Today's New York Times reports the results of a national survey of 17-29 year-olds, conducted by the Times along with CBS News and MTV. As I've noted before in conjunction with NY Times articles, free full-text access may disappear after a few days, so if you're at a university or other library that subscribes to Lexis/Nexis, that may be the best way to access the article in the long term.
Headlined "New Poll Finds That Young Americans Are Leaning Left," the article focuses on political opinions and presidential candidate preferences for 2008. One of the more interesting findings, in my view, was the following:
By any measure, the poll suggests that young Americans are anything but apathetic about the presidential election. Fifty-eight percent said they were paying attention to the campaign. By contrast, at this point in the 2004 presidential campaign, 35 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds said they were paying a lot or some attention to the campaign.
A supplemental PDF document listing all the questions and the response frequencies for each question's possible choices also provides a nice snapshot of the emerging adult population of the U.S., beyond political preferences.
For example, 22% of respondents were married, 73% never-married, and the rest divorced or separated. Thirty-one percent of the sample reported having children. In terms of highest educational level yet achieved, the sample was virtually evenly split between high school diploma or less, and at least some college.
In response to a question about networking websites such as MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook, 56% of participants reported having their own page, 15% had only visited such pages, and 30% had not visited any.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Tattoo Removal as a Reflection of EA and Transition to Adulthood
An interesting article on tattoo removal has just come out in the New York Times, entitled "Erasing Tattoos, Out of Regret or Simply to Get a Fresh Canvas" (by Natasha Singer, June 17, 2007). I'm not sure how long the article link will work, but those of you at universities that subscribe to Lexis/Nexis may be able to access the article that way in the future, via the citation I've provided.
Nowhere in the article does the team "emerging adulthood" appear. However, based on some of the age statistics cited and the comments of people interviewed for the article, EA-relevant themes appear to lurk beneath the surface. Here's one passage, for example:
Most of Dr. Tattoff’s [not the name of a real doctor, but rather of a tattoo-removal service] clients are women ages 25 to 35, said James Morel, the chief executive of the company, which has given more than 13,000 tattoo laser treatments since opening here in 2004. “Maybe women are getting more tattoos than they used to,” Mr. Morel said, “or maybe they just have a higher level of tattoo regret than men.”
Aside from the gender aspect, the 25-35 age-range dovetails well with when the exploratory/experimentation-oriented years of emerging adulthood should be ending and more "serious" pursuits are being undertaken.
A quote from tattoo-removal client David Donch of New Jersey reinforces that theme:
Mr. Donch said the treatments felt like rubber bands being snapped against his skin but that it was worth it. “As I am getting older and planning to start a family and get my teaching certificate, I am more aware that appearances are important,” Mr. Donch said.
Nowhere in the article does the team "emerging adulthood" appear. However, based on some of the age statistics cited and the comments of people interviewed for the article, EA-relevant themes appear to lurk beneath the surface. Here's one passage, for example:
Most of Dr. Tattoff’s [not the name of a real doctor, but rather of a tattoo-removal service] clients are women ages 25 to 35, said James Morel, the chief executive of the company, which has given more than 13,000 tattoo laser treatments since opening here in 2004. “Maybe women are getting more tattoos than they used to,” Mr. Morel said, “or maybe they just have a higher level of tattoo regret than men.”
Aside from the gender aspect, the 25-35 age-range dovetails well with when the exploratory/experimentation-oriented years of emerging adulthood should be ending and more "serious" pursuits are being undertaken.
A quote from tattoo-removal client David Donch of New Jersey reinforces that theme:
Mr. Donch said the treatments felt like rubber bands being snapped against his skin but that it was worth it. “As I am getting older and planning to start a family and get my teaching certificate, I am more aware that appearances are important,” Mr. Donch said.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Book Review: Pledged
I have just finished reading the book Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities, by Alexandra Robbins. The book is a few years old (2004) and I was able to get a copy from a bookstore's discount shelf.
