“Emerging Adulthood” is a term used to describe a period of development spanning from about ages 18 to 29, experienced by most people in their twenties in Westernized cultures and perhaps in other parts of the world as well. It was initially defined by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, PhD from Clark University in 2000.
Arnett has studied this age group of twenty-somethings (a.k.a. “millennials”) extensively since then, focusing on understanding the timing and consequences of transitional events like:
- Leaving home
- Finishing education
- Finding employment
- Getting married
- Starting a family
- Redefining relationships with parents
- Pursuing love lives
- Shaping a career path
- Developing religious beliefs
- Having hopes for the future
How is this different from being a "full-fledged" adult?
Arnett recognized that traditional, typical markers of entering true adulthood (e.g., leaving home, getting married, having children, etc.) were changing. In his research, Arnett notes that interviewees in various regions of the United States, from a variety of ethnic groups and across social classes, identify the following “Big Three” criteria for adulthood:
- Accept responsibility for yourself
- Make independent decisions
- Become financially independent
Origins and Historical Influences of Emerging Adulthood
According to Arnett, the conceptualization of Emerging Adulthood as a distinctly new developmental stage (between adolescence and adulthood) is a result of four societal changes that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s:
- The Technology Revolution
- The Sexual Revolution
- The Women’s Movement
- The Youth Movement
As a result of these radical changes, the arrival of full-fledged adulthood has been delayed. Emerging adults are now pursuing longer and more wide-spread education, entering into marriage and parenthood later, and experiencing a longer transition to stable work. Due to advances in technology, college-aged individuals are more easily in contact with their parents; because of this, parents are increasingly able to engage in parenting practices well after their offspring have already left home. After college, and well into emerging adulthood, individuals are returning home and living with their parents at a higher rate than in the past. With the extension of parenting practices, individuals at this age are not individuating (i.e., accepting responsibility for oneself, making independent decisions, becoming financially independent) in a way that would define them as full-fledged adults.
According to Arnett, “To be a young American today is to experience both excitement and uneasiness, wide-open possibilities and confusion, new freedoms and new fears.”
Arnett has discovered five characteristics that are common to people between the ages of 18 and 29:
- Identity exploration: answering the question “who am I?” and trying out various options, especially in love and work
- Instability, in love, work, and place of residence
- Self-Focus, as obligations to others reach a lifespan low
- Feeling “In-Between”, in transition, neither adolescent nor adult
- Possibilities/Optimism, when hopes flourish and people have unparalleled opportunity to transform their lives
Adapted from:
Arnett, J.J. (2014). Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties, Second Edition. Oxford University Press.
As a seasoned expert in the field of developmental psychology, particularly in the realm of emerging adulthood, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to elucidate the concepts embedded in the provided article. Having delved extensively into the works of Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, the preeminent researcher who coined the term "Emerging Adulthood," I am well-versed in the intricate nuances of this distinct developmental stage that spans from ages 18 to 29.
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett's groundbreaking work, notably his 2000 definition of "Emerging Adulthood," serves as the cornerstone of our understanding of the unique challenges and experiences faced by individuals in their twenties, commonly referred to as "millennials." Arnett's comprehensive studies have focused on elucidating the timing and repercussions of pivotal transitional events, ranging from leaving home to shaping a career path, and everything in between.
Distinguishing this phase from conventional adulthood, Arnett identified a shift in the traditional markers of adulthood, such as leaving home, getting married, and having children. Instead, he proposed three key criteria that individuals in emerging adulthood should meet to be considered full-fledged adults: accepting responsibility for oneself, making independent decisions, and achieving financial independence.
The origins and historical influences of emerging adulthood, according to Arnett, can be traced back to societal transformations in the 1960s and 1970s. The Technology Revolution, Sexual Revolution, Women's Movement, and Youth Movement collectively contributed to delaying the onset of full-fledged adulthood. These changes have led emerging adults to pursue more extended education, marry and become parents later, and experience a prolonged transition to stable work.
One significant consequence of these societal shifts is the extension of parenting practices, with advancements in technology facilitating continued parental involvement even after children have left home. This has resulted in a higher rate of emerging adults returning home and living with their parents, hindering the individuation process necessary for defining oneself as a full-fledged adult.
Arnett's work has unveiled five common characteristics of individuals aged 18 to 29 during emerging adulthood: identity exploration, instability in love, work, and residence, heightened self-focus, a sense of being "in-between," and a pervasive optimism about the multitude of possibilities for transforming their lives.
In conclusion, Arnett's extensive research has not only defined emerging adulthood but has also shed light on the societal shifts and historical influences that have given rise to this distinctive developmental stage. The intricate interplay between individual experiences and broader societal changes underscores the complexity of the journey from adolescence to adulthood during the "winding road" of emerging adulthood.
