events

c. cognitive issues

Christine is in college and engages in binge drinking. She does not exercise. Generalizing from this information, a researcher would most likely predict that as Christine enters middle adulthood, she will a. be more likely to change her habits b. not have future health problems related to alcohol c. continue her poor habits d. be less likely to continue to drink alcohol

c. continue her poor habits

Jennifer has been offered a good position in another city that she wants to pursue. At the same time, her parents are getting older, and she feels a responsibility to be available to them. To resolve this situation, Jennifer needs to engage in a. postoperational thinking. b. convergent thinking. c. dialectical thought. d. self-actualization.

c. dialectical thought.

Compared to the 1970s, sexual satisfaction of most U.S. adults has a. improved for women but not for men. b. decreased. c. improved markedly for both married and cohabiting couples. d. improved for married couples but not cohabiting couples.

c. improved markedly for both married and cohabiting couples.

One reason that stages of adulthood are becoming blurred is that a. technology has brought changes to lifestyles b. cultural norms vary across cultures c. people are living longer d. "biological clocks" have stopped ticking

c. people are living longer

Perry and Bill are both 35 years old. Perry is married and has two children. In contrast, Bill is single, lives by himself, and dates only casually. Although the two men were born in the same year, they have different ______ ages. a. chronological b. biological c. social d. psychological

c. social

Alexis is a married mother of two children and has a demanding job. She is a volunteer in her children's school. Schaie would say that Alexis is in the ____ period. a. reorganization b. reintegration c. social responsibility d. legacy

c. social responsibility

Physical decline generally occurs earliest in which of the following? a. heart b. respiratory system c. vision d. digestion

c. vision

Levinson's studies identified more role confusion for a. adults than children. b. minorities than Whites. c. women than men. d. men than women.

c. women than men.

The number of days, weeks, and years a person has been alive is called ____

chronological age

An approach that emphasizes the impact on development of several factors interacting together is called a

contextual paradigm (or contextual approach)

Steve is a 22-year-old college senior who engages in binge drinking at least once every month. What percentage of people between ages 18-25 display this behavior? a. 10% b. 25% c. 33% d. 50%

d. 50%

Today, what percentage of the married U.S. population had sex before marriage? a. 50% b. 33% c. 75% d. 95%

d. 95%

Cheryl is conducting research on sexually transmitted diseases. If she decides to concentrate on the STD that is least likely to be contracted by a young adult in the United States today, she would focus on which of the following? a. gonorrhea b. chlamydia c. syphilis d. AIDS

d. AIDS

"Physical fitness severely declines in the adult years." Which of the following statements best evaluates this claim? a. The claim is supported by studies that indicate that fitness is largely determined by genetics. b. The fitness process varies significantly between men and women. c. Fitness is determined largely by ethnicity. d. Better nutrition and training throughout the adult years often more than compensate for advanced age.

d. Better nutrition and training throughout the adult years often more than compensate for advanced age.

Hakim is in his early twenties. He has begun to use his knowledge and his intellectual abilities to select a career and make his basic lifestyle choices. According to Schaie, Hakim is in which stage of adult thinking? a. reorganization b. acquisition c. social responsibility d. achieving

d. achieving

According to Schaie, the period in which adults use their problem-solving skills to accomplish goals and craft a life plan is called a. acquisition period b. executive period c. reorganization period d. achieving period

d. achieving period

Martin has a sense that he needs to make a career move before he is age 30 and "too old" to change directions. He is feeling pressure from his a. idiosyncratic life events b. postformal paradigm c. biological age d. age clock

d. age clock

A large-scale study of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals in a California city found that in the year prior to the study about one-quarter of the men and one-fifth of the women had a. attempted suicide. b. experienced second thoughts about their sexual orientation. c. participated in a gay pride parade. d. been victims of a hate crime.

d. been victims of a hate crime.

