Developmental Psychology
Lecture 17
11-20-00
Outline
Choices & transitions to adulthood
What signals adulthood?
Stage theories of adulthood
Theories of career development
Womens career choices
Positive orientation in young adulthood
Choices During Young Adulthood
Educational Goals & Career Aspirations
Lifestyle, Satisfaction, & Social Groups
Families & Reconciling Relationships
Partners, Cohabitation, Marriage
Moving out, moving in
Having children
Many Choices are
Anxiety provoking
Pressured by peers, partners, & parents
Often not rational
Sometimes made without commitment
Seen as temporary and changeable later
Transitions
Adolescent - Youth - Adult
Not marked by age alone
Vary greatly among people
Dependent upon social roles, expectations, and opportunities
What Made You Feel Like an Adult? (Hoffman & Manis, 1979)
For most women - getting married and becoming a parent
For most men - supporting yourself and independent living
Theories of Adult Development
Erikson - intimacy vs isolation
Levinson - changing social roles
Gould - inevitable turmoil
Gutmann - parental imperative
Ericksons Theory - Young Adulthood
Positive identity achievement in adolescence is a foundation
Major task is to develop intimacy and to avoid alienation
Greater problem for men perhaps
Levinsons Theory: Seasons of Life
Age Major Task
17-22 = Transition to independence
22-28 = Establish adult roles
28-33 = Reflect and make new choices
33-40 = Consolidate career & family goals
Levinsons Theory:Seasons of Life
Early Adult Transition
Form a dream
Form a mentor relationship
Form an occupation
Form a marriage and family
Leads to identity & intimacy
Levinsons Theory: Seasons of Life
Mid-life Transition
Rebalance the young-old polarity
Rebalance the destruction-creation polarity
Rebalance the masculine-feminine polarity
Rebalance the attachment-separateness polarity
Leads to clarified values & generativity
Goulds Theory
17-22 yrs Forge identity
22-28 yrs Attain goals
28-34 yrs Question life
35-43 yrs Create stability
Gutmanns Theory
Parental imperative accentuates gender differences
Men - autonomy, competence, control
Women - nurturance, sympathy, understanding
Similarities Across Theories
Autonomy & Intimacy
Careers
Families
Discord/Conflicts
Reorder Priorities
BUT -- social expectations depend on history & culture
Are We Moving to an Age Irrelevant Society?
(Neugarten)
Social expectations and "social clocks" changing
Adult crises are responses to unexpected changes
Self-esteem depends on social expectations and gender roles in a society
Theories of Career Development
Ginzburg - Developmental theory
3 stages
Fantasy - until 11 years old
Tentative - 11-17 years
Realistic - 18-20s
But large variations and maybe only for middle-class youth who have more choices
Theories of Career Development
Donald Super - Career self-concept theory
Vocational interests and identities change
Crystallization - 14-18 years
Specification - 18-22
Implementation - 21-24
Stabilization - 25-35
Consolidation - after 35
Theories of Career Development
John Holland - Personality type theory
Match personality type with career
Realistic - blue collar, low prestige
Investigative - idea-oriented, highest prestige
Artistic - creative expression
Social - helping orientation
Enterprising - goal-oriented, dominate others
Conventional - clerical tasks
Womens Choices:Family or Career in 20s?
Family Track
marry and raise kids in 20s so kids are independent in 30s
CHOICE: work, home, or college in 30s & 40s
possible over-dependence on partner
Career track
college or work in 20s
establish career in 30s
CHOICE: Career or family in 30s & 40s
leads to commitment
Women in Their 30s Who Choose the Family Track Face Risks such as:
Less education
Lower earning power
Dependence on spouse
Disproportionate child care responsibilities
Depression of stay-at-home moms
Re-entry to jobs at lower levels
Gender differences exaggerated in 30s
Life Contour of Work in Adulthood
Selection and entry - 20s
Adjustment - Age 30 transition
Maintenance - Middle age
Retirement - 50-80?
Depends on economic, cultural, and historical opportunities
What leads to positive orientation in young adults?
Pulkkinen & Ronka (1994)
Identity Achievement
Personal Control
social support
self-confidence
Future Orientation
self-confidence
intrinsic motivation