PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY

FC 6 – DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

EARLY ADULTHOOD
Early adulthood spanned from approximately the end of adolescence to the beginning of
middle adulthood (18-45). More recently, developmentalists have divided this age period into
two separate stages: Emerging adulthood followed by early adulthood. Although these periods
differ in their physical, cognitive and social development, overall the age period from 18-45
years is a time of peak physical capabilities and the emergence of more mature cognitive
development, financial independence and intimate relationships.

A. DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS OF EARLY ADULTHOOD

Havighurst (1972) describes some of the developmental tasks of young

adults. These include:

1. Achieving autonomy: trying to establish oneself as an independent

person with a life of one’s own
2. Establishing identity: more firmly establishing likes, dislikes,
preferences, and philosophies
3. Developing emotional stability: becoming more stable emotionally which
is considered a sign of maturing
4. Establishing a career: deciding on and pursuing a career or at least an
initial career direction and pursuing an education
5. Finding intimacy: forming first close, long-term relationships
6. Becoming part of a group or community: young adults may, for the first
time, become involved with various groups in the community. They may
begin voting or volunteering to be part of civic organizations.
7. Establishing a residence and learning how to manage a household:
learning how to budget and keep a home maintained.
8. Becoming a parent and rearing children: learning how to manage a
household with children.
9. Making marital or relationship adjustments and learning to parent.

B. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

In adulthood, development takes a different form, no longer characterized by physical

and cognitive growth spurts. This stage, covering the majority of a person's lifespan,
involves substantial psychosocial gains alongside a gradual physical decline.

Age clocks, indicating the internal timing of physical and social events, dictate the
various life stages in adulthood. While individuals age at different rates, societal norms
often guide them through predictable periods.

Daniel Levinson's Theory of Adult Development:

1. Novice phase (17–33)

1.1 Early adult transition (17-22)

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1.2 Entering the adult world (22-28)

1.3 Age-30 transition (28-33)
2. Culminating phase
2.1 Settling down (33-40)
2.2 Midlife transition (40-45)

Young adulthood is often considered the peak years, marked by excellent health,
vigor, and physical functioning. Young adults benefit from society's emphasis on
youthfulness, enjoying attractive appearances and sexual appeal. Both genders
typically have not experienced age-related physical deterioration, maintaining peak
strength, coordination, and sensory abilities.

Young adults, with their energy and good health, dream and set ambitious goals, from
completing education to building families or achieving financial success. This phase is
characterized by a sense of limitless possibilities, driven by the belief that with the right
attitude and persistence, anything can be accomplished.

HEALTH

During young adulthood, individuals typically enjoy excellent health and physical fitness,
performing at high levels in tests of endurance and stamina. The 20s and 30s represent a
peak period for physical conditioning and an overall sense of well-being.

However, as young adults approach age 40, they may start noticing physical limitations and
experience a decrease in energy. Many individuals detect a significant shift in health concerns
after 40. Nonetheless, with proper diet and exercise, the physical and psychological vitality
characteristic of young adulthood can be maintained well into the 40s and beyond.

Common health problems during this life stage include arthritis, asthma, diabetes,
depression, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and ulcers. Additionally, some conditions,
like atherosclerosis and cirrhosis, may not exhibit symptoms but could be causing internal
damage. Disabilities and sexually transmitted diseases are two additional categories of health
concerns during young adulthood.

Physical disabilities encompass various conditions, including those present from birth,
resulting from disease or injury, or developing later in life. Developmental disabilities,
characterized by subnormal intellectual functioning and social skills, often appear before age
18. Psychiatric disabilities, involving emotional problems, may result from anxiety or
affective disorders. Anxiety disorders, marked by anxiety or panic episodes, can be
effectively treated with drug and psychological therapies. Affective disorders, causing
abnormally high and low feelings, are often treatable with medication and counseling.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Bacterial STDs,
such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, can be treated with antibiotics. Viral STDs, including
herpes, genital warts, and HIV, are more challenging to eliminate. HIV, causing AIDS,
depresses the immune system, making the body susceptible to various infections. HIV is
primarily transmitted through the exchange of body fluids, and preventive measures include
abstinence, condom use, and avoiding high-risk activities and partners.

