Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens through the TwentiesRecently the lives of people from age 18 to 29 have changed so dramatically that a new stage of life has developed, emerging adulthood, that is distinct from both the adolescence that precedes it and the young adulthood that comes in its wake. Rather than marrying and becoming parents in their early twenties, most people in industrialized societies now postpone these transitions until at least their late twenties, and instead spend the time in self-focused exploration as they try out different possibilities in their careers and relationships. In Emerging Adulthood, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett identifies and labels, for the first time, this period exploration, instability, possibility, self-focus, and a sustained sense of being in limbo. An increasing number of emerging adults emphasize having meaningful and satisfying work to a degree not seen in prior generations. Marrying later and exploring more casual sexual relationships have created different hopes and fears concerning long-term commitments and the differences between love and sex. Emerging adults also face the challenge of defending their non-traditional lifestyles to parents and others outside their generation who have made much more traditional choices. In contrast to previous portrayals of emerging adults, Arnett's research shows that they are particularly skilled at maintaining contradictory emotions--they are confident while still being wary, and optimistic in the face of large degrees of uncertainty. As the demographics of American youth, the American workplace, and adulthood continue to evolve, Emerging Adulthood is indispensable reading for anyone wanting to understand the face of modern America. |
From inside the book
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Page ix
... Relationship With Parents 47 Love and Sex 73 5. Meandering Toward Marriage 97 The Road Through College: Twists and Turns 119 7. Work: More Than aJob 143 8. Sources of Meaning: Religious Beliefs and Values 165 The Age of Possibilities ...
... Relationship With Parents 47 Love and Sex 73 5. Meandering Toward Marriage 97 The Road Through College: Twists and Turns 119 7. Work: More Than aJob 143 8. Sources of Meaning: Religious Beliefs and Values 165 The Age of Possibilities ...
Page 5
... relationship. Now most young people have a series of sexual relationships before entering marriage,3 and most Americans do not object to this, as long as sex does not begin at an age that is “too early” (whatever that is) and as long as ...
... relationship. Now most young people have a series of sexual relationships before entering marriage,3 and most Americans do not object to this, as long as sex does not begin at an age that is “too early” (whatever that is) and as long as ...
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... relationships with others, in love and work. The Age of Feeling In-Between The exploration and instability of emerging adulthood give it the quality of an in-between period—between adolescence, when most people live in their parents ...
... relationships with others, in love and work. The Age of Feeling In-Between The exploration and instability of emerging adulthood give it the quality of an in-between period—between adolescence, when most people live in their parents ...
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... relationships and obligations. This is especially important for young people who have grown up in difficult conditions. A chaotic or unhappy family is difficult to rise above for children and adolescents, because they return to that ...
... relationships and obligations. This is especially important for young people who have grown up in difficult conditions. A chaotic or unhappy family is difficult to rise above for children and adolescents, because they return to that ...
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Contents
3 | |
2 What Is It Like to Be an Emerging Adult? Four Profiles | 27 |
A New Relationship With Parents | 47 |
4 Love and Sex | 73 |
5 Meandering Toward Marriage | 97 |
Twists and Turns | 119 |
More Than a Job | 143 |
Religious Beliefs and Values | 165 |
Four Case Studies | 189 |
What Does It Mean to Become an Adult? | 207 |
Notes | 229 |
References | 247 |
Index of Names | 259 |
General Index | 263 |
Other editions - View all
Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens through the Twenties Jeffrey Jensen Arnett No preview available - 2004 |
Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties Jeffrey Jensen Arnett No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
able adolescence African Americans American Asian asked attend become believe better career chapter child choices church classes cohabitation commitment course dating decide decisions described divorce don’t early emerging adulthood emerging adults enjoy enter especially ethnic example expect experience exploration father feel friends future going growing happy high school higher hope idea identity important independent interests it’s kind late teens least leave less lives longer look major marriage married mean mother move never once opportunities parents past period person possible problems question reached adulthood reason relationship religious religious beliefs remain responsibility seems sense sexual similar society someone sometimes stressful talk there’s things transition twenties values Whites women young