Early Adulthood

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RESPONSE:

1. Explain some views on topics such as love, cohabitation, divorce, marriage, working women, extramarital affairs and child-rearing practices along with some examples.

It is not clear if the question wants you to address all the variables, as it uses the words such as..., and there are many theories for each, and the 250 word suggested limit is limiting in order to explore "all" these concepts and different views of each, along with examples. Let's look at several of them for you to consider.

Love

There are many theories of love proposed. For example, Rubin proposed that romantic love is composed of three elements: attachment, caring, and intimacy. Attachment involves "the need to receive care, approval, and physical contact with the other person." Caring is about "valuing the other person's needs and happiness as much as your own." On the other hand, Intimacy involves "the sharing of thoughts, desires, and feelings with the other person." (http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/a/theoriesoflove.htm)

A second theory of love was put forth by Hatfield et al. For these theorists, there are two basic types of love: compassionate love and passionate love. Compassionate love involves "mutual respect, attachment, affection, and trust" developing "out of feelings of mutual understanding and shared respect for each other." On the other hand, passionate love is represented "by intense emotions, sexual attraction, anxiety, and affection" and "when these intense emotions are reciprocated, people feel elated and fulfilled. Unreciprocated love leads to feelings of despondence and despair. Hatfield suggests that passionate love is transitory, usually lasting between 6 and 30 months." (http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/a/theoriesoflove.htm )

Lee proposed 6 Styles of Loving including three primary styles: (a) eros - loving an ideal person, (b) ludos or love as a game and storge, and (c) love as friendship. There are also three secondary styles: (d) mania (eros + ludos) or obsessive love, for example; (e) pragma (ludos + storge) or realistic and practical love, and (f) agape (eros + storge) or selfless love, like people doing missionary work as a volunteer (http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/a/theoriesoflove.htm).
As well, Robert Sternberg proposed a triangular theory of love suggesting three components of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment. Theoretical, for example, different combinations of these three components result in different types of love. For example, a combination of commitment and intimacy results in compassionate love, while a combination of passion and intimacy leads to passionate love.

According to Sternberg, relationships built on two or more elements are more enduring that those based upon a single component. Sternberg uses the term consummate love to describe a combination of intimacy, passion, and commitment. While this type of love is the strongest and most enduring, Sternberg suggests that this type of love is rare. (http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/a/theoriesoflove.htm)

Marriage and Co-habilitation

Couples who live together before they get married are less likely to stay married, a new study has found. But their chances improve if they were already engaged when they began living together. (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2462494/posts). For example, many couples are content to live together, and some regard their relationship as a 'trial marriage', while others reject the institution of marriage and never plan to marry. In fact, cohabitation has become socially acceptable although it is contrary to the most fundamental teachings of the Christian faith. Society accepts it and the term ''partner' is now in common ...