1. The transition to adulthood
Adolescence
The transition to adulthood

2. Universal life passages
The firsts:
First day of school
First tooth loss
Bar mitzvah, First Communion
Firsts for adolescence:

3. The pace of development – “clocks”
Chronological clock:
Age 18 is age of majority – vote, legal responsibilty
2. Biological clock:
Individual differences
Better nutrition has speeded up this clock
3. Psychological clock
emotional maturity
Late or early developers
Social Clock
Leave home; go to post secondary

4. Developmental theorists
Erikson Identity vs. role confusion

5. Jane Loevinger: theory of ego development
Ego development = understanding of self
Early conformist stage:
the world is black and white (Pleasantville)
Follow the crowd
ii. Self-aware stage
Different experiences lead to separate opinions, a sense of one’s uniqueness
Conscientious stage:
Develop ability to reciprocate, feel empathy, appreciate others’ differences

6. Family life cycle
Individuation occurs: separation from family of origin
Take what you need and leave the rest
Connect with peers (outside family) on a social and emotional level.
Commit to school, career

7. Daniel levenson’s seasons of life
Early adult transition (17-early 40s)
Focus: leave behind adolescence and live in an adult life structure
Education and work
Enter adult world: (22-28)
Form a dream
Choose an occupation
Find love relationship

8. Leonard pearlin’s theory of psychological distress
Cohort effect:
Changes occur because of the common social clock of peers
E.g. Pressure to go to university is one type of social clock.
Other social clocks?

9. All theorists agree on one thing – ‘life’ changes us
change in symbolic interaction
life
Inner psychological change
Life
-success or
failure