Initiating and evaluating close relationships: A task central to emerging adults

Author, Researcher, or Creator

Lindsey Beck, Emerson CollegeFollow

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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