17 - Emerging Adulthood:
Biosocial Development
Ages 18 – 25
Growth & Strength
Body changes
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Good health
Full height
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Girls – 16 years old
Boys – 18 years old
Immune system well developed
Senescence (Aging)
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Begins in late adolescence
Sexual activity
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Sex activity is vigorous, infertility rare, orgasm frequent,
birth (comparatively) easy
Sex hormones peak about age 20
Frequent intercourse (w/o contraception)- a women in
20’s will become pregnant within three months
Contraception = reduced birth rate + increased sexual
activity (in unmarried adults)
Sexually transmitted infections (STI’s)
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About half the time STI’s have no symptoms
Half of emerging adults = at least one STI
Increased to epidemic proportions due to:
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Changing sexual behaviors
Globalization
Sex & emotional stress
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Emotional stress as relationships begin and end
Emotional pain & frustration can occur from differing
attitudes on the purpose of sex
Attitudes on the purpose of sex
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Reproduction (Children)
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Relationship (Intimacy)
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More women
More women
Recreation (Fun)
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More men
Psychopathology
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Increases in emerging adulthood
Double that for adults over age 25
Mood disorders
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Bipolar disorder
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May begin in childhood and become more severe in adulthood
Depression
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Most common mood disorder
Possibly rooted in neurotransmitters and hormones
Anxiety disorders
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Panic attacks
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
More common worldwide than depression
Schizophrenia
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About 1% of adults
Disorganized thoughts (Word salad)
Delusions (Thoughts)
Hallucinations (Seeing or hearing)
Inappropriate emotions
Symptoms usually begin in adolescence
Good Health Habits
Exercise
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If not fit = 4 times more likely to have diabetes and high
blood pressure 15 years later
Eating well
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Set point (Thermostat)
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Creates stable weight
Affected by: age, genes, diet, hormones, and exercise
Body mass index (BMI)
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How fat you are
Ratio of weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters)
squared
Taking Risks
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Greater willingness to take risks
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Sexual behavior
Drive without seat belts
Carry guns
Use addictive drugs
Extreme sports
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Bunge jumping
Base jumping
“Living on the edge”
Drug abuse
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Abuse = Impairs biological or psychological well-being
Addiction = Absence of drug produces a biological drive
to get more
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Particularly common among people that die violently
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Suicide, homicide, or car accident