BESC1120 Study Guide - Final Guide: Welfare Reform, Monogamy, Childlessness
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EXAM NOTES - Developmental Psychology
Chapter 13: Psychosocial development in early adulthood
Theories of adult development:
Timing of events: social clocks:
Social expectations create an internalised social clock
Too old or too young to do certain things
Eg. starting uni, becoming a parent
Cultural groups tend to develop a shared sense of when males/females are on time “should” do
certain things such as become sexually active… etc
Age appropriate timetable of our social group
To check if we’re in the right stage of social development
On time = age appropriate social timetable
Off time = out of phase with peers… eg going to uni as a mature age student to change career, a 60
y/o going clubbing
Normative crisis theories: (several)
Compare ourselves with peers
Social expectations through different life stages
Crisis theory: Erikson’s intimacy VS isolation:
Crisis of early adulthood
Proceeds identity VS role confusion
In this crisis, young adult must develop ability to establish close/intimate committed relationships
(not just romantic but friends and work relationships too) – this is the norm at this stage!
Otherwise, isolation occurs
Intimate relationships:
Need for intimacy and attachment since birth
During adulthood – attachment to friends and lovers increases, attachment to family decreases
Emotional independence with significant others in lives – maximising emotional security
Choosing partner – trust, acceptance, enjoyment, shared ideas, validation of who we are,
stimulation/motivation, comfort and support, promote health and wellbeing
Friendship in early adulthood:
Provides wellbeing, self-esteem, buffer against stress
Encourages health promoting and pro social behaviours
Encourages independence from parents
Gender differences…
Both sexes enjoy cross gender friendships
Women experience more same sex self disclosure and intimacy
Men look towards practical direction and shared interests with other males
Love:
Intimacy important ingredient of love
Find love in form of a partner whose a lover and a friend to share life with
Contemporary young adults marrying later
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So more experience with love relationships and sexual partners
76% live together before they marry “cohabit”
Relationship is serial monogamy = series of committed intimate sexually exclusive relationships
with one person at a time
1980’s Sternberg’s triangle of love – (types of love)
3 components – intimacy, passion, commitment – vary in different love relationships
Intimacy – meaningful / substantial factor in emotional aspect of love
= to connectedness in number of ways
Intimacy and passion are relatively stable in close relationships, passion unstable and fluctuates
Short term – romantic engagements = passion
Long term – romantic engagements = intimacy and companionship
Model suggests the 3 factors are dynamic and change over time
7 possibilities ….
Liking (not really love) – intimacy (no passion, no commitment) friendship
*Infatuation – just passion
Empty love – just commitment (lost intimacy passion it once had – long term relationship – stays
married because of commitment to love each other)
*Romantic – just intimacy and passion, no commitment
*Companionate – intimacy and commitment, no passion, LT
*Fatuous – passion and commitment, no intimacy, holywood “whirlwind”
*Consummate – all 3! What everyone’s searching for , true love - hard to attain, once you have it
hard to maintain
Have * early adulthood ones^^^^
Gender differences in love:
Females – higher confidence in expressing like, love and affection to males compared to males to
females
Males and females place different values on main aspects of love
Males think more important – practical help, shared physical activities, spending time together, sex
Females more emphasis on – emotional involvement, verbal self disclosure
Partner selection:
Early adulthood – a time where people look for partners or mates
Similarities bring people together
Qualities of importance males and females most preferred in a partner
Top 10 below
As well as differences, is some similarities between what people look for in long term vs casual
partners
Warmth and kindness and sense of humour are in the top 3!
Expressiveness and openness are in top 5!
Casual sexual relationships can lead to more long term relationships like marriage, or de facto long
term relationships
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Too old or too young to do certain things. Cultural groups tend to develop a shared sense of when males/females are on time should do certain things such as become sexually active etc. Age appropriate timetable of our social group. To check if we"re in the right stage of social development. On time = age appropriate social timetable. Off time = out of phase with peers eg going to uni as a mature age student to change career, a 60 y/o going clubbing. In this crisis, young adult must develop ability to establish close/intimate committed relationships (not just romantic but friends and work relationships too) this is the norm at this stage! Need for intimacy and attachment since birth. During adulthood attachment to friends and lovers increases, attachment to family decreases. Emotional independence with significant others in lives maximising emotional security.
