What does it feel like to be an adult?

When do you feel like an adult?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVwX1AR5wbY

Class expercise

To what extent do you feel like an adult most of the time Not at all like an adult Somewhat like an adult Entirely like an adult

Describe an instance in which you feel like an adult

When do you feel like an adult

Defining Adult experiences: Methods : Studied a large, diverse sample of young adults between the ages

of 18 and 35 (N = 726), including: both UMass Boston students (n = 517) young adults who were neither attending nor had graduated from

college (n = 209)

Used open-ended questions to solicit incidences in which participants “really felt like an adult,” and coded for the traditional and non-traditional roles and experiences

investigated variation by age and college status to explore how young adults’ subjective experiences of adulthood relate to developmental maturity and context.

Subjective Adulthood

Much research in the last decade suggests an “in between,” or “not quite adult” status period for those aged 18-25 (Arnett, 2000).

In between status Researchers have measured experiences that youth feel “must

be achieved before a person can be considered an adult” Items on this scale have been organized into five subscales: individualism (e.g., “accept responsibility for the consequences of

your actions”), family capacities (e.g., “capable of caring for children”), norm compliance (e.g., “avoid drunk driving”), legal/chronological transitions (e.g., “reached age 18”), role transitions (e.g., “have at least one child”).

Arnett consistently has found that young adults emphasize three criteria reflective of individualism: responsibility for one’s self, independent decision making, and financial independence.

New way of asking more open-ended interviews might yield a different breakdown of

roles that youth associate with adulthood. processes are likely to be shaped by individuals’ age and life

circumstances. we asked participants to describe a specific event in which they

felt like an adult--a different lens into subjective experiences of adulthood.

Belief systems that underlie cultural patterns of thought and behavior—The Ethic of Autonomy Independence and self-sufficiency should be obtained before

entering adult commitments Romantic love the basis for marriage-soul mate, 60%

arranged marriage Work should be an expression of identity Late teens through mid-twenties should be a time of fun and

leisure

Cultural Psychology of Emerging Adulthood

individualism (e.g., “accept responsibility for the consequences of your actions”)

family capacities (e.g., “capable of caring for children”),

norm compliance (e.g., “avoid drunk driving”), legal chronological transitions (e.g., “reached age 18”) role transitions (e.g., “have at least one child”).

What roles must roles and experiences “must be achieved before a person can be considered an adult”

(1) not at all like an adult, (2) somewhat like an adult

(3) entirely like an adult.

Describe an instances when you really feel like an adult

To what extent do you feel like an adult most of the time

Students (n = 625) were recruited through introductory and advanced psychology classes during the Fall 2007, Spring 2008, and Fall 2008 semesters, as well as through tables at a central location on campus.

Non-college young adults (n = 265) were recruited through the Craigslist website for the same metropolitan area as the university. Participants responded to a survey advertisement, indicating their age (18- to 35 years old) and college status (i.e., whether they were attending or had graduated from a four-year university).

Method

Subjective Adult Status 37.9% reported feeling “entirely like an adult 56.9% “somewhat like an adult” 4.3% not at all like an adult in their everyday lives.

college subsample (n = 517) 32.2% reported feeling “entirely like an adult 62.7% “somewhat like an adult,” 4.5% “not at all like an adult.”

non-college sample (n = 209) 52.7% reported feeling “entirely like an adult,” 43.5% “somewhat like an adult,” 3.8% “not at all like an adult.”

Non-college students had greater subjective adulthood than college students, and older participants had significantly greater subjective adulthood than younger

Asian participants had significantly lower subjective adulthood than non-Asian participants

Results

International Patterns: Does one size fit all?

The 5 features were based on 300 Americans 20-29 To what extent does it apply internationally?

Developed countries: 18% US, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Skoriea, Austrail

and New Zealand Developing: , comprise most of the world’s population

Developed Countries

Postsecondary ed Manufacturing-Information, IT Increase in age of marriage/parenthood

In Europe, emerging adulthood is even later One in three still live at home Govt. pays for college, provide generous

unemployment Asisa different—collective, family obligation

Developing Only a minority experience “emerging adulthood” Vast majority marry around 20 and finish educaiton by late

teens or earlier EA exists only among small but growing urban middle class

Cultural Psychology of EA: 4 beliefs

Independence and self-sufficiency should be attained before entering into adult commitments

Romantic love should be the basis of marriage Arranged marriage vs. soul mate

Work should be an expression of one’s identity Need to make peace with dreams

The years from late teens through mid-twenties should be a time of self-focused leisure

Furstenberg—new Schedule

Living at home

Married

Female, ever-married w child

Enrollment in college

STILL RELEVANT

Planners Delay entry as response to longer transition College, obstacles to establishing self-sufficient home Metropolitan areas More cohabitation

Naturalists Traditional, rural, logical next step

Background

Age risen, proportion that ever marry has fallen Rise in cohabitation Increase rates of divorce Growth of unmarried mothers Increase women in workforce, higher ed, access to

contraception

Marriage decline vs. Resilience perspectives

Decline Sees as negative, signs of a culture that overvalues

indivual happiness and devalues commitment

Resilience People can escape dysfunctional and abusive relationships

Three eras of Marriage

Early 20th century— institutionalize marriage-Love secondary to marriage itself Roles sharply defined

Mid-Century Compassionate love, derive satisfaction from building

family

1960’s onward Individualized love, weakening of norms

Young people’s Perspectives

Naturalists (18%) Fast starters, happens without much thought, shotgun

weddings Many break up, many see as mistake View as inevitable outcome of romantic relationships Marriage and kids high priority

Planners

Have a different marriage mentality Don’t accept norm of inevitable marriage

Race/ethicity, gender, and class matter less than SES and normative contexts

Geography important determinant

College and graduation

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/04/23/the-13-most-useless-majors-from-philosophy-to-journalism.html#slide_3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJ5z78GE5A