Initiating and evaluating close relationships: A task central to emerging adults
Affiliation of Author, Researcher, or Creator
Marlboro Institute of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies
Department
Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies
Author(s)
Clark, M. S., & Beck, L. A.
Resource Type
Book Chapter
Publication, Publisher or Distributor
Cambridge University Press
Publication Date
2010
Brief Description
Emerging adulthood (EA) has been defined as a time between the ages of 18 and 25, during which individuals are neither adolescents who have never left home, live with their parents (or parent), and are highly dependent on their parents (or parent) nor adults who have assumed full responsibility for themselves and for others, such as a romantic partner or a child. Many of these individuals are going to college, technical school, or graduate school. Others are trying out careers. Sometimes they are living with a partner, sometimes with parents, and sometimes alone. This time has been declared a special stage of life, at least in western culture (Arnett, 2000) – a stage described as a time of exploration and uncertainty and also of self-focus and self-concern. Emerging adults are exploring options, evaluating possible romantic relationships and world views, and preparing for and trying out careers they may eventually assume. It is a time of many choices and few commitments. For the moment this stage of life has been defined by age, tasks, and a lack of commitments. Little has been said about the intra- and interpersonal psychological processes involved in the tasks of this period. We believe an understanding of the psychological processes common during this stage of life is important to understanding why it seems to be a distinct life stage. It is important to ask, what gives this stage of life its own distinct “feel?”
Keywords
close relationships, relationship initation, emerging adulthood
Recommended Citation
Clark, M. S., & Beck, L. A. (2010). Initiating and evaluating close relationships: A task central to emerging adults. In F. D. Fincham & M. Cui (Eds.), Romantic relationships in emerging adulthood (pp. 190-212). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511761935.011
Preferred Citation Style
APA
License Agreement
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