Developmental Psychology13/20/20081Markers of Becoming an Adultz Most widely recognized marker: holding permanent, full-time job z Economic independence is often a long process z Taking responsibility for oneselfOther markers include: z accepting responsibility for the consequences of one’s actionsz deciding on one’s own beliefs and valuesz establishing a relationship with parents as an equal adult(Arnett, 1995)3/20/20082Stress big on college campusesPublished Wednesday, March 19, 2008 By ALAN FRAM and TREVOR TOMPSONAssociated PressWASHINGTON -- College kids are so frazzled they can't sleep or eat. Or study. Good grief, they're even anxious about spring break. Most students in U.S. colleges are just plain stressed out, fromeveryday worries about grades and relationships to darker thoughts of suicide, according to a poll of undergraduates from coast to coast. The survey was conducted for The Associated Press and mtvU, a television network available at many colleges and universities. Four in 10 students say they endure stress often. Nearly one if five say they feel it all or most of the time.…Developmental Psychology23/20/20083Achieving the Transitionz Three types of assets were especially important to well-being during this transition:– intellectual -- academic success, ability to plan, and good decision-making skills – psychological-- mental health, mastery motivation, confidence in one’s competence, identity, values, and community contributions–social-- connectedness to others through friendship and positive peer relations(Eccles & Goodman, 2002) 3/20/20084From High School to Collegez Replays the “top-dog” phenomenon of transferring from the oldest/most powerful group of students to the youngest/least powerfulz It involves movement to a larger, more impersonal school structurez Usually includes interaction with peers from much more diverse geographical and ethnic backgroundsz Has an increased focus on achievementDevelopmental Psychology33/20/20085College Issuesz Today’s college students experience more stress and are more depressed than in the pastz The pressure to succeed in college, get a great job, and make money are pervasive concerns z Most college campuses have a counseling center to help students learn effective ways to cope with stress(Pryor & others, 2006)3/20/20086Cognition in Young Adulthoodz Piaget concluded adolescents and adults think qualitatively in the same way – formal operational thought is the final stage in cognitive development; characterizes adults as well as adolescents z Piaget and information-processing psychologists support the idea that adults increase their knowledge in a specific area z But many adults do not think in formal operational ways at all (Keating, 2004)Developmental Psychology43/20/20087Realistic and Pragmatic Thinkingz As young adults face the constraints of reality, which work promotes, their idealism decreasesz Schaie proposed that in early adulthood individuals often switch from acquiring knowledge to applying knowledge as they pursue success in their work (Labouvie-Vief, 1986) (Schaie, 1977) 3/20/20088Reflective and Relativistic Thinkingz Another view (Perry’s) is that absolutist, dualistic thinking of adolescence gives way to the reflective, relativistic thinking of adulthoodz Others believe that reflective thinking is an important indicator of cognitive change z Increasing complexity of cultures has generated a need for more reflective, complex thinking that accounts for the changing nature of knowledge (Perry, 1970)(Fischer & Bidell, 2006) (Labouvie-Vief, 2006)Developmental Psychology53/20/20089Postformal Thoughtz The search for truth is often an ongoing, never-ending processz Postformal thought -- understanding that the correct answer to a problem requires reflective thinking and can vary situationally– includes the belief that solutions to problems need to be realistic and that emotion and subjective factors can influence thinking(Sinnott, 2003)3/20/200810Creativityz Early adulthood is a time of great creativity for some people z Although a decline in creativity is often found in the fifties and later, the decline is not as great as commonly thoughtz There is extensive individual variation in the lifetime output of creative individualsDevelopmental Psychology63/20/200811Stimulating Adults’ Creativityz Steps toward a more creative life include cultivating your curiosity and interest– Try to be surprised by something every day– Try to surprise at least one person every day – Each day write what surprised you and how you surprised others; keep a journal– When something sparks your interest, follow it – Wake up in the morning with a specific goal– Spend time in settings that stimulate your creativity(Csikszentmihalyi, 1995) 3/20/200812Career and Workz Important themes of early adulthood: earning a living, choosing an occupation, establishing a career, and developing in a career– by mid-twenties, many individuals have completed their education or training and started to enter a full-time occupation – through the remainder of early adulthood, individuals often seek to establish their emerging career in a particular field and improve their financial standingDevelopmental Psychology73/20/200813Personalityz Personality type theory -- it is important to match an individual’s personality with a particular career– Holland believes that when individuals find careers that fit their personality, they are more likely to enjoy the work and stay in the job longer – Proposed six basic career-related personality types: z realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional(Holland, 1987)3/20/200814Developmental Psychology83/20/200815Unemploymentz Unemployment produces stress regardless of whether the job loss is temporary, cyclical, or permanent z Stress comes not only from a loss of income and the resulting financial hardships but also from decreased self-esteem (Christensen & others, 2006) (Voydanoff,
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