1. Chapter 11
Physical and Cognitive Development
in Early Adulthood
20s & 30s
PowerPoints developed by Jenni Fauchier,
Butchered by Professor Carney

2. Markers of Becoming an Adult
• When do we consider someone an
adult?
• (other than legally)
20s & 30s

3. 20s & 30s
Markers of Becoming an Adult
• Most widely recognized marker:
• Holding permanent, full-time job
• Economic independence
• Often long process
• Taking responsibility for self
• How changing?

4. 20s & 30s
• Accepting responsibility
• Consequences of actions
• Deciding beliefs & values
• Establishing relationship with
parents as equal
• What does this mean?
Markers of Becoming an Adult
Cont.

5. 20s & 30s
• 3 assets especially important to well-
being during transition:
• 1. Intellectual (cognitive)
• 2. Psychological
• 3. Social friends
)
I purchased socks
Markers of Becoming an Adult

6. Achieving the Transition
3 Types of Assets
• 1. Intellectual
•Academic success
•Ability to plan
• (delay gratification)
•Good decision-making skills
20s & 30s

7. 20s & 30s
Achieving the Transition
3 Types of Assets
• 2. Psychological
• Mental health
• Mastery motivation
• Confidence in competence
• Identity
• Values
• Community contributions

8. • 3. Social
•Connectedness to others
through:
• Friendship
• Positive peer relations
20s & 30s
Achieving the Transition
3 Types of Assets

9. 20s & 30s
College Issues
• Today’s students experience more:
• Stress
• Depressed more then past
• Main concerns
• Pressure
• Succeed in college
• Get a great job
• Make money
• Recession?

10. 20s & 30s
Emerging Adulthood
• Emerging Adulthood 18-25
• Transition from adolescence to adulthood
• 5 features characterize emerging adulthood:
• 1. Identity exploration
• Especially in love & work
• 2. Instability
• 3. Self-focused
• 4. Feeling in-between
• 5. Possibilities
• Opportunity to transform their lives
I insisted Sarah fold pajamas

11. 20s & 30s
Physical Performance &
Development
• Physical performance peak before 30
• Signs of decline 30
• Sagging chins
• Protruding abdomens
• Lessening of physical abilities
• Begin decline in physical performance

12. 20s & 30s
Health
• 2x’s mortality rate of adolescents
• Don’t think how lifestyles affect health
later
• Smoking
• Junk food

13. 20s & 30s
Substance Abuse
• Mid-20’s, reduced use alcohol & drugs
• Binge drinking
• More common among college men
• Problems include
• Missing classes
• Physical injuries
• Troubles with police
• Unprotected sex

14. 20s & 30s
Sexuality
“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere. “ Mae
West
• Casual sex more common (18-25)
• Sexual orientation
Combination of
•Genetic
•Hormonal
•Cognitive
•Environmental factors

15. 20s & 30s
Realistic & Pragmatic Thinking
• Realistic and Pragmatic thinking
• Face reality
• Idealism decreases
• What factors might cause this?
• Early adulthood switch from
• acquiring knowledge
• to
• applying knowledge

16. 20s & 30s
Reflective & Relativistic Thinking
Perry
• When younger
• Black & white thinking
• good/bad
• right/wrong
• How does this change as we become an
adult?

17. • Thinking in adulthood
• Reflective & Relativistic thinking
• Consider many views
• Determine most suitable answer to situation.
• Others believe
• Reflective thinking
• Important indicator of cognitive change
20s & 30s
Reflective & Relativistic Thinking
Perry

18. 20s & 30s
Postformal Thought
• Postformal thought
• Understanding correct answer to problem
requires reflective thinking
• Can vary situationaly
• Ex: Should I get an abortion?
• Includes belief
• Solutions to problems need to be realistic
• Emotion & biases can influence thinking

19. 20s & 30s
Creativity
• Time of great creativity
• Decline in 50’s & later
• Extensive individual variation in lifetime
output of creative individuals

20. 20s & 30s
Career & Work
• Important themes of early
adulthood:
• Earning a living
•Choosing occupation
•Establishing career
•Developing career

21. Career & Work
• By mid-20’s
• Many completed education or
training
• Full-time occupation
• Remainder of early adulthood
• Establish career
• Improve financial standing
20s & 30s

22. 20s & 30s
Personality
• Personality type theory
• Important to match personality
with career
• Holland believes
• Careers fit personality
• More likely
• Enjoy work
• Stay job longer

23. Personality
6 basic career-related personality types:
1.Realistic: Thinkers
2.Investigative: Doers
3.Artistic: Creators
4.Social: Helpers
5.Enterprising: Persuaders
6.Conventional: Organizers
20s & 30s