Early adulthood, from ages 18-40, is a period of adjusting to new social roles and expectations as a spouse, parent, or breadwinner. During this transition, individuals face developmental tasks of establishing independence and stability in work and personal life. Traditional gender roles are also gradually being replaced by more egalitarian concepts that emphasize equal behavior and fulfillment for both sexes, though adjusting to new roles can be difficult, especially for women forced into traditional roles after experiencing more equal roles before marriage. Mastering developmental tasks is made more difficult if individuals face stumbling blocks like inadequate preparation, physical or mental handicaps, unrealistic aspirations, or prolonging peer influence from their youth.

1. EARLY
ADULTHOOD
Personal
Adjustments
Developmental Psychology
by
Elizabeth Hurlock
lija mary mathew

2. Adulthood
• The longest period of the lifespan
• Subdivided into three periods
(1) Early Adulthood [18-40]
(2) Middle Adulthood [40-60]
(3) Late Adulthood [60-death]
• Adults are individuals who have completed
their growth and are ready to assume their
status in society along with other adults.

3. EARLY ADULTHOOD
Itisaperiodofadjustmentstonewpatternsoflifeandnewsocial
expectations.
Youngeradultsplaynewroleslikespouse,parent, breadwinner etc.and
developnew interests,attitudes,andvaluesinkeepingwiththesenew
roles
Characteristics Social
Adjustments
Developmental
Tasks
Personal
adjustments

4. Sex-Role
Adjustments
in
Early
Adulthood
Most of the young married women find sex-
role adjustments in early adulthood very
difficult, especially when they are forced into
traditional roles after playing more egalitarian
roles before marriage.
The traditional concepts are gradually being
modified or even replaced by new, more
egalitarian ones (concept that stress similar
behaviour for members of two sexes).These
concepts have found acceptance among all
social groups,even those which forme;y holds
to traditional concepts of male and female
roles.

5. Traditional
Concepts
Egalitarian
Concepts
Concepts
of
Adult Sex
Roles
It emphasize a prescribed pattern of
behaviour, regardless of individual
interests or abilities. They emphasize
masculine supremacy and intolerance
toward any trait that hints of feminity or
any work that is considered as "woman
work".
Emphasize individuality and the
egalitarian status of men and
women.Roles should lead to personal
fulfillment and not be considered
appropriate for only one sex.

6. PERSONAL AND SOCIAL HAZARDS
OF EARLY ADULTHOOD
Mastering theDevelopmentaltasksisdifficult atany
age,andthisisincreased whenstumblingblocks
impedetheindividual'sprogress.
Stumbling blocks to master Developmental tasks of Early Adulthood
• Inadequate foundations
• Physical Handicaps
• Discontinuities in Training
• Overprotectiveness
• Prolongation of peer-group influence
• Unrealistic Aspirations

7. Physical
Hazards
Religious
Hazards
Sex-Role
Hazards
Personal
hazards of
Early
Adulthood

8. • Adherence to traditional
concepts.
• Occupational Conflict
-work load and
discrimination
Religious Hazards
• Adjusting to new religious
faith accepted in place of
the family faith of
childhood.
• In mixed marriages where
in-laws pressure the
couple to adopt one or
other faith.
Physical Hazards
• Poor health or
physical defects.
-adults with poor health
suffer from constant
frustration which leads to
stress and sometimes to fatal
heartattacks.
• Physical
Unattractiveness

9. "Be Grateful
for what you're
at.
And be
excited about
where you're
going"
THANKYOU