7121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Emerging Adulthood And Early Adulthood, Synaptic Pruning, Neuroplasticity
21 Jun 2018
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EARLY ADULTHOOD
Emerging themes: Love and Work
Life Events and Emergent Adulthood
- Early adulthood: the period of time ranging from 18-30 years of age
- This time consists of substantial changes in the everyday life of an individual
- Within these years, many young adults will: finish school, enter the workforce, or pursue further
education
- Stage of psychosocial developments
oRegardless of the chosen path, many aspects of emotional development will remain the
same
oMarkers of fully fledges maturity are uncertain and constantly changing
- Emergent adulthood: recognizes the full adulthood is rarely now achieved in the 20s
- Some theorists emphasize strengthening of romantic relationships
- Timing of two key critical life events occur later; marriage and parenthood
oMark end of early adult
- Some also place emphasise on defining individuals life goals
- Key life changes concern the following choices
oResidential
Nest leavers
‘on time’
Belated
Late or returning
oHigher levels of stress, low satisfaction
Cultural influences
Developmental/psychological needs
Family conflicts, work struggles, stress, etc
Pragmatic reasons
Parents helped financially, safety net
oVocational
Career entry
Attachment style
Occupational investment
Phases of vocational development
Fantasy period
Tentative period; in adolescence
oThink about careers in more complex ways
oConsider own abilities and values
Realistic period; late adolescence, early adulthood
oNarrow options, explore and gather relevant info
Factors influences vocational choice
Personality
Family influences
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Teachers
Gender stereotypes and gender role attitudes
oInter personal
Mature couple relationships
Marital roles; responsibilities
Family traditions and rituals
Marital satisfaction
Marital expectations
Beginning a family
oEmphasis on the beginning of adult life
- Normative transitions are associated with emotional well being
- Non normative; high stress, low satisfactions
- Increased changes in partners and educational paths
oImpact identity formation; on going
oExtended moratorium; facilitated by globalization
Biological Ageing
- Senescence
oGenetically influenced declines in the functioning of organs and systems that are
universal in all members of the human species
oBiological ageing is asynchronous
Different for everybody
oIt begins in early adulthood
Physical Development
- Most people are at peak
- Senses are sharp as ever
- Capacity of immune system to offer protection starts to decline after about 20
- Health risks are generally low
oLess susceptible to colds and illnesses
oMore likely to die in accidents
Neurocognitive growth and functioning
- Brain groth continues
- Continued growth and plasticity lead to enhances capacity for reasoning, flexible learning, and
capacity to recover from brain injury and disease
- Motor skills form new connections (musicians)
- Cognitive skill form new connections (taxi drivers; knowing huge complex cities etc)
oHigh brain activity
- Adult brain plasticity
oSynaptic pruning
Discards unused synpases
Enables other synapses to develop
oMyelination
Deposits of fatty coating around nerves for protections and efficiency
White matter of brain
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Speed of nerve conduction increases
oNeurogenesis
Growing new neurons
Extra brain capacity for added challenges
Cognitive development
- Post formal thinking
oLogic and emotion work together
oThinking becomes more practical
Less about solving worlds problems
More about day to day practicalities
Both subjective and objectice
oBecomes more flexible
Less in terms of absolute
Problems have many solutions
oThinking becomes more dialectical
Thesis; antithesis; synthesis
- Role of social clock
otimetables for accomplishing major developments
oExpectations for appropriate behaviour
oLink with confidence levels
Post formal thinking
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Document Summary
Early adulthood: the period of time ranging from 18-30 years of age. This time consists of substantial changes in the everyday life of an individual. Within these years, many young adults will: finish school, enter the workforce, or pursue further education. Stage of psychosocial developments: regardless of the chosen path, many aspects of emotional development will remain the same, markers of fully fledges maturity are uncertain and constantly changing. Emergent adulthood: recognizes the full adulthood is rarely now achieved in the 20s. Timing of two key critical life events occur later; marriage and parenthood: mark end of early adult. Some also place emphasise on defining individuals life goals. Key life changes concern the following choices: residential. Late or returning: higher levels of stress, low satisfaction. Tentative period; in adolescence: think about careers in more complex ways, consider own abilities and values. Realistic period; late adolescence, early adulthood: narrow options, explore and gather relevant info.
