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 vi
... becoming financially independent. Well, I thought, maybe that's because they're college students, and being in college leads them to think in more abstract and psychological terms. Maybe people in the same age group who are not in ...
... becoming financially independent. Well, I thought, maybe that's because they're college students, and being in college leads them to think in more abstract and psychological terms. Maybe people in the same age group who are not in ...
Page ix
... Adulthood to Young Adulthood: What Does It Mean to Become an Adult? 207 Notes 229 References 247 Index of Names 259 General Index 263 This page intentionally left blank EMERGING ADULTHOOD This page intentionally Contents.
... Adulthood to Young Adulthood: What Does It Mean to Become an Adult? 207 Notes 229 References 247 Index of Names 259 General Index 263 This page intentionally left blank EMERGING ADULTHOOD This page intentionally Contents.
Page 3
... become parents, and find a long-term job until at least their late twenties. From their late teens to their late twenties they explore the possibilities available to them in love and work, and move gradually toward making enduring ...
... become parents, and find a long-term job until at least their late twenties. From their late teens to their late twenties they explore the possibilities available to them in love and work, and move gradually toward making enduring ...
Page 5
... becoming parents. Why this dramatic rise in the typical ages of entering marriage and parenthood? One reason is that the ... become “too many” (whatever that is). Although Americans may not be clear, in their own minds, about what the ...
... becoming parents. Why this dramatic rise in the typical ages of entering marriage and parenthood? One reason is that the ... become “too many” (whatever that is). Although Americans may not be clear, in their own minds, about what the ...
Page 6
... becoming an adult and entering the adult roles of spouse and parent. Young people of the 1950s were eager to enter adulthood and “settle down.”6 Perhaps because they grew up during the upheavals of the Great Depression and World War II ...
... becoming an adult and entering the adult roles of spouse and parent. Young people of the 1950s were eager to enter adulthood and “settle down.”6 Perhaps because they grew up during the upheavals of the Great Depression and World War II ...
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 |
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