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
Results 1-5 of 81
Page vi
... lives of people experiencing the transition to adulthood. I started a study in Missouri of young people in their twenties, including both college and noncollege participants, and asked them a broad range of questions—on their family lives ...
... lives of people experiencing the transition to adulthood. I started a study in Missouri of young people in their twenties, including both college and noncollege participants, and asked them a broad range of questions—on their family lives ...
Page vii
... lives on a wide range of topics. I present some questionnaire results, but mainly I present the results from the interviews, because that is where I learned the most about emerg- ing adults. Questionnaires have a useful place in ...
... lives on a wide range of topics. I present some questionnaire results, but mainly I present the results from the interviews, because that is where I learned the most about emerg- ing adults. Questionnaires have a useful place in ...
Page viii
... adults who opened up their lives to me in the interviews that are the foundation of this book. You taught me an immense amount, and I am grateful for it. CONTENTS 1. A Longer Road to Adulthood 3 2. What viii Preface •
... adults who opened up their lives to me in the interviews that are the foundation of this book. You taught me an immense amount, and I am grateful for it. CONTENTS 1. A Longer Road to Adulthood 3 2. What viii Preface •
Page 3
... lives at a rela- tively early age . Today , the life of a typical 21 - year - old could hardly be more different . Marriage is at least five years off , often more . Ditto parenthood . Education may last several more years , through an ...
... lives at a rela- tively early age . Today , the life of a typical 21 - year - old could hardly be more different . Marriage is at least five years off , often more . Ditto parenthood . Education may last several more years , through an ...
Page 7
... lives of young American women today have changed almost beyond recognition from what they were 50 years ago . And ... live in conditions of deprivation that make any chance of exploring life options se- verely limited , at best . However ...
... lives of young American women today have changed almost beyond recognition from what they were 50 years ago . And ... live in conditions of deprivation that make any chance of exploring life options se- verely limited , at best . However ...
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
adolescence African Americans Arnett Asian Americans becoming an adult believe better boyfriend career Catholic Cathy Guisewite chapter child childhood Chinese American choice church cohabitation collectivism collectivistic commitment course decide deists divorce dreams early twenties enter college entering marriage especially ethnic group experience father friends goals Goldscheider graduate happy high school hope identity explorations important Internet dating kids kind late teens late twenties Latinos leaving home less living at home look love partners Lynn Johnston major marriage and parenthood married McJobs mean mother move parents divorced person Popenoe & Whitehead possible premarital premarital sex reach emerging adulthood reached adulthood relationship religious beliefs responsibilities rience self-focused sexual sexual intercourse sexual revolution social someone stressful teens and early There’s things transition to adulthood values young adulthood young women