Robbins has strong connections to the study of Emerging Adulthood, having co-authored (with Abby Wilner), the 2001 book Quarterlife Crisis, which studies difficulties in the transition from college to the labor force. In connection with this book, Robbins appeared on a radio show with Jeffrey Arnett (see links section on the right of this page).
Participation in a sorority would seem to be a life experience that may affect -- for better or for worse -- a young woman's transition to adulthood, perhaps via some of the mechanisms discussed in the Emerging Adulthood literature. However, Robbins does not devote much discussion to individual development until the latter parts of the book, when she reflects upon how the sorority sisters she followed (whose names were disguised) may have changed over the course of the year.
One exception to the dearth of EA-related content is Robbins's examination of sorority members' potential for identity development. Not only do there appear to be rampant conformity pressures in the houses; from a given sorority's national office on down, there are numerous traditions, requirements, and expectations. Writes Robbins:
The danger of sororities, it became clear, is that instead of enhancing a girl's identity as she shifts from her formative years toward adulthood, the sisterhood could have a tendency to swallow that identity altogether (p. 175).
Another salient theme within EA is self-focus, as one takes on greater responsibilities and becomes more self-sufficient than before. It is here, in dealing with personality clashes, house politics, and substantial time demands, that sorority members may profit as they they move into the "real world." As Robbins conveys two sisters' thoughts on their own transformation during the past year:
"The way I see it, [these negatives are] just a part of life. I feel like from now on, I'm always going to have to juggle commitments and somehow you have to make them work out. So this is practice, I guess," [Sabrina] said. "Maybe once I'm in the real world I'll have an easier time being independent than my sisters" (p. 302; the phrase "these negatives are" was inserted by Robbins, the name "Sabrina" was inserted by me).
Caitlin concluded that she had changed more this year than any other year in her life. She had finally learned that at some point she simply had to give up her futile efforts to please her mother. It had taken an extraordinary amount of turmoil for her to feel like she was finally growing up, and now that she had wrestled with so many issues, it dawned on her that she was gradually starting to become what she had always pretended to be on the outside but was not truly until now. She was becoming -- she thought -- strong (p. 314).
Never having been involved with the Greek system myself, I saw Pledged as an interesting window into what, at some colleges and universities, is a major factor in campus life. That's not to say that Pledged offers a representative portrait of every sorority in the country, or even of the ones Robbins reported on. As a vehicle to study human development, the book is sporadic, at best. The subject matter is inherently interesting, in my view, and also offers a rich view of group dynamics.
Robbins has strong connections to the study of Emerging Adulthood, having co-authored (with Abby Wilner), the 2001 book Quarterlife Crisis, which studies difficulties in the transition from college to the labor force. In connection with this book, Robbins appeared on a radio show with Jeffrey Arnett (see links section on the right of this page).
Participation in a sorority would seem to be a life experience that may affect -- for better or for worse -- a young woman's transition to adulthood, perhaps via some of the mechanisms discussed in the Emerging Adulthood literature. However, Robbins does not devote much discussion to individual development until the latter parts of the book, when she reflects upon how the sorority sisters she followed (whose names were disguised) may have changed over the course of the year.
One exception to the dearth of EA-related content is Robbins's examination of sorority members' potential for identity development. Not only do there appear to be rampant conformity pressures in the houses; from a given sorority's national office on down, there are numerous traditions, requirements, and expectations. Writes Robbins:
The danger of sororities, it became clear, is that instead of enhancing a girl's identity as she shifts from her formative years toward adulthood, the sisterhood could have a tendency to swallow that identity altogether (p. 175).
