Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Ph.D., presented the opening workshop of the annual School of Social Work Summer Institute.
by Ela Schwartz
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Ph.D., researcher and professor at Clark University, Fulbright scholar and author, made a name for himself when he questioned whether a new developmental stage of life鈥攐ne not outlined by eminent psychologists such as Sigmund Freud or Erik Erikson鈥攈ad arrived. Individuals aged 18鈥29 were no longer marrying, establishing careers and having children at the same rates as previous generations during this period of life. Neither were they still in the midst of teen rebellion and self-absorption. For this group, no longer adolescents and not yet young adults, he developed his theory of a new life stage, one he termed 鈥渆merging adulthood.鈥
And what better place to discuss emerging adulthood than on a college campus? On July 15, 2013, at the , Dr. Arnett kicked off the 茄子视频 Summer Institute as he addressed an audience of mental-health professionals, educators, parents and the emerging adults themselves for a six-hour workshop called 鈥淎re College Students Adults? Emerging Adulthood: A New Stage of Development.鈥
Dr. Arnett shared his insights as well as statistics from the (2012), a national survey he directed based on 1,029 interviews of 18鈥29-year-olds. He categorized emerging adulthood as a period of:
- Identity exploration: seeking careers and relationships that provide self-fulfillment
- Instability due to changes in relationships and employment, which can result in stress and anxiety
- Self-focus (which Dr. Arnett clarified is not the same as selfishness)
- Feeling in between: not a kid but not yet an adult
- Possibilities: Most are hopeful about the future
The event was more of a conversation than a presentation, as attendees shared their professional and personal opinions on everything from counseling high school students on college goals to helping adults approaching their 30s overcome lingering substance abuse and anxiety issues. Although older demographics may perceive this age group as self-absorbed, Dr. Arnett pointed out that 86 percent of the young people surveyed said they felt it was important to have a career that does some good in the world. Their optimism and idealism are part of what 鈥渕akes them so much fun,鈥 he said.
During breaks, Dr. Arnett spoke one-on-one with attendees and signed copies of his books, Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens through the Twenties (2004, Oxford University Press, 10th anniversary edition scheduled for 2014) and When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up? (Workman Publishing, 2013).
Audrey Freshman, Ph.D., director of continuing education, said the workshop set the stage for the subsequent presentations that 鈥渁ddressed the mental health, substance use, social, cultural and romantic ties emblematic of this generation,鈥 she said, adding that the 鈥渕ost poignant moment鈥 for her was when three B.S.W. students attending Adelphi spoke to the audience about their respective struggles overcoming cultural, familial and personal adversity. 鈥淭hese students shined a light on resiliency and made the case that, at the end of the day, one generation has to place their faith into the hands of the next.鈥
For further information, please contact:
Todd Wilson
Strategic Communications Director听
p 鈥 516.237.8634
e 鈥 twilson@adelphi.edu