Introduction
Understanding the phenomenon of emerging adulthood and the factors contributing to its development is essential for providing young people with the needed support in their journey toward maturity while also ensuring that possible mental health issues are resolved accordingly. However, emerging adulthood is not endemic to Western cultures, so further research should be conducted on the nature of emergent majority in minority cultures. During the emergent adulthood stage, young patients’ physiological and psychological state demonstrates significant changes; mainly, a quick spur in body development and hormonal changes are observed on a physiological level.
Similarly, on a psychological level, people tend to develop the need for independence and personal growth and the propensity for taking risks at the specified stage. Likewise, cognitive development increases exponentially at the emerging adulthood stage. As a result, enduring relationships must be seen as one of the main priorities for the specified set of personal development.
Rationale
The main reason for the topic in question to be selected concerns the unique and genuinely fantastic changes that the human body and personality undergo. In the entirety of the developmental process, there are no single other stages similar to emerging adulthood. When considered separately and viewed in tandem, the physiological transformation and the psychological one represent an incredible spectacle worth exploring profoundly and with close attention to detail.
Moreover, the search for identity as one of the dominant characteristics of the emerging adulthood phase of development represents a unique material for study due to its seemingly sporadic nature and the possibilities for analyzing the factors influencing it, mainly, in this day and age, when social media has gained tremendous influence globally and has been shaping the development of young people.
Lessons Learned
The websites visited in learning about emergent adulthood have helped create a clear picture of how it manifests in people depending on their sociocultural, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical backgrounds (“What is emerging adulthood?” n.d.). The issue of culture and ethnicity has been fascinating to consider since the concept of emerging adulthood appears to be unique to Western cultures (“Chapter 8: Emerging adulthood,” n.d.).
Other cultures may have rituals associated with the rite of passage. Yet, the stage of emergent adulthood as such is rarely singled out as a process that requires particular attitudes (“The emerging adulthood gap: Integrating emerging adulthood into life-course criminology,” n.d.). Nonetheless, a range of cultural practices associated with managing young adults’ needs is worth noting as opportunities to build cultural bridges and promote intercultural dialogue (Arnold, 2017). Overall, the available resources on the subject matter have shown the importance of acknowledging the needs of young adults, particularly the often contradictory need for support and independence (Shelley et al., 2020).
Summary
Overall, the lessons learned in emerging adulthood can be boiled down to the necessity to provide active yet subtle support for young adults while acknowledging their need for and right to independence. Additionally, the multiple readings on the issue have shown that emerging adulthood as a developmental stage can be observed in every healthy individual and, therefore, is not unique to Western culture. However, other cultures may not necessarily emphasize the same strength on the role of emerging adulthood in the development of an individual. Disregarding the perspective on emerging adulthood, the focus on support appears ubiquitous in all cultures.
References
Arnold, M. E. (2017). Supporting adolescent exploration and commitment: Identity formation, thriving, and positive youth development. Journal of Youth Development, 12(4), 1-15. Web.
Chapter 8: Emerging adulthood. (n.d.).
Shelley, A. R., McCarthy Veach, P., LeRoy, B., & Redlinger‐Grosse, K. (2020). A Systematized review of experiences of individuals in Arnett’s emerging adulthood stage who live with or are at‐risk for genetic conditions. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 29(6), 1059-1080. Web.
The emerging adulthood gap: Integrating emerging adulthood into life course criminology. (n.d.). Web.
What is emerging adulthood? (n.d.). Web.