Question

Should there be a new Stage of Life Between Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood?

As you answer this question; be sure to include:

Information - e.g., cultural or socioeconomic - about where, how and why this new stage might be helpful

Criteria that distinguish this new stage from Adolescence

Criteria that distinguish this new stage from Early Adulthood

A name for this new stage

Similar information about why you do not believe a new stage is helpful or necessary

Answer 1

Late Adolescence can be understood as a phase of transition from child to an Adult, the youngster develop a firm identity and more stable interests. They have greater emotional stability, more able to do compromises and make independent decisions.

Early Adulthood is a phase of one who sees himself/herself as an aotumomous and independent Adult. The individual becomes financially less dependent on the parental family. Career choice and ambitions becomes more important.

The famous psychologist JEFFERY JENSEN ARNETT has conducted a study in the developed cities on Human development and comes with an exploration of new stage between Late adolsecence and Early adulthood which he termed it as "Emerging Adulthood"(approx. 18-25 yrs.). He described this stage where people are talking about settling their life,eg; permanent job, getting married , becoming a parent etc.

Arnett has given 5 major issues in regard to this stage and for which an individual struggles for:

1.Making and deciding the career choice,

2.uncertainity about the location lived.

3.Self-realization about one's desires, needs and interests.

4.Intervening feeling about being young or adult.

5.Becoming aware that they can make good and bright future.

It can be said that nowadays there is need to understand this crucial developmental difference between late adolescents and young adulthood because there are many issues which cannot be put directly in any predefined stages of human development. Emerging adulthood stage is widely accepted especially in context to the developed countries where people are progressively striving to become independent socially and economically.