After reading this chapter, students should be able to:

• Describe the general characteristics of physical development during early adulthood
  
  
• Describe the characteristics related to staying healthy in young adults
  
  
• Describe what is required for adequate nutrition during early adulthood
  
  
• Describe the common barriers that individuals with disabilities face
  
  
• Identify the origins and consequences of stress as well as potentially effective ways to cope with stress
  
  
• Describe postformal operational thought
  
  
• Explain Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence
  
  
• Describe the development of creativity
  
  
• Describe how life events impact cognitive development that occurs during early adulthood
  
  
• Explain what kind of students enter higher education
  
  
• Describe a common adjustment reaction to college
  
  
• Describe the differing college experiences for males and females
  
  
• Explain the meaning and origins of 'disidentification with school'
  
  
• Explain the reasons for the high dropout rate among college students