Emerging Adulthood: Challenges and Possibilities

In the past half-century, the typical experiences of people aged 18-29 in developed countries have changed significantly. They now delay marriage and parenthood while spending more time on education. They are focused on personal development, with high levels of optimism about future work and relationships. This developmental stage, referred to as emerging adulthood, is distinct from late adolescence in that individuals are less dependent on their parents and are no longer minors by law, but have not yet settled into fully adult roles. This course critically evaluates theory and research on a variety of topics central to this in-between stage, including identity explorations in the areas of love (sex, dating, and long-term relationships), work, and worldviews (political beliefs and civic engagement); changing relationships with parents, siblings, and grandparents; and structural influences on the transition to adulthood experience, such as discrimination surrounding sexual orientation, sexual violence on college campuses, and mental health challenges. The course highlights variations between cultures and that even within American society there are unique patterns in experiencing emerging adulthood.