Читать книгу Counseling the Contemporary Woman - Suzanne Degges-White - Страница 78
Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Changes
ОглавлениеBrain development continues through emerging adulthood, including the myelination of areas in the prefrontal cortex and the growth of synapses (Giedd et al., 1999), which improves skills of executive functioning, such as cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control (Miyake et al., 2000), and working memory. With exposure to different responsibilities, young adults transition from formal operations to postformal thought (Arlin, 1984; Sinnot, 1984, 1998), which is characterized by logical solutions to problems and the ability to understand the logic of each of the contradictory perspectives and integrate those perspectives into a large whole (Broderick & Blewitt, 2014). Emotional regulation in emerging adults has been linked to parenting style. Additionally, supportive parents tend to be a factor in the avoidance of risk-taking behaviors including sexual ones by emerging adults (Weisskirch, 2018). Research by Joseph, Zhu, Lynam, and Kelly (2016) confirmed previous research related to brain development in emerging adulthood but also indicated that personality might impact impulsive behaviors as well in emerging adults. Development is complex and there are various factors that need to be considered.
In understanding the complex nature of development, the use of theories can be highly beneficial. In a study by Linsenmeyer and Lucas (2017), Perry’s theory of intellectual and ethical development was used to examine student behaviors. They found that college students moved through the various stages and that social justice issues allow students the opportunity to move towards high stages of development. This fits with the idea that during emerging adulthood a person’s values, beliefs, and worldviews become clearer as reevaluation and self-examination occur (Haney & Rollock, 2018). These developments contribute to a young adult’s ability to begin solidifying their sense of identity.