Psychology

Emerging Adulthood: Learning and Development During the First Stage of Adulthood

Document Type

Book Chapter

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors describe a relatively recent theoretical advance regarding the early years of adulthood—a period that Arnett has called emerging adulthood, which comprises the years from 18 to 30. Emerging adulthood is distinct from both adolescence and adulthood proper and is said to be the age of identity explorations, an age of instability, a self-focused period, a time of feeling in-between roles, and an age of great possibilities. Their chapter articulates a three-stage process of recentering in which individuals shift their involvements from the dependency of childhood and adolescence to the independence of adulthood. Recentering provides a useful framework for understanding the developmental challenges emerging adults face, according to the authors. Emerging adulthood is a period of plasticity during which the shaping of the adult's life goals is possible and necessary. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Publication Title

Handbook of Research on Adult Learning and Development

Publication Date

2008

First Page

34

Last Page

67

ISBN

9781135597405,9780203887882

DOI

10.4324/9780203887882-3

Keywords

emerging adulthood, theories, young adulthood, recentering, independence, developmental challenges, identity development

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