as much experience with failure as their older counterparts. Jeffrey Arnett was able to gain powerful insights by interviewing individuals and listening to them. He found five characteristics that are unique in this stage of life, including Identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling in-between and possibilities. Expanding on the Five Characteristics of Emerging Adulthood "Starting in 1995, psychologist Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, PhD, interviewed 300 young people ages 18 to 29 in cities around the nation over five years, asking them questions about what they wanted out of life." While interviewing these young adults, he found that many of them in this age range had similar things to say about the stage of life that they were in even though each of the participants was coming from different situations and environments. While interviewing young adults, Jeffrey Arnett found five repeated themes' characteristics as distinctive and pertinent to this stage of emerging adulthood. Below, these characteristics and why Jeffrey Arnett felt they distinguished this developmental period are discussed. The Age Of Identity Exploration The Age of Identity Exploration is probably the "most distinctive characteristic of emerging adulthood." During this time of life, Arnett found that many of his participants were in a stage of trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. They are trying to find out "what they want out of work, school and love" and experiment in each of those areas. "Through trying out these different possibilities, they develop a more definite identity, including an understanding of who they are, what their capabilities and limitations are, what their beliefs and values are, and how they fit into the society around them." The Age of Instability "As emerging adults explore different possibilities in love and work, their lives are often unstable." While interviewing emerging adults, Arnett found that moving back and forth from college to a legal guardian's home, moving to become independent, or moving because of involvement with a romantic partner characterizes this stage of life. During this stage of life, work, school, and love are very unstable and susceptible to change. This is because people at this age have not had the chance yet to establish themselves in a career, and because of that they cannot afford a home and place to settle down. Many may see this characteristic of emerging adulthood in a negative light, but it is "during this time [that] many