When Do We Become Adults, Really?

4 days ago

The author questions whether marriage initiates a new life stage, noting that people often segment life into stages, such as Piaget's cognitive development or Sheehy's adult crises.
Life stages are explored through psychologists like Erik Erikson, who defined eight stages as conflicts between opposing forces, such as intimacy vs. isolation in young adulthood.
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett coined 'emerging adulthood' (18-29) and Clare Mehta proposed 'established adulthood' (30-45), reflecting modern delays in milestones like marriage and career stability.
Historical perspectives on life stages vary, from Hippocrates' four stages to Hindu roles based on life events, showing that categorization is often culturally and temporally dependent.
Research indicates that adulthood is increasingly defined by psychological milestones (e.g., taking responsibility) rather than traditional events like marriage or having children.
Life stages can be limiting and elitist, as modern lives are diverse; scholars like Dan McAdams prefer viewing life as a personal narrative rather than rigid stages.
The concept of periodization in history mirrors life stage divisions, where redefining boundaries (e.g., technological shifts vs. political events) can offer new insights.
The author reflects on personal milestones with her husband, concluding that meaningful life transitions are often subjective and based on trust and shared experiences rather than set events.

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