The different ways in which adults relate to romantic partners, based on Mary Ainsworth’s infant attachment styles (Adult attachment styles are classified as secure, preoccupied/ambivalent insecure, or avoidant/dismissive insecure).

When a young person is unable to decide between different identities, becoming emotionally paralyzed and highly anxious.

Being on target in a culture’s timetable for achieving adult life tasks.

In Murstein’s theory, the initial mate-selection stage, in which we make judgments about a potential partner based on external characteristics such as appearance.

The concept suggesting that we regulate our passage through adulthood by an inner timetable telling us which activities are appropriate for certain ages.

The genuine intimacy that is ideal in love relationships.

Moving out of a childhood home and living independently.

Being too late or too early in a culture’s timetable for achieving adult life tasks.

An identity status in which the person is aimless or feels totally blocked, without any adult life path.

The principle that we select a mate who is similar to us.

James Marcia’s four categories of identity formation: identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement.

Erikson’s first adult task, involving connecting with a partner in a mutually loving relationship.

In Murstein’s theory, the final mate-selection stage, in which committed partners work out their future life together.

Murstein’s mate-selection theory suggest that similar people pair up and that our path to commitment progresses through three phases (called the stimulus, value-comparison, and role phases).

In Murstein’s theory, the second mate-selection stage, in which we make judgments about a partner on the basis of similar values and interests.

How people come to terms with who they are as people relating to their unique ethnic or racial heritage.

How people of mixed racial backgrounds come to terms with who they are as people in relation to their heritage.

The characteristic behavior that is expected of a person in a particular social position, such as student, parent, married person, worker, or retiree.

An identity status in which the person actively seeks out various possibilities to find a truly solid adult life path. A mature style of constructing an identity.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s term for feeling total absorption in a challenging, goal-oriented activity.

An identity status in which the person decides on a definite adult life path after searching out various options.

In Erikson’s theory, the life task of deciding who to be as a person in making the transition to adulthood.

The change from the schooling phase of life to the work world.

An identity status in which the person decides on an adult life path (often one spelled out by an authority figure) without any thought or active search.

Sharing a household in an unmarried romantic relationship.

A standoffish, excessively disengaged style of relating to loved ones.

The phase of life that begins after high school, tapers off toward the late twenties, and is devoted to constructing an adult life.

Cultural ideas about the appropriate ages for engaging in particular activities or life tasks.

An excessively clingy, needy style of relating to loved ones.

Erikson’s term for a failure in identity formation, marked by the lack of any sense of a future adult path.

Intense fear and dislike of gays and lesbians.