Emerging adulthood is a period between adolescence and adulthood, coined by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett in 2000. It is characterized by self-exploration, personal growth, and a departure from traditional paths due to cultural changes. Some oppose it, claiming it promotes laziness and underachievement in young people.
Emerging adulthood is a term coined by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett in an article that appeared in American Psychologist in 2000. Arnett used the term to describe the period between adolescence and adulthood that 20-somethings began to occupy in the late 1980s 20. This period of human development was significant because it departed from the traditional path of past generations. As they grow into emerging adulthood, a young adult might focus on self-exploration, learning, and personal growth. Psychologists like Arnett have seen this period of 20-something behavior contrasted with the behaviors of that generation’s parents, who instead chose to focus on careers, marriage, and children in their 20s.
Arnett noted that the causes of the emergence of adulthood largely stem from cultural changes that promote a different lifestyle for younger generations. In a technologically advanced society, Arnett points out, there is a greater need for a broader education, while there are also fewer jobs available. Additionally, Arnett also examined the increased acceptance of premarital sex, cohabitation, and the use of birth control among young people. As social values and cultural pressures have changed and reworked, Arnett believes a new period of life has formed. Proponents of emerging adulthood argue that this is a period of positive development for young adults.
Emerging adulthood is also characterized by young adults who wait to get married or have children until they have established themselves in their careers, as well as those who pursue education before anything else. Many of these young adults move back in with their parents in their 20s. They may also switch careers, homes, and romantic partners often. Individuals in emerging adulthood may choose to remain single or childless throughout their adult life. The period between adolescence and adulthood can be a time for people to reflect on their positions in life, as well as the directions in which they are going.
Some psychologists oppose the concept of emerging adulthood, saying it promotes laziness and underachievement in young people. Supporters of this side of the debate argue that 20-somethings weren’t raised well, due to overprotective or inattentive parents. As a result, the generation of those in emerging adulthood has found itself ill-equipped to meet the challenges of adult life. This poor planning causes them to turn to parental and family support, never developing the skills needed to succeed in the traditional way.
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