LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
o Developing intimate relationships.
Coverage:
Emerging Adulthood Defined
• Emerging and Early Adulthood
• Emerging Adulthood Defined Age Range:
• Cultural Variations • Emerging adulthood is typically between ages
• When Does Adulthood Begin? 18-25, though some consider it up to 29
(Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood,
• Young Adults Living
2016).
Arrangements Developmental Stage:
• The Physiological Peak • It's a period where people have outgrown
• Obesity adolescence but haven't fully taken on adult
• A Healthy, But Risky Time responsibilities.
• Key features of emerging adulthood include:
• Gender
o A time for exploring life's
• Sexuality possibilities—career, relationships,
• Beyond Formal Operational and personal growth.
Thought: Postformal Thought o A stage of independence and
• Education uncertainty about the future.
Five Characteristics of Emerging Adulthood:
• Career Development and • Identity Exploration:
Employment o People focus on figuring out their
• Sexism career choices and ideas about
• Temperament and Personality in relationships.
Adulthood o Identity development happens more
during emerging adulthood than
• Attachment in Young Adulthood adolescence.
• Relationships with Parents and • Instability:
Siblings o Lots of changes in jobs,
• Erikson: Intimacy vs. Isolation relationships, and living situations.
• Factors influencing Attraction o These changes lead to uncertainty as
people explore different paths.
• Friendships • Self-Focus:
• Love o It's a time to focus on personal goals,
• Adult Lifestyles not selfishness.
• Intimate Partner Abuse o Emerging adults are still considerate of
others (especially their parents), but
• Parenthood
they now have more freedom and
fewer obligations.
• Feeling In-Between:
Emerging and Early Adulthood o Many 18-25-year-olds feel they're
neither fully adults nor fully
Age Periods: adolescents.
o They're independent in some ways
• Historically, early adulthood was from 18 to
(e.g., not living at home) but still
40-45 years (end of adolescence to start of
dependent in others (e.g., financially or
middle adulthood). emotionally).
• Recently, developmental experts have divided • Age of Possibilities:
this period into two stages: o Emerging adulthood is often
o Emerging adulthood (18-25 years) optimistic—there is belief that things
o Early adulthood (25-40/45 years). will improve or go according to plan.
Characteristics: o It's a time to transform one's life, even
• Emerging adulthood and early adulthood after difficult experiences or growing
differ in physical, cognitive, and social up in tough circumstances.
development, but both are: Socioeconomic Class and Emerging
o A time of peak physical capabilities. Adulthood:
o More mature cognitive development.
o Becoming financially independent.
1|Hikamac chi
, LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
• Arnett's theory was initially seen as focused family obligations, which contrasts with
on middle-class, college-attending young Europe’s individualism.
adults in the U.S. Cultural Differences:
• A study showed: • European cultures emphasize individualism,
o Lower-income emerging adults allowing more freedom for self-development,
faced more emotional struggles leisure, and identity exploration during
(e.g., depression). emerging adulthood.
o Financial challenges made it harder for • Asian cultures, though increasingly
them to access education. individualistic due to globalization, still
• Arnett concluded that emerging adulthood prioritize family obligations and
happens universally, but social and cultural collectivism.
contexts are important. • In Asia, financial independence is less
• This stage is about exploration, uncertainty, important than the ability to financially support
and growing independence while people parents, shaping the transition to adulthood.
start to shape their futures. • Asian emerging adults’ identity exploration
may be more constrained by family
Cultural Variations expectations, influencing career choices,
educational paths, and living arrangements.
Emerging Adulthood Theory Context: Differences in Adulthood Criteria:
• The theory of emerging adulthood, developed • U.S. and Europe: Financial independence is
by Arnett (2004, 2016), was initially based on a top marker of adulthood.
research in the U.S. involving various ethnic • Asia: Supporting parents financially is
groups, social classes, and regions. considered a more important criterion for
• Its application internationally depends on the becoming an adult.
region, with notable differences between
economically developed countries (OECD) When Does Adulthood Begins?
and developing countries.