Elizabeth just celebrated her 40th birthday. When we refer to a person's age, we usually mean ________ age: how many years and months have elapsed since birth. a. lifespan b. biological c. physical d. chronological

d. chronological

Unlike Piaget's stage-based approach, ________ models focus much more attention on the specific experiences that shape each individual's life. a. learning b. social c. content d. context

d. context

During the period 1990-2010, the number of people worldwide living with AIDS a. increased by roughly 50%. b. remained relatively stable. c. more than tripled. d. declined slightly.

d. declined slightly

A person's EQ represents the ability to understand the person's own and others' a. extroversion tendencies b. exceptional characteristics c. excellence d. emotion

d. emotion

Daniel Goleman coined the term ________ to explain the way individuals understand and manage their own and others' emotions and emotional responses. a. emotional response b. concrete emotion c. emotional maintenance d. emotional intelligence

d. emotional intelligence

One criticism of Levinson's original research was that a. he did not address adolescence. b. he excluded older adults from his research. c. the study participants were all white middle- and upper-class males. d. he had not included women in his study.

d. he had not included women in his study.

Researchers have found that by young adulthood, some same-sex-oriented individuals ________ the larger society's prejudiced views of them, with the effect that they accept and live with a sense of shame and lowered self-esteem as a result of their sexual orientation. a. ignore b. encourage c. rebel against d. internalize

d. internalize

According to Levinson, by taking on and resolving the tasks of life, the person is able to develop a ________, which is the overall pattern that underlies and unifies a person's life. a. personal schema b. personal identity c. self-identity d. life structure

d. life structure

A study of college students showed that as they were able to adopt the perspective that people have a right to hold different opinions, many of these students developed a(n) ________ that represented their own set of values and points of view. a. oppositional schema b. cognitive heuristic c. operational dialogue d. personal orientation

d. personal orientation

According to Levinson, when young adults accomplish the tasks of a particular era of their lives, they typically a. experience relief b. become depressed or anxious c. regress back to an earlier set of concerns d. question their existing life structure

d. question their existing life structure

In what region of the world is the highest percent of the population living with AIDS? a. Asia b. North Africa and Middle East c. Caribbean d. sub-Saharan Africa

d. sub-Saharan Africa

idiosyncratic events

events in the lifespan that are unanticipated, such as the death of a spouse, that typically cause considerable stress and readjustment in a person's life both personally and socially

normative event

events, and the transitions that surround them, that occur at relatively specific times in the lifespan, which most people in an age cohort experience, such as marriage and retirement.

To state that homosexuality exist on a "continuum" means that ____

individuals may be strongly heterosexual, strongly homosexual, or may fall somewhere in between.

For Erikson, the crisis of early adulthood is ____

intimacy versus isolation

Are normative models more useful or less useful during times of rapid cultural change?

less useful

According to Gould, young adults between the ages of 16 to 22 a. are too fragile to cope with forming their own identity b. see their parents as all-powerful, controlling figures c. begin to learn that discipline and hard work will help them achieve their goals d. must begin to build a world view that is separate from their parents' view

must begin to build a world view that is separate from their parents' view

According to the results of national surveys, does orgasm play a major role in determining whether or not a person is sexually satisfied with his or her primary partner?

no

Can genital herpes be cured?

no

Events that typically occur at a particular time during the life-span and are experienced by most people are termed ___ events

normative

Adult though is often referred to as ___ thought to reflect that is goes beyond Piaget's stage of formal operations.

postformal

homophobia

prejudice, aversion, fear, and other negative attitudes help by individuals and directed toward lesbians, gay men, and/or bisexuals

A developmental theory that emphasizes events and experiences that many people have is referred to as a ____ model; one that focuses more on the unique experiences of the individual is called a ____ model

stage-based (or normative); context-based

Sexual orientation

the direction of a person's sexual interest toward, the sexual activity with, members of the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes

life structure

the overall pattern that underlies and unifies a person's life

emotional intelligence (EQ)

the term given to those aspects of the intellect that relate to understanding others' and one's own emotion and emotional responses

contextual paradigms

theories that emphasize the interaction of numerous environmental, social, psychological, and historical factors that influence development.

postformal thought

thought that is heavily contextualized and includes consideration of not only logical but also social and interpersonal issues

dialectical thought

thought that seeks to integrate opposing or conflicting ideas and observations