Psychology

Presenting "emerging adulthood": What makes It developmentally distinctive?

Document Type

Book Chapter

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the theoretical and empirical evidence in support of the view that emerging adulthood is a unique stage of development. First, this stage of development is distinct demographically in terms of delayed school-to-work transitions, and delayed entries into marriage and parenthood. Second, the concept of recentering determines the uniqueness of emerging adulthood from a developmental systems perspective. At this one and only stage of development, a dynamic power shift occurs between individual and society that discourages continued dependence and encourages accelerated independence; this transfer of agency defines a critical juncture in life span human development. Last, a broad review of the developmental literature reveals convergent support for the assertion that emerging adults are developmentally distinct from younger and older age groups, in personality; cognition; physical and mental health; emotional development; interpersonal relationships with parents, peers, and significant others; sex; and educational and occupational roles.

Publication Title

Debating Emerging Adulthood: Stage or Process?

Publication Date

2011

First Page

13

Last Page

30

ISBN

9780199863389,9780199757176

DOI

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199757176.003.0002

Keywords

agency, developmental systems, emerging adulthood, identity, recentering

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