I was at a parenting conference on Saturday and the guy was talking about this. Having to do with the “Social Capital” around the kids today.
The gist was being an adult means you know who you are in your core. Thousands of years ago you had a tribal network where the village DID raise the child. And one went from being a child to an adult - no adolesence, as their entire life they had a large group of people saying the same thing and telling the same stories, etc.
Later on, with more influences, but fewer true, deep, social contacts the kids became more confused on “who they are”. For most of us at the conference (35 and older) he said we became adults at 18 to 20. (He is talking about the average group physchology). In contrast, my grandmother born in the 1880’s was an adult at 16 when she came to America alone and not knowing where she was going.
The guy wrote a book in 2001 and the research showed average “adult” age was mid-twenties.
He put the book out again last year, and said things have changed so much (more research, changing social patterns, etc.) that he had to add three chapters. And now much of the research indicates “adulthood” is into the 30’s.
And he said it wasn’t just the person’s family - but that the entire society around them is what is extending it.
And he did warn that the social and economic upheavel that we are going through and that is still to come is going to make it even harder for our kids to deal with “growing up”.
>>And now much of the research indicates “adulthood” is into the 30’s.
And he said it wasn’t just the person’s family - but that the entire society around them is what is extending it.
And he did warn that the social and economic upheavel that we are going through and that is still to come is going to make it even harder for our kids to deal with “growing up”.<<
Lord, what will adulthood be in a few years? The 50s? No wonder the Nanny Government is making such huge strides: everyone needs their mommies.
It may not necessarily be the families, but a strong set of family values, including independence and self-respect, has GOT to be a major factor in stopping this malaise.