Emerging Adulthood

What makes an adult? Is it living independently, having a
stable career path, getting married, or becoming a parent? In the digital
age, particularly in Western societies, such traditional markers have been
increasingly postponed and redefined. Thus, the concept of emerging
adulthood, first described by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Ph.D., is a period
between adolescence and adulthood properly characterized by identity
exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling in-between, and a sense of
wide-open possibilities.

Many contemporary researchers have defined
emerging adulthood as the period between ages 18 and 29 years, but this new
volume argues that it is more useful to look at early emerging adulthood, or
late adolescence (ages 18-23), and later emerging adulthood (ages 24-29)
separately. Although certain broad trends characterize the entire decade in
question (role experimentation, focus on self-discovery), the developmental
capacities and tasks of the earlier years are distinct from those of the
mid- to late 20s.

In accessible chapters made even more applicable by
the use of illustrative vignettes and videos that provide an individualized
depiction of the broader concepts addressed more abstractly within the book,
Emerging Adulthood: A Psychodynamic Approach to the New Developmental
Phase of the 21st Century examines the overarching similarities and
developmental distinctions between these two periods and subsequently delves
into

* The identity process in contemporary society, and its
inevitable intersection with the digital world, focusing on domains such as
race/ethnicity, gender and sexuality, values, and professional roles
*
The centrality of youth culture in aiding the individuation from family of
origin, particularly through the lens of technology, connection to peers,
and trends in music and fashion
* How to distinguish between typical
emotional experiences and behaviors in the years leading up to adulthood and
psychopathologies that require mental health interventions
* Treatment
modalities for individuals in this phase of life, including
cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, digital
enhancements, and peer involvement

Key points for each chapter will
help readers reference the most salient takeaways as they gain a deepened
understanding of the interface of culture and society, family, development,
and individual psychology during these dynamic life phases.