Positive Developments During the Transition to Adulthood
Title
Positive Developments During the Transition to Adulthood
Author
Noam, Gil G.
Triggs, Bailey
Research Area
Social Interactions
Topic
Family Relationships
Abstract
The transition into adulthood, that phase between childhood and adulthood that we traditionally term adolescence, has undergone a rapid evolution in meaning. Our concept of the definition of what makes an adolescent has certainly changed since the seminal work of Erik Erikson. The boundaries of adolescence have been pushed both earlier, with puberty rates falling in the past two decades for girls even younger than 10 and extending for serious brain researchers to ages 25 and even 30. With the definition of adolescence potentially expanding from 7‐ to 30‐year‐olds, an over 20‐year age gap, it is no wonder that the unifying construct of adolescence is in trouble. This essay address the foundational research that laid the groundwork for our modern conception and understanding of emerging adulthood as differentiated from adolescence and full adulthood. It will review current thinking in this area and introduce a developmental process theory (DPT) that exposes the positives of our evolved definition of adulthood, as well as discuss avenues for further research and growth in this area.