I don’t thing the problem is biological... I think it’s economic, and also social. Parents aren’t forcing their children to grow up, and the economy makes it difficult for them to achieve independence early.
yep yep - lot of ingredients in this recipe - and I think biology, or at least physiology is part of it - but what you pointed out is clearly a major factor.
I think it’s also competitive. Because some parents give their children greater resources—e.g., financial support through unpaid internships—other parents must provide similarly, or else their children (and they in old age) will be at a significant social and economic disadvantage.
That’s the issue. Parents cant “force” their child to grow up. The child has to “want” to grow up.
Sex used to provide the drive for a child to “want” to grow up.
But birth control changed everything. And it is no longer necessary to grow up to have sex without consequences. Both girls and boys are being taught from a very young age that it is ok to have sex outside of marriage.
The problem is... the drive to have sex is what gave children to drive to want to grow up.
Now they can have their cake and eat it too!