Deck 18: Seciton 1: Emerging Adulthood: Psychosocial Development

Question 1

Define cohabitation, give two reasons people decide to cohabit, and identify two potential outcomes of the situation.

Answer 1

Cohabitation is a couple living together in a committed romantic relationship without being married. People cohabitate 1) as a prelude to marriage (which will occur when the couple has the emotional or financial means), or 2) because they prefer to live together without being married. Past U.S. research reflects that cohabitants tend to be 1) less happy, 2) less healthy, 3) less satisfied, and-if they eventually marry-4) more likely to divorce than married couples. Research on cohabitation in other countries indicates that this is not the case everywhere.

Question 2

What are the differences between men's friendships and women's friendships?

Answer 2

Men tend to share activities and interests. Male friends talk about external matters-sports, work, politics, cars-and are unlikely to tell other men their weaknesses and problems. When they do bring up emotional and relationship difficulties, they expect practical advice rather than sympathy.
Women's friendships are more intimate and emotional. They tend to share secrets more than men do. Female friends are quicker to engage in self-disclosing talk, discussing at length difficulties with their health, romances, and relatives. Women expect friends to respond with an attentive and sympathetic ear and, if necessary, a shoulder on which to cry or a reassuring hug.

Question 3

Discuss how emerging adults establish an ethnic identity, and name at least two specific challenges faced by emerging-adult immigrants in establishing their ethnic identities.

Answer 3

As emerging adults come into contact with people from diverse backgrounds, they become more conscious of their own background and form an ethnic identity within the context of their cultural history.
Challenges for immigrants as they seek to establish an ethnic identity can include the 1) struggle of balancing their parents' background and cultural practices with their new social context, 2) possible conflict over choice of vocation and 3) choice of romantic partner. In addition, 4) the emerging adults' peer group's ability to make independent decisions may clash with the immigrant parents' expectations.

Question 4

Discuss changes in self-esteem during early adulthood and mention three factors that influence it.

Question 5

In a longitudinal study some 4-year-olds were identified as being at the extreme of traits known to have strong genetic roots: aggressiveness or extreme shyness. Describe at least three traits shown in both types of children when they become emerging adults.

Question 6

Identify three contemporary statistical trends regarding marriage, parenthood, and divorce.

Question 7

Identify three of the problems experienced by emerging adults in achieving vocational identity and describe the typical employment pattern during the emerging adulthood years.

Question 8

Describe situational couple violence and intimate terrorism. Identify the underlying cause and who is likely to be the abuser and victim for each form of violence.

Question 9

Many emerging adults receive substantial support from their parents. Identify three ways in which parents support their emerging adult children and tell how the support contributes to their success or lack thereof.

Question 10

Describe Erikson's stage of intimacy versus isolation.