<P> Emerging adulthood is a phase of the life span between adolescence and full - fledged adulthood which encompasses late adolescence and early adulthood , proposed by Jeffrey Arnett in a 2000 article in the American Psychologist . It primarily describes people living in developed countries , but it is also experienced by young people in urban wealthy families in the Global South . The term describes young adults who do not have children , do not live in their own home , or do not have sufficient income to become fully independent in their early to late 20s . Arnett suggests emerging adulthood is the distinct period between 18 and 25 years of age where adolescents become more independent and explore various life possibilities . Arnett argues that this developmental period can be isolated from adolescence and young adulthood . Emerging adulthood is a new demographic , is contentiously changing , and some believe that twenty - somethings have always struggled with `` identity exploration , instability , self - focus , and feeling in - between '' . Arnett called this period `` roleless role because emerging adults do a wide variety of activities and not constrained by any sort of `` role requirements '' . The developmental theory is highly controversial within the developmental field , with developmental psychologists contested over the legitimacy of Arnett 's theories and methods . </P>
<P> Emerging adulthood is a phase of the life span between adolescence and full - fledged adulthood which encompasses late adolescence and early adulthood , proposed by Jeffrey Arnett in a 2000 article in the American Psychologist . It primarily describes people living in developed countries , but it is also experienced by young people in urban wealthy families in the Global South . The term describes young adults who do not have children , do not live in their own home , or do not have sufficient income to become fully independent in their early to late 20s . Arnett suggests emerging adulthood is the distinct period between 18 and 25 years of age where adolescents become more independent and explore various life possibilities . Arnett argues that this developmental period can be isolated from adolescence and young adulthood . Emerging adulthood is a new demographic , is contentiously changing , and some believe that twenty - somethings have always struggled with `` identity exploration , instability , self - focus , and feeling in - between '' . Arnett called this period `` roleless role because emerging adults do a wide variety of activities and not constrained by any sort of `` role requirements '' . The developmental theory is highly controversial within the developmental field , with developmental psychologists contested over the legitimacy of Arnett 's theories and methods . </P>
the term emerging adulthood refers to individuals from about age
the term emerging adulthood refers to individuals from about age
18 and 25
18 and 25