YOUNG ADULTHOOD
18 - 25 Years
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Ever feel like your life is one big rollercoaster ride???
YOUNG ADULTHOOD! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! |
As Bob Dylan
once said,
"How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?"
According to Sigmund Freud, adulthhood is a time for work
and love. Our lives center around our careers and relationships, leaving
less time for anything else. Early adulthood is the period between adolesence
and adulthood where we live in limbo. We are not quite adults, and we haven't
left some of our adolescent games behind. As we do begin to leave our adolesence,
we say goodbye to proms and high school football games and stumble into
the work force and the beginnings of passionate love.
In modern societies there is no specific criteria or rite
of passage that states, "ATTENTION BOYS AND GIRLS! YOU HAVE NOW LEFT
YOUR ADOLESCENCE BEHIND! WELCOME TO ADULTHOOD!" That would be too easy.
There are, however, some criteria that have been proposed which mark the
coming of adulthood. 
As discussed in John W. Santrock's text, Life-Span Development, sociologist Kenneth Kenniston uses the word "youth" to describe the period between adolesence and adulthood. He states that it is a "time of extended economic and personal temporariness (Santrock 387)." He proposes that youth do not have the answers to questions that used to define adulthood. Because more young adults attend college and marry later, the questions have changed. Today, youths question lifestyles and roles in life. This age period is different from adolescence because youth are in a battle between finding out who they are and learning to be socially involved. Adolescent issues focus on self-definition.
Be quite still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked; it has no choice, it will roll in ecstacy at your feet. -Frank Rafke |
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| Often, our relationships with our parents change. We feel too old to live with our parents, but we are not quite ready to form a family of our own. We want to try to form an identity as an individual, apart from our family. | Acknowledging our needs and impulses. We know what we want to do and what needs to get done. | Trying to find our own strengths and weaknesses. We have to try to enhance the strengths and to overcome our weaknesses. |
| While trying to form our identity, we need to keep the ties with our families. If we don't we are losing a great support network. | Learning to live comfortably in our own bodies. We are individuals, no two alike. At this point in our lives we need to learn to accept who we are. Self esteem can make a world of difference. | Learning to live in our new surroundings (if we leave home) and the loss of the financial security we had with our parents. We are now in charge of our own space and life-style. |
Freedom to take steps into the world. |
Explore all possibilities. |
Independent choices. |
LOVE
Love is like a violin. The music may stop now and then, but the strings remain forever.
-Bacher
Finding your partner for life
Young people should learn more about intimacy with others. In other words, a relationship should not rely solely on sexual intimacy. Rather, it should gear toward emotional intimacy. Young relationships, along with any relationships must have commitment to be successful. In any relationship, we must be friends with the other individual in order to totally respect them as a person. This puts you both on the same level, and tends to make couples more compatible. This is because we understand one another. You most likely have the same interests, same thoughts, similar accomplishments. You are alike and that's good. Proximity is a critical factor in beginning a relationship. Clearly, we will never fall in love with someone we do not know. Physical attraction is also a major determinant in choosing a mate. The matching hyothesis suggests that we pick people who are like us or at about our same level of attractiveness. We also look for someone who will validate us. This is called consensual validation. This occurs when our significant other supports our views or interests. There is an emotional bond.
There are three types of love:
Robert J. Sternberg has proposed theTriangular Theory of Love. There are 3 components, which form 7 types of love. The three components are intimacy, passion and committment. These are each placed at one point on the triangle and, depending on which components are present in the relationship, they give rise to the 7 different types of love. These are as follows:
| Intimacy | Liking someone (sharing, self-disclosure) |
| Passion | Infatuation |
| Commitment | Together for a reason ("we're here for the kids") |
| Intimacy & Passion | Romantic love (falling in love) |
| Passion & Commitment | Fatueous (no initmacy) |
| Commitment & Intimacy | Companionate love (best friend) |
| Intimacy, Passion, & Commitment | Consummate love (all of it!) |
A desire for love leads us to form relationships!!!
