Lifespan Development Psychology: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood

Challenges in Early Adulthood

Key challenges include:
- Leaving home
- Completing education
- Securing full-time employment
- Achieving economic independence
- Forming romantic relationships and having children
Many young adults feel they reach adulthood in late 20s or early 30s (Arnett, 2003).
Emerging Adulthood:
- A transitional phase with prolonged exploration before accepting adult responsibilities.
- Cultural reasons: more education required, older populations in developed countries.
- Lower SES young adults face additional challenges: limited education, early parenthood, failed relationships.

By the 20s, body structures are at peak capacity (strength, endurance, sensory, immune responsiveness).
Senescence: Gradual aging process begins, often unnoticed in 20s and 30s.

Cellular Level:
- Aging results from programmed genetic changes and environmental damage.
- Telomere shortening reduces cell duplication, leading to functional loss (Nakashima et al., 2004).
- DNA mutations and cellular damage caused by free radicals lead to disorders like cancer.
- Antioxidants (e.g., Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene) can mitigate free radical damage (Harman, 2003).
Organ and Tissue Level:
- Loss of elasticity in connective fibers affects skin and internal organs.
- Endocrine system declines, affecting muscle, bone density, and cardiovascular health.
- Immune system deficits increase susceptibility to diseases.

Cardiovascular:
- Decreased blood flow due to arterial stiffness and plaque.
- Normal heart function except under stress.
Respiratory:
- Decline in lung capacity, noticeable during exertion.
- Stiffening connective tissues affect lung expansion.
Motor Performance:
- Performance peaks in early 20s for some skills and late 20s/early 30s for others.
Immune System:
- Declining ability to fight infections, governed by T and B cells.
- Shrinking thymus reduces T cell maturation, affecting immune response.

Rising obesity rates in America, linked to lifestyle and diet.
Health risks include high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.
Behavior change, balanced diet, and regular exercise are essential to combat obesity.

Nicotine: Highly addictive, causes numerous health issues.
- Withdrawal and health facts highlight severe risks.
- Treatment includes nicotine replacements and behavioral changes.
Alcohol:
- Acts as a depressant, with significant health and social risks.
- Problem drinking prevalent in college students.
- Treatment includes detoxification, therapeutic programs, and sometimes medication.

Postformal Thought: More complex than Piaget's formal operational thought.
- Awareness of diverse opinions, development of wisdom.
- Pragmatic thought in career and cognitive-affective complexity.

William Perry:
- Transition from dualistic to relativistic thinking in young adults.
- Some adults advance to commitment within relativistic thinking, synthesizing opposing views.
Gisella Labouvie-Vief:
- Young adults use logic to solve real-world problems, embracing complexity and contradiction.
- Expertise and creativity develop with practice.

Flow (Csikszentmihalyi): A state of focused engagement and enjoyment in activities.
- Requires challenging, rewarding tasks.
- Enhances mood and cognitive development.

Develops through fantasy, tentative, and realistic periods.
John Holland's Personality Type Theory:
- Matches personality traits with suitable vocations.
- Includes six personality types: realistic, intellectual, social, conventional, enterprising, artistic.
- Personality-vocation matches enhance job satisfaction.
Challenges:
- Adolescents often do not fit neatly into one personality type.
- Vocational choices influence personality development over time.
- Gender stereotypes and SES impact career paths.
- Need for vocational training for non-college-bound youth.