While death rates in young adulthood are generally lower than in other life stages, accidents,
HIV, and malignancies are leading causes. Death rates increase with age, and socioeconomic

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status and race can impact health and death rates, with less educated and poorer minorities
facing greater health risks and a higher likelihood of premature death from violent crimes.

B. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Studies comparing IQ across different age groups often suggest that young adults outperform
middle-aged or older adults in cross-sectional analyses. However, longitudinal studies indicate
a potential increase in intelligence through the decades, at least until the 50s. Yet,
understanding intellectual development in adulthood is complex. Cross-sectional results,
where younger adults perform better on IQ tests, might be influenced more by cohort effects,
like extended schooling or increased exposure to television, than aging. Longitudinal results,
showing improvement over time, could be attributed to practice effects, enhanced test-taking
comfort, or the tendency for study participants to outperform dropouts.

IQ measurement encounters complexity due to the existence of different intelligence types.

Crystallized intelligence involves applying accumulated learned information, while fluid
intelligence pertains to abstract thinking and handling novel situations. Young adults typically
score higher on fluid intelligence tests, while middle adults excel in tests of crystallized
intelligence. Distinct variables for each age group complicate direct IQ comparisons. Overall,
traditional IQ tests suggest that intelligence generally remains stable through young and
middle adulthood.

Thinking patterns in young adults, particularly in their early 20s, often mirror adolescent
thinking. Idealistic views dominate, envisioning a world of eternal love, honest political leaders,
and altruistic salespeople. Limited life experiences may foster a naively trusting or black-and-
white perspective. Although young adults engage in questioning, rule-challenging, and conflict
resolution, they may initially seek definitive answers from authoritative figures.

Many college-educated young adults develop logical reasoning, theoretical problem-solving

skills, and abstract thinking, reaching Piaget's formal operations cognitive development stage.
This stage enables classification, systematic problem-solving, and consideration of future
possibilities.

As young adults navigate life's uncertainties, some may progress to postformal thinking,
demonstrating practical street smarts. The development of wisdom associated with postformal
thinking is an ongoing process, initiated in the teenage years and fully realized in older
adulthood.

C. PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Erikson posited that the primary objective in early adulthood is to forge intimate connections
and avoid feelings of isolation. Intimacy, as he conceptualized it, extends beyond romantic
involvement, encompassing a genuine concern for others and a willingness to share oneself
without sacrificing one's individuality. The pivotal developmental challenge, termed "intimacy
versus isolation," is influenced by the resolution of the preceding adolescent dilemma of
"identity versus role confusion" and earlier developmental crises in infancy and childhood.

For a young adult, the fear of losing one's sense of self may hinder the establishment of close
relationships, while on the other hand, defining oneself solely in relation to another person is
also a potential pitfall. The difficulty in forming intimate connections is heightened if identity
struggles persist. While the attainment of a stable sense of identity is an ongoing process
throughout life, there are distinct periods marked by identity crises and stability.

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According to Erikson, a foundational sense of identity is crucial for the cultivation of intimate
relationships. However, this assertion prompts reflection on the implications for past
generations of women who may have derived their self-definition from husbands and
marriages, as well as for contemporary Eastern cultures that prioritize interdependence over
independence.

to hinge on their ability to choose lifestyles that align with their preferences.

RELATIONSHIPS

Love, intimacy, and adult relationships are closely connected, as proposed by Robert
Sternberg's triarchic theory of love, which includes passion, decision/commitment, and
intimacy as its components. Passion involves intense physiological arousal and excitement,
including sexual arousal. Decision/commitment pertains to the decision to love and commit
to the relationship. Intimacy encompasses warmth, closeness, self-disclosure, and mutual
support. Intimacy is expressed through physical, psychological, and social dimensions.

Physical intimacy involves mutual affection and sexual activity, psychological intimacy entails
sharing feelings and thoughts, and social intimacy is characterized by having common friends
and shared recreational interests. Sternberg's model describes various types of love with
differing degrees of passion, commitment, and intimacy. For instance, infatuation in
adolescence may involve passion but lacks intimacy or commitment.

