Psychosocial Developments

As one enters young adulthood there are further developments in identity, personality, and emotional and social life.

Identity Development

Young adulthood is the time for recentering. This is the process that underlies the shift to an adult identity. It occurs in stages where power, responsibility, and decision making gradually shift from the family of origin to the independent young adult.

Racial and ethnic exploration also occurs at this age for minorities.

Personality Development 


Young adults are in Erikson's sixth stage of psychosocial development. During this time young adults either make commitments to others or face a possible sense of isolation and self-absorption. Resolution of this stage results in the virtue of love: mutual devotion between partners who have chosen to share their lives, have children, and help those children achieve their own healthy development.

There are four approaches to viewing how personality develops in young adulthood. They are represented by normative-stage models, timing-of-events models, trait models, and typological models.

Normative-Stage Model

• Theoretical model that that describes psychological development in terms of a definite sequence or age-related changes. 
• Developmental tasks, or typical challenges, need to be mastered fir successful adaptation to each stage of life. 
• These tasks include leaving the childhood home, completing education, entering the world of work, and becoming financially independent. 
• This model maintains that personality development does not end with attainment of adulthood and that humans continue to change and develop throughout their lives.

Timing-of-Events Model

• Theoretical model of personality development that describes adult psychosocial development as a response to the expected or unexpected occurrence and timing of important life events.
• According to this model people adhere to a social clock, a set of cultural norms or expectations for the times of life when certain important events, such as marriage, parenthood, entry into work, and retirement, should occur.
• Normative timing of life events can cause stress and affect personality development. Also, personality differences influence the way people respond to life events and may even influence their timing. 

Trait Model

• Theoretical model of personality development that focuses on mental, emotional, temperamental, and behavioral traits, or attributes. 
• Looks for stability or change in personality traits.
• Five-factor model developed by Paul T. Costa and Robert R. McCrae consists of universal traits known as the "Big Five"

1. Neuroticism 
2. Extraversion
3. Openness to Experience 
4. Conscientiousness 
5. Agreeableness 

• Personality changes substantially until age 30, more slowly thereafter. 

Typological Model

• Theoretical approach that identifies broad personality types, or styles as a functioning whole. 
• Personality types tend to show continuity from childhood through adulthood, but certain life events can change the life course. 
• Identifies three basic personality types:

1. Ego-resilient 
2. Overcontrolled
3. Undercontrolled 

(Papalia, 2009, p. 453-461)

Remaining Occupationally Balanced throughout Psychosocial Development

In order to feel a sense of balance during this transition, young adults will need to support their own ego development. By focusing on the ability to understand oneself and one's world and integrate what they discover to take charge of planning one's life course, young adults will determine their identity in a way that allows them to remain balanced.