Critical thinking questions

Your answers to these kinds of questions demonstrate an ability to comprehend and apply ideas discussed in this chapter.

1. Define and distinguish between youth and adulthood.

2. Define burnout, and explain whether college students experience burnout.

3. Is young adulthood better characterized as a period of health-improving lifestyles or health-impairing lifestyles?

4. Illustrate the concepts of addiction, withdrawal, psychological dependence, and recovery for any problem other than alcoholism.

5. Define and distinguish between attitudes and behavior, and provide at least one example of each sexual attitudes and behavior, heterosexual attitudes and behavior, and homosexual attitudes and behavior.

6. Develop and describe your own personal career plan.

Ex.1. Skim over the text and give your comments on its ideas. Give your own opinion on the information.

Child Personality Predicts Adult Behavior

personality – личность

traits – черты

recognizably – явно, легко узнаваемый

verbally fluent – говорливый, многоречивый, речистый, прекрасный оратор

adaptable – ловкий, находчивый, легко адаптирующийся

impulsive – импульсивный, легко возбудимый

self-minimising – низкая самооценка

awkward – неловкий, неуклюжий, стеснительный

timidity – робость, застенчивость

insecurity – чувство незащищенности и беспомощности

maintain – поддерживать

humble – скромный, непритязательный, покорный, униженный

show off – хвастать, выставлять на показ, красоваться

reassurance – утешение, подбадривание

condescending behavior – покровительственное (снисходительное) поведение

reside [z]– быть присущим, свойственным; жить, находиться

Personality traits observed in childhood are a strong predictor of adult behavior according to the data published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.

The researchers compared personality ratings by teachers at the time with videotaped interviews of those individuals forty years later.

Lead author and doctoral candidate Christopher S. Nave explained:

"We remain recognizably the same person. This speaks to the importance of understanding personality because it does follow us wherever we go across time and contexts."

The researchers examined four personality attributes:

• verbally fluent

• adaptable

• impulsive

• self-minimising

Students who had been identified as verbally fluent (defined as unrestrained talkativeness) tended in middle age to be interested in intellectual matters, speak fluently, try to control the situation, and demonstrate a high degree of intelligence. Those who had been rated low tended to seek advice, give up when faced with challenges, and exhibit 'an awkward interpersonal style'.

Students who had been rated as highly adaptable (defined as coping easily and successfully with new situations) tended, in adulthood, to behave cheerfully, speak fluently and show interest in intellectual matters. Those who had been rated low tended to say negative things about themselves, seek advice and exhibit an awkward interpersonal style.

Students who had been rated as impulsive tended, as adults, to speak loudly, display a wide range of interests and be talkative.

Those who had been rated low tended to demonstrate fear or timidity, expressing insecurity and maintaining a distance from others.

Students who had been rated as having a tendency to self-minimise (defined as humble, minimising their own importance or never showing off ) were likely to express guilt, seek reassurance, say negative things about themselves and express insecurity as adults. Those ranked low tended to speak loudly, show interest in intellectual matters and exhibit condescending behavior.

Christopher S. Nave commented:

"We think that personality resides within us. It’s a part of us, a part of our biology. Life events still influence our behaviors, yet we must acknowledge the power of personality in understanding future behavior as well."

PsyArticles.com

Questions:

1. What are the predictors of adult behavior?

2. Was the research longitudinal or cross-sectional?

3. What personality attributes did the researchers examine?

3. What personality traits remain unchangeable in adulthood?

4. What power must we acknowledge and why?