Relationships
Throughout youth one soars through the building blocks that they have been establishing for themselves since birth. Decisions are made that impact their life profoundly. By the time youth is reached, one will have met many people. With some of these people, close relationships may begin forming. Relationships are interactions that take place over a series of time among people who become acquainted with one another. Relationships are more than individuals coming together because of a common attraction. People get to know one another through factors related to content, diversity, quality, and temporal patterning. Relationships involve complimentarity and reciprocal interactions.
In Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Human Development, his sixth stage deals with Intimacy versus Isolation. As we move through our youth, intimacy is crucial to us. Relationships are highly valued. Self-disclosure through intimacy in friendships and love make the world a better place for us. During adolescence Erikson believes that the important issues in our lives are finding out who we are and where we are going in life. Intimacy comes only after we are on our way to successfully finding ourself (Santrock 425). If we do not develop a healthy sense of intimacy in our youth we fight the chance of dealing with isolation. We will experience isolation if we do not form healthy friendships and some sort of intimate relationship with someone.
According to psychologist Jacob Orlofsky, young adults show five styles of inimate interactions. We use these styles to communicate with friends, family, partners, and aquaintances. The following chart describes the styles:
Intimate Style |
When a person forms and maintains one or more deep and long-lasting love relationship. |
Preintimate Style |
When a person shows mixed emotions about commitment; a doubtfulness that is shown in the way they offer love without obligations or long-lasting ties. |
Stereotyped Style |
When a person has superficial relationships that are usually friendships of the same-sex (as opposed to opposite-sex friendships). |
Pseudointimate Style |
When a person keeps a long-lasting sexual relationship without depth or closeness. |
Isolated Style |
When a person shys away from social interactions and has very little and/or no friendships of any kind. |
Besides the styles of intimate interactions, there are also three levels of relationship maturity. Kathleen White and her colleagues developed the three levels which are self-focused, role-focused, and individuated-connected. The following chart explains what these levels need in order to exist:
Self-Focused Level |
First level of relationship maturity where one person's perspective on another person and/or relationship deals only with how it affects oneself. |
Role-Focused Level |
Intermediate level of relationship maturity where a person begins to see others as individuals. However, the perspective this person holds of others is stereotypic and centers around social acceptance. |
Individuated-Connected Level |
The highest level of relationship maturity where a person begins to understand oneself, while being aware and considerate for other peoples desires and dreams, and looking out for their needs. This is where people make a commitment to certain individuals with whom they share a relationship with. |
At the highest level of relationship maturity one can go
a step higher on the rollercoaster of their life and proceed to another
level in adulthood...Marrige. Erikson once said that people need to relate
with one another unselfishly on a deeply intimate level. This can easily
be seen through marrige.
Marriage and Family
Marriage makes a large impact on an individuals life. When asked the question, "what do you think a good age for a person to marry would be?" The common response among men and woman is about 25 years old. Statistics show that woman first marry at the age of 24 years of age. According to several studies, women that marry in their 20's are twice as likely to divorce their spouse at some point in their life. Sometimes an individual may get married because they want to feel the independence. They want to display that they can go off on their own and take the plunge into marriage. Also, some want to simply have a reason to leave their families and start families of their own. This is also an attempt to show that they are capable of such maturity. In reality, many people in their 20's are capable of begining a life with their new spouse. Just because some divorces have occured during this age bracket, doesn't mean that they will occur during one's 20's. Depending on the person, one needs to learn about who they are and what they can accomplish. For exampls, if they have much to learn about themselves and where they want their lives to lead them, then maybe postponing a marriage decision would be a good idea. If the individual is secure with the decision of marriage, then, "congratulations"! :-) The male spouse usually lives until about the age of 72 years old. The female spouse dies around 79 years old. (Now keep in mind this is the median age).
Ages of marriage in different countries:
| Philippines 21.6 | Ghana 18.9 | Tanzania 17.7 |
| Trinidad 19.6 | Morocco 18.8 | Nigeria 16.9 |
| Egypt 19.2 | Indonesia 18.1 | Bangladesh 14.4 |
The Median age = 18.8 + 18.1/2 = 18.5 years old |
The age that individuals tend to have their first child according to studies is the median of 27.5 years old. Most couples tend to have children and the average number is about three children per household/family.
