Evaluation Argument - Essay Example

This gradual rise in marriage age was strongly attributed to the increased awareness in contraceptive pills or other forms of contraception and the increased number of years devoted to education (Arnett 5). Nevertheless, a more convincing reason may be more of “less tangible than changes in sexual behavior or more years spent in college and graduate school” (6). This period of development which is more common in affluent and highly industrialized countries like the United States and Japan is now called emerging adulthood.

This is a period after the adolescence stage but prior to adulthood, or more specifically, “young adulthood”. However, there is no quantifiable category or limit as to the numerical description of emerging adulthood; hence, it should be recognized as a distinct new period of life that can be expected to flourish for many generations ahead. But how does it differ from adolescents or young adulthood? Generally, emerging adulthood does not [Student’s Last Name] 2 suit the description for adolescents because they differ when it comes to possibilities and self-focus.

Adolescents do not have much opportunity to side step their current personal or family circumstance because they are still independent to their parents; hence, they need to contend with everything inside their own family. Conversely, emerging adulthood is a period after graduating from college. This means there is less pressure for rules and parental controls. At this point, parental involvement no longer exists in so far as personal decisions and explorations are concerned. Similarly, emerging adulthood also does not fit to the description of young adulthood.

Emerging adulthood does the reach the stage of adulthood yet (Arnett 4). Emerging adulthood is something that is “first-time” in the history of social science. Later on, this paper shall discuss how emerging adulthood is a good thing overall. Emerging adulthood is still experiencing constant, resounding debates all over the world as to whether solid evidence can justify assertions that there is an existing stage between adolescence and adulthood. Nevertheless, in a research conducted by Jeffrey Arnett, he expresses that in the United States, people of ages 18 to 25 years old could not clearly distinguish themselves as adults, adolescent or youth.

This presents a notion that a deemed criteria is in effect. One of the most important features of this particular stage of human development is it provides an avenue to explore in love, work, preparation for adulthood, and self-fulfilment. Because of technological innovation and increasing knowledge in science and technology, more and more teens are inspired to explore more than to settle down and have their own family. This means nowadays, teens and individuals who are in their early to mid- twenties “do not live home at age 18 or 19, but most do not marry, become parents, and [Student’s Last Name] 3 find a long-term job until at least their late twenties” (Arnett 1).

Emerging adulthood, according to Jeffrey Arnett (2004), can be elaborated in five different descriptions: (1) it is an identity exploration age; (2) it is an age of instability; (3) a self-focused age; (4) the age of feeling in-between; and, (5) the age of possibilities. Each provides excellent avenues for every emerging adult to make weighty explorations that may bring in more opportunities for the future. Emerging adultho