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Discussion 3 - Emerging Adulthood Critical Thinking: Part 2

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Discussion 3 - Emerging Adulthood Critical Thinking

1. Whose paper, Arnett or Côté, did you find to be the most compelling? Cite at least two

specific examples from the articles to support your argument.

I found Arnett’s (2000) paper to be the most compelling. An emergent adult is an

individual, roughly between the age of 18-25, who has just left adolescence but has not yet taken

the full responsibility of adulthood (Arnett, 2000). This stage is marked with fluidity and

experimentation as an individual seeks to find meaning in life and their direction (Arnett, 2000).

Emergent adults are trying to figure out who they are and what they want out of school, work

and life. This stage is an age of instability where most individuals move out of their parent’s

houses and live in hostels or shared rentals (Arnett, 2000). Many individuals do not identify as

adults and neither as teens therefore they have had the feelings of being “in-between” arisen in a

vast majority of people in this age group.

An emergent adult is filled with optimism of living a better life than their parents. They

try to find work that aligns with their desired field which will give them proper experience to

prepare them for adulthood (Arnett, 2000). Emergent adults seek a fulfilling life, wanting a good

paying job and a lasting connection with a partner (Arnett, 2000). I resonate with this article

because I am experiencing this phase. I want to explore and have richer experiences with people,

at school. I am very hopeful about my career since it is on the onset.

I agree with Arnett’s (2000) idea that an emerging adult is not an adolescent. These two

stages have very distinct characteristics. An adolescent is under the control of parental influence

and their opinion is met with harsh resistance (Arnett, 2000). An emerging adolescent on the

other hand is left to decide what they want to do and who they want to become. Most adolescents
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live with their parents while most young adults have moved out of their homes (Arnett, 2000).

Adolescents seek work that may not be relevant to their future jobs such as working in

restaurants while emerging adults seek work that adds value to their future careers and gives

them relevant experience. Finally, emergent adults seek a long lasting bond with their partners

while adolescents date for fun.

An emerging adult is also not yet a young adult. According to Arnett (2000), a young

adult is an individual in their late twenties to early thirties. A young adult feels like they have

started out being adults while emerging adults do not identify as adults. Emerging adults are still

trying to find bearing in their careers while most young adults seemed to be more stable in their

careers (Arnett, 2000). Lastly, emerging adulthoods mostly are not married and have no children

while most young adults have children.

Conversely, Côté (2014) invalidates Arnett’s (2000) emergent adult theory because

Arnett refuses to take any criticism that is put against his theory. Côté (2014) explains the point

of a scientific theory is for the theory to be tested empirically and proven. Côté (2014) should

have criticized the theory and left it at that. Whether Arnett (2000) accepts to change his stance

or not is up to him.

Côté (2014) highlights that there is currently harsh economic condition that forces

emergent adults to seek work that does not fit their career path. I believe Arnett (2014) captured

the reality by saying adolescents may seek work that is not aligned to their dream career since

they do not have the required skills yet Arnett (2014). Once the adolescent gets the necessary

skills, he or she may now want to choose work that is in line with his career path Arnett (2014).
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In an adolescent, they don’t yearn to be aligned with their career but in emergent adults, even

with the tough economic times, that desire is in them.

Since there is a group of people who identifies neither as young adults nor as adolescents,

it would be unfair to characterize them as young adults. This transition period needs to be

recognized and supported in order to make it easier. The society may support emergent adults by

offering more opportunities to obtain tertiary education. This will help them to obtain relevant

skills to further their careers. This is why I support the emergent adulthood stage to bring

awareness and understanding in the society.

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Reference

Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through

the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. https://eznvcc.vccs.edu/login?

url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=2000-15413-

004&site=ehost-live&scope=site PDF

Côté, J. (2014). The Dangerous Myth of Emerging Adulthood: An Evidence-Based Critique of a

Flawed Developmental Theory. Applied Developmental Science, 18(4), 177–

188. https://eznvcc.vccs.edu:2443/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=99090552&site=ehost-live&scope=site PDF