OECD Countries vs. Developing Countries: Historical Perspective:
• OECD countries (e.g., U.S., Canada, Western • In the past, adulthood was clearly marked by
Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New rites of passage, such as marriage and
Zealand) make up 18% of the global parenthood.
population but are more affluent and have • These role transitions were once considered
better educational and health outcomes. significant markers of adulthood.
• Developing countries have lower incomes, Modern Changes:
educational levels, and face higher rates of • Economic and social shifts have caused
illness and early death. delays in marriage and parenthood.
Europe’s Experience of Emerging Adulthood: • Higher education and other factors now
• Europe has longer and more leisurely extend the period before adulthood begins.
emerging adulthood, with median ages for • As a result, financial independence and
marriage and parenthood around 30. accepting responsibility for oneself are
• European countries offer generous social now considered the most important markers
welfare benefits, including free tertiary of adulthood in Western cultures.
education, job support, and unemployment Cultural Differences in Adulthood:
benefits. • In Western cultures, financial independence
• Young Europeans use these advantages to and taking responsibility are key markers.
delay adulthood while focusing on self- • These markers apply across different ethnic
development, leisure, and travel. groups within Western societies.
Asian Emerging Adults (Japan, South Korea): Perceptions Among College Students (Rankin
• Similar to Europe, Asian emerging adults in & Kenyon, 2008):
developed countries like Japan and South • Some college students still view rites of
Korea marry and become parents around age passage (marriage, parenthood) as important
30. markers of adulthood.
• They benefit from strong social welfare • Students who view these role transitions as
systems (e.g., free university education, more important tend to have specific
unemployment benefits) like their European characteristics:
counterparts. o Belong to a fraternity/sorority
• However, their experience is influenced by a o Are traditionally aged (18-25)
cultural legacy of collectivism, emphasizing o Belong to an ethnic minority
2|Hikamac chi
o Developing intimate relationships.
Coverage:
Emerging Adulthood Defined
• Emerging and Early Adulthood
• Emerging Adulthood Defined Age Range:
• Cultural Variations • Emerging adulthood is typically between ages
• When Does Adulthood Begin? 18-25, though some consider it up to 29
(Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood,
• Young Adults Living
2016).
Arrangements Developmental Stage:
• The Physiological Peak • It's a period where people have outgrown
• Obesity adolescence but haven't fully taken on adult
• A Healthy, But Risky Time responsibilities.
• Key features of emerging adulthood include:
• Gender
o A time for exploring life's
• Sexuality possibilities—career, relationships,
• Beyond Formal Operational and personal growth.
Thought: Postformal Thought o A stage of independence and
• Education uncertainty about the future.
Five Characteristics of Emerging Adulthood:
• Career Development and • Identity Exploration:
Employment o People focus on figuring out their
• Sexism career choices and ideas about
• Temperament and Personality in relationships.
Adulthood o Identity development happens more
during emerging adulthood than
• Attachment in Young Adulthood adolescence.
• Relationships with Parents and • Instability:
Siblings o Lots of changes in jobs,
• Erikson: Intimacy vs. Isolation relationships, and living situations.
• Factors influencing Attraction o These changes lead to uncertainty as
people explore different paths.
• Friendships • Self-Focus:
• Love o It's a time to focus on personal goals,
• Adult Lifestyles not selfishness.
• Intimate Partner Abuse o Emerging adults are still considerate of
others (especially their parents), but
• Parenthood
they now have more freedom and
fewer obligations.
• Feeling In-Between:
Emerging and Early Adulthood o Many 18-25-year-olds feel they're
neither fully adults nor fully
Age Periods: adolescents.
o They're independent in some ways
• Historically, early adulthood was from 18 to
(e.g., not living at home) but still
40-45 years (end of adolescence to start of
dependent in others (e.g., financially or
middle adulthood). emotionally).
