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Lifespan Development

Key Terms

Lifespan DevelopmentKey Terms
autonomous interdependence
according to Selman, adult stage of friendship in which friends appreciate and respect each other’s individuality and identity while also relying on each other for the support
homogamy
preference for forming romantic relationships with those who are similar to us
intergenerational solidarity
closeness among family generations promoted by frequent interaction, expressions of affection, alignment of values and beliefs, provision of help, proximity to each other, and shared norms and traditions
intersectionality
framework to understand how people experience multiple aspects of their identity simultaneously
intimacy vs. isolation
according to Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, the early adulthood challenge to establish close and trusting relationships with others
maturity principle of personality development
increase or decrease of certain traits with age to effectively adapt to the demands of development
mean-level change
extent to which the level of a personality trait can fluctuate historically and over the lifespan
rank-order stability
tendency for an individual’s levels of personality traits compared to others to remain stable over time
self
totality of all your personal characteristics, including the way you see yourself, represent yourself, and relate to others
self-determination theory
theory that proposes that success and well-being are maximized when we are able to balance our needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness
social clock
cultural expectations about normative behavior and achievements that are associated with age
social investment theory of personality development
idea that commitment to certain life roles predicts corresponding changes in personality traits to support the demands of these roles
trajectory
predicted pathway of development, usually determined by the interaction of behaviors within context
work-life balance
arrangement that allows a person to spend the desired amount of time on activities that are important to them such as work, leisure, education, and caregiving
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