Emerging Adulthood: Biosocial Development

Download Report

Transcript Emerging Adulthood: Biosocial Development

17 - Emerging Adulthood:
Biosocial Development
Ages 18 – 25
Growth & Strength
Body changes


Good health
Full height




Girls – 16 years old
Boys – 18 years old
Immune system well developed
Senescence (Aging)

Begins in late adolescence
Sexual activity




Sex activity is vigorous, infertility rare, orgasm frequent,
birth (comparatively) easy
Sex hormones peak about age 20
Frequent intercourse (w/o contraception)- a women in
20’s will become pregnant within three months
Contraception = reduced birth rate + increased sexual
activity (in unmarried adults)
Sexually transmitted infections (STI’s)



About half the time STI’s have no symptoms
Half of emerging adults = at least one STI
Increased to epidemic proportions due to:


Changing sexual behaviors
Globalization
Sex & emotional stress


Emotional stress as relationships begin and end
Emotional pain & frustration can occur from differing
attitudes on the purpose of sex
Attitudes on the purpose of sex

Reproduction (Children)


Relationship (Intimacy)


More women
More women
Recreation (Fun)

More men
Psychopathology


Increases in emerging adulthood
Double that for adults over age 25
Mood disorders

Bipolar disorder


May begin in childhood and become more severe in adulthood
Depression


Most common mood disorder
Possibly rooted in neurotransmitters and hormones
Anxiety disorders




Panic attacks
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
More common worldwide than depression
Schizophrenia






About 1% of adults
Disorganized thoughts (Word salad)
Delusions (Thoughts)
Hallucinations (Seeing or hearing)
Inappropriate emotions
Symptoms usually begin in adolescence
Good Health Habits
Exercise

If not fit = 4 times more likely to have diabetes and high
blood pressure 15 years later
Eating well

Set point (Thermostat)



Creates stable weight
Affected by: age, genes, diet, hormones, and exercise
Body mass index (BMI)


How fat you are
Ratio of weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters)
squared
Taking Risks

Greater willingness to take risks





Sexual behavior
Drive without seat belts
Carry guns
Use addictive drugs
Extreme sports



Bunge jumping
Base jumping
“Living on the edge”
Drug abuse


Abuse = Impairs biological or psychological well-being
Addiction = Absence of drug produces a biological drive
to get more

Particularly common among people that die violently

Suicide, homicide, or car accident