Families help us to develop our
values and beliefs.Only one tradition comes close to affecting every
human being, and that is the tradition of family. Each of us have been shaped,
for better or worse, by the upbringing, care, example, and advice of our
parents.
Before marrige however, many young adults decide that they want to attend
college to pursue a career. After we leave high school we are faced with
what to do now. Well, if we are not going to get married or get a job straight
out of high school, then let's hit the books and go to school some more!
College
Life
On this web page we take a close look at those students between the ages of 18-25 years old attending college. These students are fresh out of high school looking into the unknown future. Looking for a career along with a major is a hard decision in one's life. Most students in this age bracket tend to put college as a priority in their lives, in which case a student will take a full load of at least 12 credit hours in their courses per semester. However, some do attend college classes part-time and tend to stay in school for much longer. Usually, these are the people who have begun to start a family and are working many hours at a full-time job. Other times, part-time college students are those who choose to go through college at a slower pace. It is simply up to the individual.
As one approaches their twenties many questions arise about where their life is going to lead them. Young adults begin to establish themselves as adults. They become individuals that are distinct from their families. One becomes more involved in doing things for themselves. The emotional back-up from families will always be there, but now, an individual has built a strong-hold on their own. The support of one's family is no longer essential because you are now earning your way through life. What lies ahead in the future? In the book "The Adult Years" we are shown a couple of options concerning one's transition into adulthood. . . . .
| Some people leave home to go to college. |
| Others try to find a job in another city or an area away from home. |
| Many get married. |
| Others move or change their living enviornments (e.g. apartments, college dormitories, house). |
Overall, one needs to establish goals for themselves... These goals will carry you through the career of you choice and impact your life dramatically. Our goals ARE our future. Stay on track.
College isn't always for everyone. Many of us attend college to get away from home and our childhood, while at the same time staying away from the responsibilities of an adult. According to a response of 14,521 students in 1997 we see that college binge drinking is extremely popular. Two out of every five students (42.7%), were reported to be binge drinkers in college. One out of five, compared to the two out of five, are frequent binge drinkers. However, there is a slight decrease from 44.1% in 1993. During college, students tend to use alcohol as a way to have fun, or a way to get away from reality for a short bit of time. More and more people become accustomed to simply kicking back and getting drunk on the weekends. Some students who live on a campus or university say that there is nothing else to do on campus. A study done in 1994 by Wechsler & others stated that binge drinkers reported problems such as missing classes, physical injuries, troubles with policies, and engaging in unprotected sex. It is stated that by a person's mid-twenties, many binge drinkers have reduced their alcohol intakes.
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You may feel the whole world down the pathway of years, and get pats on your back as you pass. But your final reward will be heartache & tears if you've cheated the (wo)man in the glass. -Herb Score |
When choosing a degree one should choose a career that suits and excites them. One wants a job that they enjoy and that they feel good about. Otherwise an individual may experience burnout and an unhappy early life. Enjoy life to its fullest. When an inidividual chooses a degree that they feel is best for them, they will excell in that area.
Sleep Deprivation
Youth are physically healthy, vigorous, and strong.
Although we know what to do to take care of ourselves, we usually don't.
This is why we encounter sleep deprivation!
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-Anne De Lenclos |
College students tend to burn the candle at both ends. They become overwhelmed with their schoolwork, yet they want to have a social life. Some college students even carry jobs along with these chores and many other time consuming activities on a day to day basis. The question remains, "Where can we make time for sleep?" Sleep deprivation is very common among college students. This is because of the time constraints students put on themselves. The whirlwind of jobs, classes, and one's social life will catch up with an individual sooner or later. Depending on the individual, there can be strong effects from sleep deprivation.. The human mind can become listless, tending to wander uncontrollably. Hunger, high senstitivity to pain, itchiness of the eyes, double vision, hand tremors, and mirco-sleep are just some effects of the lack of sleep. If we don't make time to get some rest, we are not at our best physically and cognitively, and it will show. Take time out to relax and get some rest now and then!
Career Choice
Build Skills 
Support one's self Give Up Dependence
on parents.
