1. Emerging adulthood: If you are an emerging adult, explain what it is like to be in this period of development from your perspective, and how this aligns with what research suggests is common for this age group. For instance, in what ways might you feel
Michelle_Michy
20200611010742emerging_adulthood_slides.pptEmerging Adulthood
HDFS 525
ONLINE
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Key Objectives
Define emerging adulthood
Identify the social changes leading to emerging adulthood as a life stage
List and describe the 5 themes of emerging adulthood
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Are you an Adult?
How do you know?
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What Does It Mean to Be an Adult?
- No definitive criteria; transitions/rite of passage not consistent
- Driving
- Voting
- Joining the military
- Alcohol use
- Renting a car/hotel room
- Going to college
- Led to new period known as “emerging adulthood”
- ~18-25; some longer
- Starts with end of high school—ends with ???
- Mostly a Western/industrialized idea
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Social Changes Leading to Emerging Adulthood
Longer and more widespread education
Later age of marriage and parenthood
Changes in women’s roles
Ambivalence about adult status
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| 1900 |
| 1920 |
| 1940 |
| 1960 |
| 1980 |
| 2000 |
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| 1900 | 1920 | 1940 | 1960 | 1980 | 2000 | |
| percent | 4 | 8 | 16 | 35 | 50 | 63 |
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| African Americans |
| Latinos |
| Whites |
Sheet2
| African Americans | Latinos | Whites | |
| percent strongly agree | 9 | 9 | 86 |
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| African Americans |
| Latinos |
| Whites |
| Asian Americans |
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| African Americans |
| Latinos |
| Whites |
| Asian Americans |
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| African Americans | Latinos | Whites | Asian Americans | |
| 61 | 36 | 5 | 0 |
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| African Americans | Latinos | Whites | Asian Americans | |
| 19 | 12 | 59 | 63 |
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Five Themes of Emerging Adulthood
The age of identity exploration
The age of instability
The self-focused age
The age of feeling in-between
The age of possibilities
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HDFS 525 Emerging Adulthood “Issues”
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Chart1
| Finances |
| Career choice/Major |
| Work, social, school balance |
| What's next? |
| Building social relationships |
| Marital/romantic relationships |
| Who am I? |
| Independence |
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| Concerns | |
| Finances | 8 |
| Career choice/Major | 15 |
| Work, social, school balance | 4 |
| What's next? | 6 |
| Building social relationships | 8 |
| Marital/romantic relationships | 2 |
| Who am I? | 2 |
| Independence | 2 |
The Age of Identity Exploration
- Trying to find out “who I am”
- Love:
- Searching for a “soul mate”
- Work:
- Searching for self-fulfillment; money is not enough
- Live to work not work to live
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The Age of Instability
- Frequency of job changes from age 20-29 in U.S.?
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| 10-14x |
| 15-19 |
| 20-24 |
| 25-29 |
| 30-34 |
| 35-44 |
| 45-54 |
| 55+ |
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| 10-14x |
| 15-19 |
| 20-24 |
| 25-29 |
| 30-34 |
| 35-44 |
| 45-54 |
| 55+ |
| 10-14x |
| 15-19 |
| 20-24 |
| 25-29 |
| 30-34 |
| 35-44 |
| 45-54 |
| 55+ |
Sheet1
| 10-14x | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55+ |
| 14.7 | 15.9 | 34.2 | 31 | 22.1 | 14.5 | 7.1 | 5.2 |
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The Self-Focused Age
- More independent from parents
- BUT, most not yet tied to others or “settled down”
- “I think I want to get more in touch with myself. I want to be a little selfish for awhile, and selfishness and marriage don't seem to go hand in hand. I'd like to be able to experience as much as I can before I get married, just so I can be well-rounded.”
-Rosa, 24 year-old Latina
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The Age of Feeling In-Between
- Not yet fully adult, and definitely not “kids” or “adolescents”
- Adults in some ways but not others.
- In what ways do you not yet feel like an adult?
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Top Criteria—Full Adult Status
- Accept responsibility for self
- Make independent decisions
- Financial independence
- Boomerang Kids
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Bottom Criteria—Full Adult Status
- Finish education
- Marriage
- Parenthood
- Some make take these on when not developmentally ready….are they adults?
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The Age of Possibilities
- “I am very sure that someday I will get to where I want to be in life.”
- 96% of Americans ages 18-24 agree
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The Age of Possibilities
Do you think your life will be better or worse than your parents’ lives have been?
“Better economically. Better personally. I just think by the time my parents reached my age, they'd already run into some barricades that prevented them from getting what they wanted, personally and family-wise. And so far, I've avoided those things, and I don't really see those things in my life. I don't like my job. I'm frustrated about the lack of relationships with females. But in general, I think I'm headed in the right direction.” -Bob, 23 year-old White American
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Possible Selves
- EAs better at identifying possible selves
- What we could become, like to become, afraid of becoming
- Powerful motivators
- Developmental shifts:
- EAs, occupation first
- 30s, family first
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Is It Generational?
- Many negative view of EAs
- Distinctive features of today’s EA generation:
- Technology generation
- More accepting of diversity
- Passion for their work
- BUT: EA is here to stay…characteristics may change over time as trends change
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Implications for Higher Education
- Identity issues are key
- Even after bachelor’s degree, may head in new direction
- Mixed feelings about adulthood
- Optimistic, energetic, creative
What are the implications of the stage of emerging adulthood for higher education? As those who are likely in this stage of development, but also as professors and advisors working with young adults, it is important to recognize and normalize some of the key features we discussed here. First, identity issues are key during college. Many students will be in a state of identity moratorium as it relates to both love and work during this period of development. That is okay. College is a GREAT time to explore your options given that many individuals have the luxury of being able to be self-focused during this time. Exploring courses and majors is great and it not uncommon for someone to switch majors to find something that better suits them! Also, as discussed in adolescence, some people may even change their mind after reaching identity achievement and that is okay too. Even after a bachelor’s degree, some people may go back to school or head in a completely different direction! I have a friend with a degree in philosophy who works in technology now! Somethings the things we are most passionate about change over time—and that’s okay too.
It is also important to recognize the normalcy of having mixed feelings about adulthood. It is an exciting and nerve wracking time to know that there are transtions on the horizion. That is okay. Talk to your advisor and other support systems about your concerns. I’m also here if you ever want to chat.
Lastly, I just want to end by stating how wonderful it is working with emerging adults. They are so optimistic and excited about the future. I can see it when I talk to my advisees about their career goals and the difference they want to make in the world (most of them want to become educators, but I have some other advisees who want to work in other helping professions). There is so much energy, creativity and excitement that will Eas well in their future careers. Here at UNH we are fortunate to be surrounded by a community of such caring, motivated, and invested students who want to make a difference.
If you have any questions or comments, please send me an email.
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