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 v
... society to mark that passage. Instead, it is left to each of us to determine when the threshold to adulthood has been reached and what signifies it. I had been doing research on adolescence for several years at the time, so it was easy ...
... society to mark that passage. Instead, it is left to each of us to determine when the threshold to adulthood has been reached and what signifies it. I had been doing research on adolescence for several years at the time, so it was easy ...
Page 3
... society, so quiet that it has been noticed only gradually and incompletely. As recently as 1970 the typical 21-year-old was married or about to be married, caring for a newborn child or expecting one soon, done with education or about ...
... society, so quiet that it has been noticed only gradually and incompletely. As recently as 1970 the typical 21-year-old was married or about to be married, caring for a newborn child or expecting one soon, done with education or about ...
Page 4
... societies, lasting from the late teens through the mid- to late twenties. This period is not simply an “extended adolescence,” because it is much different from adolescence, much freer from parental control, much more a period ...
... societies, lasting from the late teens through the mid- to late twenties. This period is not simply an “extended adolescence,” because it is much different from adolescence, much freer from parental control, much more a period ...
Page 7
... society grants them a long moratorium in their late teens and twenties without expecting them to take on adult responsibilities as soon as they are able to do so. Instead, they are allowed to move into adult responsibilities gradually ...
... society grants them a long moratorium in their late teens and twenties without expecting them to take on adult responsibilities as soon as they are able to do so. Instead, they are allowed to move into adult responsibilities gradually ...
Page 8
... moratorium granted to young people in such societies, “during which the young adult through free role experimentation may find a niche in some section of his society.”14 Decades later, this applies to 8 • emerging adulthood.
... moratorium granted to young people in such societies, “during which the young adult through free role experimentation may find a niche in some section of his society.”14 Decades later, this applies to 8 • emerging adulthood.
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 |
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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