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Date of Graduation
Spring 2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Educational Specialist (EdS)
Department
Department of Graduate Psychology
Advisor(s)
Eric W. Cowan
A. Renee Staton
Abstract
Emerging adulthood, as first proposed by Jeffrey Arnett, is the developmental period spanning ages 18-29. Culturally, it is a time of institutionalized role moratorium, especially in post-industrial societies. Emerging adults share the five characteristics of self-focus, instability, identity explorations, feeling in-between, and a sense of possibilities. Emerging adulthood takes place across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups, although the experience of emerging adulthood varies among groups. The present paper provides an overview of the theory of emerging adulthood and its expressions in American society. An original program called “The Something Potluck” is outlined in the Appendix. The Something Potluck is designed to facilitate the developmental growth of emerging adult participants by providing psychoeducation and community support.
Recommended Citation
Trible, Hannah B., "Emerging adulthood: Defining the life stage and its developmental tasks" (2015). Educational Specialist, 2009-2019. 2.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/edspec201019/2
