1. What is emerging adulthood? The textbook authors briefly touch upon the concept of emerging adulthood, but there is much more to be said. Prepare a lecture around the paper in which Jeffrey Arnett (2000) first coined the phrase “emerging adulthood.” He notes that his proposed stage of development has five distinguishing characteristics. Emerging adulthood is:

• The age of identity exploration.
• The age of instability.
• The age of self-focus.
• The age of feeling in-between.
• The age of possibilities.

After presenting Arnett’s arguments, hold a large group discussion about emerging adulthood. Do they think emerging adulthood is a true stage of life or simply an extension of adolescence or adulthood? What are the characteristics of a “stage” of development versus just a phase? Why do your students think Arnett noticed this “new” stage at this particular point in American history? Was there something special about the turn of the century that made young adults begin to act differently, or was it simply a difference in perception by psychologists like Arnett? Do they agree with Arnett’s five characteristics of emerging adulthood? Do they think it is problematic or hopeful that a new stage of development has emerged?

• Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480.