Furthermore, several authors have noted a normative trend toward personality structures that reflect greater self-control, risk avoidance, agreeableness, and emotional stability as people reach adulthood (e.g., Johnson et al., 2007). Similar to the maturing-out effect discussed in the alcohol literature, these normative changes in personality are largely attributed to individuals’ undergoing role transitions associated with adulthood, such as marriage and parenthood (Helson, Kwan, John, & Jones, 2002; Roberts et al., 2006; Roberts, Wood, & Smith, 2005). The tendency of individuals’ personality structures to exhibit developmental adaptation to cope with the roles and tasks associated with adulthood has been labeled the maturity principle (Caspi et al., 2005). Several empirical studies support this perspective, as changes in femininity and dominance have been linked to marital and family status (Roberts, Helson, & Klohnen, 2002) and emotional stability has been found to correspond with experiencing satisfying relationships (Roberts & Chapman, 2000; Robins, Caspi, & Moffitt, 2002).