Choices and Decisions:
-Career Choice
-Marital Partner/ Significant other
So we are on this ride and we just finished that crazy loop called college....what could possibly be next? It's time to take those years of education and put them to use! We are going to ride right into the work force! We went to college and it was great. We have chosen an occupation and are developing our careers. There are three major theories of career development. The theories are Ginzberg's Developmental Theory, Super's Self-Concept Theory, and Holland's Personality Type Theory.
Ginzberg's Developmental Theory:
Eli Ginzberg believes that people go through three career choice stages.
| Fantasy stage | Until about eleven years old, we hold the view that the future has unlimited choices waiting for us to chose from. |
| Tentative stage | From the ages of eleven to seventeen, we are in the transition from the fantasy stage of childhood to the realistic view of young adulthood. |
| Realisitc stage | From the ages of seventeen through the early twenties we are in a moratorium. At this time we finally focus on a certain career and select a job. |
Super's Self-Concept Theory:
Donald Super's view states that a person's self-concept is a major contributor to one's career choice. Changes in a person's self-concept take place during adolesence and young adulthood. There are five changes involved.
| Crystallization | Around the ages of fourteen to eighteen an adolescent develops ideas of work in relation to their self-concept. |
| Specification | From the ages of eighteen to twenty-two they narrow their career choices and begin focusing their time and energy on attaining skills for their choices. |
| Implementation | From twenty-one years old to twenty-four, we complete our education and training and hit the work force. |
| Stablization | Twenty-five years old to thirty-five we make a specific career choice based on our education and training. |
| Consolidation | From the age of thirty-five and up we try to climb the ladder of success within our career. |
Holland's Personality Type Theory:
One needs to develop a correlation between a person's personality type and career. There are six basic career personality types.
Realistic |
These people like to do things such as physical activites. They enjoy creating things with their hands instead of people and ideas. |
Investigative |
Scientific activities are dominant here. These people would rather work alone and are usually creative in scientific areas. |
Artistic |
These people enjoy independence and freedom to be original. They don't tend to like to follow many rules and regulations. |
Social |
Their interests lie in the well-being of others. They generally feel things will work out for the best. |
Enterprising |
Convincing and leading personality types are popular here. They are enthusiastic about what they do and like to get others enthusiastic as well. |
Conventional |
Stucture and expectations are imporant to these individuals. They are conscientious and efficient |
These theories address how some people choose a career. For many it is a long difficult process. Choosing an occupation is a very difficult decision to make. One's occupational desire tends to be fully completed when they are past 30 years of age. It is hard to know if we are making the right decision when we are eighteen years old, but that is why we go to school and try new things...to see what is out there for us.
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-Count Leo Tolstoy |
Several
reasons why some people choose the careers that they do:
When
Choosing A Career:
Life
Contour of Work
Developement occurs throughout our ENTIRE lives. Each
day we learn more, teach more, and develop because of this.
Young adulthood, also known as youth, is a bridge between adolescence and
adulthood. People in this age bracket begin to form adult lives and structure
themselves for this new life-style. At this point in our lives we are too
old to be considered adolescents, but we are not quite old enough to be
an adult. This dramatic change occurs over time as an individual grows.
There are no specific rules to tell us that we have reached the maturity
of being an adult because maturity is also a developing process. We just
sort of fall into the roll and suddenly, one has become a full fledged adult.
The youth of our world go through a very exciting, yet stressful time. People between the ages of 18-25 struggle to find their place in the adult world because of the dreams and visions they are trying to fold out for their futures, along with the new responsibilities of adulthood. It can be very a confusing and difficult time for this age group because they are looking for a career and companions while facing the obstacles that come their way. However, there are many fond memories to cherish as we look back on our lives. This is the time we form the life that will determine our future. Lead it proudly and with a sense of accomplishment, because it is our life! Don't be afraid of the challenges and obstacles that we face. They will only teach us more and make us better in the end. Enjoy the ride, the ups and downs! Take each day as a gift and cherish what it has to offer!
by Jeanine and Sarah
Sources:
Relationships - http://www.whitworth.edu/classes/psych/Noel/presentations/py210sep18/sld007.htm
Rogers, Dorothy. The Adult Years: An Introduction to Aging, Third Editon.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1986
Santrock, John W. Life-Span Development, Seventh Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1999.
