1. Emerging Adulthood: Age 18-25-29
Goal = extensive exploration before committing to adult roles (careers and relationships)
One of the most challenging and change-inducing periods of life.
-"Re-centering" of life roles (trying to re-center your life. Trying to get back to normal) No more being dependent on others.
-Loss of structure and predictability (after age 18, up to you to set up your life)
2. Historical Changes - Emerging Adulthood: Increase in life expectancy (live the way you want to be)
Changes in education and workforce (college degree to work, college is for exploration)
Shift in cultural norms toward focus on self-expression (following your dreams, most people do things in the way they express
themselves. Back then you just do what feels right)
3. Nest-Leaving: Experiencing from leaving your childhood home. Separation from caregiver. Living independently. Your are your
own control. Being independent. Negative Stereotype: Not leaving the nest means you're unmotivated, don't wanna leave home.
Positive Stereotype: trying to save money but is motivated.
Partners living together but not married (co-habitation) most cultures are against it. Most people in their "20's" don't have the money to
leave. Some cultures don't allow them to leave. Multigenerational home - several generations in one home.
4. Purpose of College: Finding a passion/career (setting yourself up for success) Growing intellectually and personally (using your
mind) 2/3 U.S. high school graduates enroll in college.
1/2 of all college freshman do not graduate.
1/4 of emerging adults has completed a four-year degree.
College degree can be so important for future financial success.
5. Success in College - Initial Predictors: Family background Skills and abilities
Previous School Experiences. After Entering College:
- Academic System: Classroom preference. Relationships developed with faculty (with students). (Faculty can do more to reach
out/communicate to students instead of students reaching out to faculty).
- Social System: Participation in college activities. Friends and social relationships.
(having a relationship with faculty no matter what SES background you come from).
Feeling Engaged and Fulfilled: Competing commitments from from family and work (how your caregiver experience with college).
Caregiver experience can sometimes help you with your college experience.
6. Success in College - After Entering College: Academic System:
- Classroom preference
, Final Exam (PSY 230 Lifespan Development)
- Relationships developed with faculty (with students (Faculty can do more to reach out/communicate to students instead of students
reaching out to faculty). Social System:
- Participation in college activities.
- Friends and social relationships.
(having a relationship with faculty no matter what SES background you come from).
7. Success in College - Feeling Engaged and Fulfilled: Competing commitments from from family and work (how your
caregiver experience with college). Caregiver experience can sometimes help you with your college experience.
8. Constructing a Career: Most adolescents have lofty (and usually unrealistic) career goals.
Disappointment upon learning the many constraints to reaching those goals (e.g., competition, finances, skill-sets).
9. Flow: Having a mindset. Focused on something/into it, motivated, challenging but not too challenging, challenging enough to
where you can still do it.
Something that makes you excited to do - passion).
Challenging but I know I can get there - balance between boredom and stress, what makes you get there.
10. Achievement (Marcia Identity Statuses): High Exploration
High Commitment
Has set goals, values, and self-concepts - 1
11. Moratorium (Marcia Identity Statuses): High Exploration
Low Commitment
Driven by you - 2
12. Foreclosure (Marcia Identity Statuses): Low Exploration
High Commitment
Forced upon you - 3
13. Diffusion (Marcia Identity Statuses): Low Exploration
Low Commitment
No driven force - 4
14. Identity Status and Well-Being: Identity achievement/moratorium are healthy routes to mature self-definition.
Long-term foreclosure and diffusion are maladaptive. ("I don't care" attitude) lack of trying to find one's self.
Ruminative moratorium (anxiously obsessing about all possibilities) can also lead to high distress. (obsessing over a negative idea).