Page 40 - Biblical Counseling II-Textbook

Achieving a sense of identity is a life-long process, but there are periods of identity crisis and
stability. And, according to Erikson, having some sense of identity is essential for intimate relationships”
(Clark-Plaskie, p. 2, 2020). (photo: www.cvasa.org)

“Many of the developmental tasks of early adulthood involve becoming part of the adult world and
gaining independence. The focus of early adulthood is often on the future. Many aspects of life are on
hold while people go to school, go to work, and prepare for a brighter future. The day consists of
meeting many demands that these tasks bring. The incentive for working so hard is that it will all result
in a better future” (Clark-Plaskie, p. 2, 2020).

Reflection: Look back at the chart on page 41. Early Adulthood is stage 6 and includes ages 20-34. What
are your thoughts on Erikson’s beliefs about this stage? Does it apply to you in your life right now?

Adulthood
Physical Development: Our physical abilities –
muscular strength, reaction time, sensory
awareness, and cardiac output – all reach the
top of their development by the mid-twenties.
Like the declining daylight after the summer,
the decline of physical abilities begins
imperceptibly. Athletes are often the first to
notice. World-class sprinters and swimmers
peak by their early twenties. Women – who
mature earlier than men – also peak earlier.
But most of us – especially those of us whose
daily lives do not require top physical
performance – hardly perceive the early signs of decline. Senses age later in life, physical decline is
noticed, muscle strength, reaction time, and stamina diminish noticeably. The body’s disease-fighting
immune system weakens, making older people susceptible to pneumonia and cancer (Myers, 2009).
(photo: citifmonline.com)

Cognitive Development: No matter how quick or slow we are at remembering, it seems to also depend
on the type of information we are trying to retrieve. If the information is meaningless – nonsense
syllables or unimportant events – then the older we are, the more errors we are likely to make. If the

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