Emerging Adulthood

Arnett argues that the years from the late teens through the twenties form a distinct life stage that earlier generations rarely experienced. Drawing on research into how young people in industrialized societies now delay marriage, parenthood and settled careers, he treats this period as a time of exploration, neither adolescence nor full adulthood.

The book examines how this stage shapes everyday life. It traces the shift in young people's relationships with their parents, from conflict toward companionship, and looks at love, sex and the slow, uneven path toward marriage. Chapters on college, work and the search for meaning, including religious belief and values, show how young people weigh their options and decide who they want to become.

Later chapters offer portraits and detailed case studies of individual emerging adults, illustrating the range of experiences during these years. The final chapter asks what it means to become an adult and how this stage leads into what follows.

Written for readers interested in psychology, human development and the lives of young adults, the book is grounded in academic research and includes references and an index.