Life Span
Early & Middle adulthood
Chapter 11 & 12
Early Adulthood
• Age
– 20 – 40 (early)
• Stable
Physical Characteristics
Height & Weight
• Physical growth
– Complete
Bone and Muscle development
• Peak bone mass
– Age 35
• Injuries respond best to
– Rest
– Immobilization
Dentition
• 3rd molars
–Wisdom teeth
• Gingivitis
• Dental visits
–Q 6 months
Cardiac System
• Cardiac output
– Peak 20 – 30
– Then declines
• Risk factors
– Alcohol
– Tobacco
– h cholesterol diet
Respiratory System
• Peak function
– 20 - 25
• Vital Capacity
– i
• Elasticity
– i
• Risk factors
– Smoking
• Health promotion
– Exercise
GI system
• Appetite
– Unchanged
• Gastric secretions
– i
• Basal Metabolic Rate
– i
• Bowel management
Integumentary System
• Acne
–i
• Cancer
–h
Nervous System
• # neurons
– i
• Brain size
– i
• Reaction time (20 – 30)
–h
• Visual acuity (25)
–i
– Presbyopia
• Hearing
– Best at 20
– Compensate
Reproductive system
• Peak capacity!
• Infertility
Assisting conception
•
•
•
•
•
Ovulation ?
qOd
Deep penetration
No lubricants
Stay on back
Motor development
• Peak
• Decline 30 – 60
• Greatest strength
– Back
– Arms
– Legs
Sexual development
• Romantic Love
Masters & Johnson
Cycle of sexual response
1. Excitement
2. Plateau
3. Orgasm
4. Resolution
Identity Achieved
• The search for identity begins at
puberty, and continues through
adulthood
17
Identity Achieved
• Ethnic Identity
–in the U.S. and Canada 1/2 of the 18 –
25- year-olds are either children of
immigrant or native-born Americas of
African, Asian, Indian, or Latino
descent
18
Identity Achieved
• Ethnic Identity
–emerging adults meet many more
people of other backgrounds
19
Psychosocial development
• Intimacy
– Sexual
– Emotional
• Introspection
• Trust
Friendship
Humans have a need for
belongingness –
• How are friendships formed?
Expanding social circles
•
•
•
•
•
Similar life stage
Reciprocity
Compatibility
Respectability
Proximity
Friendship gender differences
Female
◦ shared
confidences
Male
• Shared activities
/ interests
Sternberg: Theory of Love
• Triangle
• 3 basic components 
– 8 subtypes
Sternberg: Theory of Love
1. Intimacy
– Emotional component
– Involves liking and feelings of closeness
2. Passion
– Motivational component
– Drives attraction, romance and sex
3. Commitment,
– Cognitive component
– Long-term commitment
The combinations of love
◦ Intimacy alone is described as liking
◦ Passion alone is described as infatuation
◦ The combination of intimacy and passion is called romantic
love.
◦ Commitment alone is called empty love
◦ The combination of commitment and passion is referred to
as fatuous love (foolish and silly)
◦ The combination of commitment and intimacy is known as
companionate love, a secure and trusting partnership.
◦ A combination of all three components is known as
consummate love, (a relationship that is in the highest
degree, near perfect).
◦ The absence of all three components results in non-love.
Labeling theory of passionate love
•
•
•
•
Hatfield & Berscheid
Intense physiological arousal +
situational cues =
love
– is appropriate label for what is experienced.
Seeking a Spouse: Is Love Most Important?
• What do you look for?
• What else matters?
– Emotional maturity
– Character
– Health
– Education
– Chastity
– Attractiveness
14-29
Cohabitation vs. Marriage
• Cohabitation – couples living
together without being married
• Reasons for choosing cohabitation
over marriage:
• Why marry?
Cohabitation
• Characteristics
– younger.
– Whiter
– Higher divorce rates.
– Problems with assets!
14-31
Marriage Age:
• People are marrying older in US:
– Median age for men first marriage – 27.
– Median age for women first marriage – 25.
• Divorce rates increasing around the world (U.S.
not so much since the 1990s)
– 51%
What makes marriage work?
•
•
•
•
•
Visible affection
Communicate little negativity
Similar interests
Agree on distribution of roles
View themselves as an interdependent
couple
Divorce

Increases in divorce are correlated with






youthful marriage
low educational level
low income
not having a religious affiliation
divorced parents
having a baby before marriage
14-34
Identity Achieved
• Vocational Identity
–is a part of growing up
–college is considered an important step
towards a career
–a correlation between college
education and income has been
evident… few unskilled jobs have been
created in the 21st century
35
Choosing a Career
Ginzberg’s Career Choice Theory
1.Fantasy period
2.Tentative period
3.Realistic period
Demographics of Higher Education
Who goes to college?
–69% of white (high school graduates)
–61% of African American
–47% of Hispanic
Demographics of Higher Education
Only around 40% of those who
start college graduate 4 years later
with a degree
◦ Although about half of those who do
not graduate will eventually finish,
the other half never obtain a college
degree
Demographics of Higher Education
More women that men attend college
and graduate
◦ Women receive 133 bachelor’s degrees
for every 100 men receive
◦ This proportion continues to increase
◦ Why this gender gap in college
attendance?
Developing maturity
• Control & Restraint
Cognitive development
• Objective
• Wider perspective
• Adult learners
Moral development
• Less absolutes
• Respect others
• Religion
Nutrition
• ♂
– 2,700–3,000
cal/day
• ♀
– 1,600-2,100
cal/day
Sleep & Rest
• 7-9 hours
• Insomnia
Sleep Aids
•
•
•
•
•
large meal at HS
Exercise afternoon
Routine
Relax
Bed for sex & sleep
Exercise & Leisure
• 3-5 time / week
• 30 minutes
Safety
• Self & Family
• Smoke detectors
• CO detectors
Health promotion
Men
• Testicular exam
Women
• Breast exam
• Pap smear
Exposure to carcinogens
•
•
•
•
•
Tobacco
Alcohol
Chemicals
Viruses
Sun
Accidents
• Eye
• Hearing
• Work
Obesity
• 20-30% excess body
weight
Stress
• management
Family Planning
• Birth control