• Recently, developmental experts have divided • Age of Possibilities:
this period into two stages: o Emerging adulthood is often
o Emerging adulthood (18-25 years) optimistic—there is belief that things
o Early adulthood (25-40/45 years). will improve or go according to plan.
Characteristics: o It's a time to transform one's life, even
• Emerging adulthood and early adulthood after difficult experiences or growing
differ in physical, cognitive, and social up in tough circumstances.
development, but both are: Socioeconomic Class and Emerging
o A time of peak physical capabilities. Adulthood:
o More mature cognitive development.
o Becoming financially independent.
1|Hikamac chi
, LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
• Arnett's theory was initially seen as focused family obligations, which contrasts with
on middle-class, college-attending young Europe’s individualism.
adults in the U.S. Cultural Differences:
• A study showed: • European cultures emphasize individualism,
o Lower-income emerging adults allowing more freedom for self-development,
faced more emotional struggles leisure, and identity exploration during
(e.g., depression). emerging adulthood.
o Financial challenges made it harder for • Asian cultures, though increasingly
them to access education. individualistic due to globalization, still
• Arnett concluded that emerging adulthood prioritize family obligations and
happens universally, but social and cultural collectivism.
contexts are important. • In Asia, financial independence is less
• This stage is about exploration, uncertainty, important than the ability to financially support
and growing independence while people parents, shaping the transition to adulthood.
start to shape their futures. • Asian emerging adults’ identity exploration
may be more constrained by family
Cultural Variations expectations, influencing career choices,
educational paths, and living arrangements.
Emerging Adulthood Theory Context: Differences in Adulthood Criteria:
• The theory of emerging adulthood, developed • U.S. and Europe: Financial independence is
by Arnett (2004, 2016), was initially based on a top marker of adulthood.
research in the U.S. involving various ethnic • Asia: Supporting parents financially is
groups, social classes, and regions. considered a more important criterion for
• Its application internationally depends on the becoming an adult.
region, with notable differences between
economically developed countries (OECD) When Does Adulthood Begins?
and developing countries.
OECD Countries vs. Developing Countries: Historical Perspective:
• OECD countries (e.g., U.S., Canada, Western • In the past, adulthood was clearly marked by
Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New rites of passage, such as marriage and
Zealand) make up 18% of the global parenthood.
population but are more affluent and have • These role transitions were once considered
better educational and health outcomes. significant markers of adulthood.
• Developing countries have lower incomes, Modern Changes:
educational levels, and face higher rates of • Economic and social shifts have caused
illness and early death. delays in marriage and parenthood.
Europe’s Experience of Emerging Adulthood: • Higher education and other factors now
• Europe has longer and more leisurely extend the period before adulthood begins.
emerging adulthood, with median ages for • As a result, financial independence and
marriage and parenthood around 30. accepting responsibility for oneself are
• European countries offer generous social now considered the most important markers
welfare benefits, including free tertiary of adulthood in Western cultures.
education, job support, and unemployment Cultural Differences in Adulthood:
benefits. • In Western cultures, financial independence
• Young Europeans use these advantages to and taking responsibility are key markers.
delay adulthood while focusing on self- • These markers apply across different ethnic
development, leisure, and travel. groups within Western societies.
Asian Emerging Adults (Japan, South Korea): Perceptions Among College Students (Rankin
• Similar to Europe, Asian emerging adults in & Kenyon, 2008):
developed countries like Japan and South • Some college students still view rites of
Korea marry and become parents around age passage (marriage, parenthood) as important
30. markers of adulthood.
• They benefit from strong social welfare • Students who view these role transitions as
systems (e.g., free university education, more important tend to have specific
unemployment benefits) like their European characteristics:
counterparts. o Belong to a fraternity/sorority
• However, their experience is influenced by a o Are traditionally aged (18-25)
cultural legacy of collectivism, emphasizing o Belong to an ethnic minority
2|Hikamac chi
