Psychology

Debating emerging adulthood: Stage or process?

Document Type

Book

Abstract

In this book two pairs of developmental psychologists take sides in a spirited debate over the theory of "emerging adulthood," Jeffrey Arnett's proposal that a new life stage has developed in between adolescence and young adulthood, lasting roughly from ages 18 to 25. Arnett and Jennifer Tanner argue that as young people around the world share demographic similarities such as longer education and later marriage, the 18-25 age period is best understood as entailing the rise of a new life stage of emerging adulthood. However, because the experiences of emerging adults worldwide vary according to cultural context, educational attainment, and social class, Arnett and Tanner suggest that there may not be one but many different emerging adulthoods. An important issue for this burgeoning area of inquiry is to explore and describe this variation. In contrast, Marion Kloep and Leo Hendry assert that stage theories have never been able to explain individual transitions across the life course; in their view, stage theories-including the theory of emerging adulthood--ought to be abolished altogether, and explanations found for the processes and mechanisms that govern human change at any age. This book provides the argument of "stage or process" in full-force, with vigorous disagreements, conflicting alternatives, some leavening humor, and ultimately even some common ground.

Publication Title

Debating Emerging Adulthood: Stage or Process?

Publication Date

2011

First Page

1

Last Page

192

ISBN

9780199863389,9780199757176

DOI

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199757176.001.0001

Keywords

emerging adulthood, life course, stage theories, young adulthood, youth

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