In young adulthood, alongside love and intimacy, a deeper level of sexuality is realized within
long- or short-term relationships. Adult sexuality is fully expressive, contrasting with the
maturity-dependent nature of adolescent sexuality.

Regarding adult relationships, singlehood is an increasingly chosen lifestyle, offering freedom

from interpersonal obligations and control over living space.

Cohabitation and marriage are the predominant long-term relationships. Cohabitation

involves unmarried individuals living together and having sex. While some view it as a test for
marital compatibility, research doesn't conclusively support this, and there are indications of
increased divorce rates associated with premarital cohabitation.

.Married individuals generally experience better health and happiness. However, marriages
also face challenges such as unrealistic expectations, conflicts over sex, finances, household
responsibilities, and parenting, which may lead to extramarital affairs. Marital satisfaction
tends to be highest in the early years and increases again in later years after parental
responsibilities decrease and finances stabilize.

STARTING A FAMILY

As individuals progress into the concluding phase of early adulthood (ages 33–45), they
transition into the settling down stage (ages 33–40). By this point, they have typically
established their careers, at least their initial ones, and have found a spouse. If a couple hasn't
already done so, they are likely to decide to have one or more children and embark on the
journey of starting a family.

While parenthood is generally perceived as fortifying marriages, research suggests that

marital satisfaction often diminishes after the birth of the first child. This decline may be
attributed to stressors such as shifts in customary roles and routines, heightened family

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responsibilities, and additional financial strains. However, it's important to note that marital
satisfaction doesn't have to decline. If the marriage is already positive and the responsibilities
of parenting are evenly shared between spouses, the challenges of parenthood can be
minimized, allowing marital happiness to remain largely unaffected.

Despite the many joys of parenthood, new parents are not always fully prepared for the
responsibility and time commitment that raising a child entails. This is particularly true in cases
of unplanned parenthood or when the child is challenging, displaying irritability and excessive
crying. Some young adults may struggle with the notion of becoming parents, especially if they
feel that significant activities, such as attending college, have been compromised due to
parenthood. Additionally, there may be challenges for young women who find themselves torn
between pursuing a career and staying at home to raise their children.

A growing trend is the delay of marriage and childbearing until individuals are in their 30s. The
advantages of waiting include greater emotional maturity in both partners and a more stable
relationship, providing essential tools for navigating the challenges of parenthood.
Nontraditional family units, such as blended families (composed of children from previous
marriages), single-parent families, and same-sex families, represent another intriguing trend.
Meanwhile, some couples intentionally choose to remain childless, with fulfillment not
necessarily tied to having children. Ultimately, a couple's satisfaction and happiness appear

CAREER

In Levinson's stages of entering the adult world (ages 22–28) and the age-30 transition (ages
28–33), a crucial aspect is the establishment of a career. Typically initiated during college or
trade school, young adults prepare themselves for entry into the workforce. It's common for
them to explore various career options before committing to a specific field. However,
choosing a career path doesn't necessarily mean sticking to it indefinitely. Increasingly, adults
are opting to switch vocations altogether, not just changing jobs within the same field. For
instance, a psychology professor might decide, after years of teaching undergraduates, would
decide to transition to being an entrepreneur.

As dual-career marriages become more prevalent, potential complications arise. If one spouse
is unwilling to contribute, the other may experience stress in balancing a career, managing
household responsibilities, and raising children. Despite the appeal of equal parenting
responsibilities, women in our culture still predominantly shoulder the primary burden of child-
rearing. Conflicting demands may help explain why married women with children are more
likely to exit their jobs compared to childless and single women.

Still, multiple roles can be positive and rewarding. If they are of sufficient quality, these roles
may be associated with increased self-esteem, feelings of independence, and a greater sense
of fulfillment.

REFERNCES:

1. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/psychology/development-psychology/
2. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/parentingfamilydiversity/chapter/early-adulthood
3. https://www.allpsychologycareers.com/psychology/early-adulthood-development/
4. Sheldon, B. (2016) Developmental Psychology for the Helping Professions. [edition
unavailable]. Palgrave Macmillan UK. Available at:
https://www.perlego.com/book/3483165/developmental-psychology-for-the-helping-
professions-evidencebased-practice-in-health-and-social-care-pdf

FC 6 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY