Characteristics and Characteristics of Early Adulthood

Different cultures have different ages at which children reach the adult status or the age of legal maturity. Generally, they reach this status when their puberty growth is complete and when their sex organs have developed to the point where they are capable of procreation.

Subdivisions of Adulthood

Early Adulthood

Early adulthood extends from age eighteen to approximately age forty, when the physical and psychological changes, which accompany the beginning of the loss of reproductive capacity appear.

Middle Adulthood (Middle Age)

Middle adulthood, or middle age, begins at forty and extends to age sixty, when both physical and psychological decline become apparent in the average person.

Late Adulthood (Old Age)

Late adulthood - senescence, or old age - begins at sixty and extends to death. While physical and psychological decline speed up at this time, modern medical techniques, as well as careful attention to clothing and grooming enable many men and women to look, act, and feel much as they did when they were younger.

Characteristics of Early Adulthood

Is a period of adjustment to new patterns of life and new social expectations. The young adult has to take roles such as that of spouse, parent and bread winner and to develop new attitudes, interests and

values in keeping with these new roles. Some of the outstanding characteristics are;

1.     Early Adulthood is the 'settling - down age'. This is the period when young men and women are trying out different life patterns in terms of jobs and different individuals to share their life. Once individuals decide upon the pattern of life they believe will meet their needs, they develop pattern of behavior, attitudes and values which will tend to be characteristically theirs for the ramaining of their lives.

2.     Early Adulthood is the 'Reproductive Age' - parenthood is one of the most important roles in the lives of most young adults.

3.     Early Adulthood is a 'Problem Age' - young adults need to cope up with all adjustments within their work and with partner and larger circle of friends and relatives. Expectations are too high and to meet demand make it even more difficult.

4.     Early Adulthood is a period of 'Emotional Tension' - what young adult's worry about which leads to emotional tension will depend upon their work load at their work place, at home and in the social circle and also how much success or failure they are experiencing in meeting these problems.

5.     Early Adulthood is a period of 'Social Isolation' - with the end of formal education and the entrance into adult life pattern of work and marriage, the association with peer groups is slowly weaned. This is when they experience social isolation.

Early Adulthood is a 'time of Commitment' - As young adults change their role from student and dependent (characteristic of adolescence) to that of independent adults, they establish new pattern of living, new responsibilities and take up new commitments for themselves and their partners.

Young adults with high level of education, good health support and guidance from partner and family members, high ambitions and realistic goals, ability to accept success or failure gracefully, ability and willingness to communicate with others, respect for others and active participation in prestigious community affairs will easily climb up the ladder to successful economic and social status.

Poor health or physical defects can be hazardous to personal and social adjustments but these can always be overcome with the support one gets from the family and friends.

A lot of adjustments need to be made by young adults, the most important being - adjustment to marriage, to parenthood, and to the expanded family circle.

There are chances of singlehood also but how women feel about unmarried life and adjustment to singlehood differs from that of men. For men stress is less than single women.