Another salient theme within EA is self-focus, as one takes on greater responsibilities and becomes more self-sufficient than before. It is here, in dealing with personality clashes, house politics, and substantial time demands, that sorority members may profit as they they move into the "real world." As Robbins conveys two sisters' thoughts on their own transformation during the past year:
"The way I see it, [these negatives are] just a part of life. I feel like from now on, I'm always going to have to juggle commitments and somehow you have to make them work out. So this is practice, I guess," [Sabrina] said. "Maybe once I'm in the real world I'll have an easier time being independent than my sisters" (p. 302; the phrase "these negatives are" was inserted by Robbins, the name "Sabrina" was inserted by me).
Caitlin concluded that she had changed more this year than any other year in her life. She had finally learned that at some point she simply had to give up her futile efforts to please her mother. It had taken an extraordinary amount of turmoil for her to feel like she was finally growing up, and now that she had wrestled with so many issues, it dawned on her that she was gradually starting to become what she had always pretended to be on the outside but was not truly until now. She was becoming -- she thought -- strong (p. 314).
Never having been involved with the Greek system myself, I saw Pledged as an interesting window into what, at some colleges and universities, is a major factor in campus life. That's not to say that Pledged offers a representative portrait of every sorority in the country, or even of the ones Robbins reported on. As a vehicle to study human development, the book is sporadic, at best. The subject matter is inherently interesting, in my view, and also offers a rich view of group dynamics.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Romantic Trends: Seeking Perfection in a Mate, But Also Hooking Up
One of the central ideas of Emerging Adulthood is that young people are taking longer to explore and settle into fully adult roles, than in past generations. One example of this is the increase in the median age at first marriage in the U.S.
Jeffrey Arnett, whose writings introduced the term "Emerging Adulthood" and the set of ideas for studying it, was quoted as follows in a 2005 TIME magazine article on "twixters," a group similar to emerging adults (see page 5 of article).
Arnett is worried that if anything, twixters are too romantic. In their universe, romance is totally detached from pragmatic concerns and societal pressures, so when twixters finally do marry, they're going to do it for Love with a capital L and no other reason. "Everybody wants to find their soul mate now," Arnett says, "whereas I think, for my parents' generation—I'm 47—they looked at it much more practically. I think a lot of people are going to end up being disappointed with the person that's snoring next to them by the time they've been married for a few years and they realize it doesn't work that way."
Another trend among young people in recent years is the phenomenon of "hooking up," as described in this article and a new book cited therein. Hooking up is consistent with the idea that many emerging adults want to delay the establishment of serious romantic relationships -- perhaps to devote more energy to their careers -- but still want to enjoy some physical affection.
One of our graduate students at Texas Tech is planning to start some research on hooking up and Emerging Adulthood.
Jeffrey Arnett, whose writings introduced the term "Emerging Adulthood" and the set of ideas for studying it, was quoted as follows in a 2005 TIME magazine article on "twixters," a group similar to emerging adults (see page 5 of article).
Arnett is worried that if anything, twixters are too romantic. In their universe, romance is totally detached from pragmatic concerns and societal pressures, so when twixters finally do marry, they're going to do it for Love with a capital L and no other reason. "Everybody wants to find their soul mate now," Arnett says, "whereas I think, for my parents' generation—I'm 47—they looked at it much more practically. I think a lot of people are going to end up being disappointed with the person that's snoring next to them by the time they've been married for a few years and they realize it doesn't work that way."
Another trend among young people in recent years is the phenomenon of "hooking up," as described in this article and a new book cited therein. Hooking up is consistent with the idea that many emerging adults want to delay the establishment of serious romantic relationships -- perhaps to devote more energy to their careers -- but still want to enjoy some physical affection.
One of our graduate students at Texas Tech is planning to start some research on hooking up and Emerging Adulthood.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Tucson Youth Club Promotes Civic Engagement
At last month's Emerging Adulthood conference in Tucson, Arizona (see summary in my previous posting below), a speaker in the same session with me gave a presentation on how a Tucson youth club helps to promote civic engagement and empowerment in young people. University of Arizona researcher Joyce Serido, whose co-author was Lynne Borden, gave a talk at the conference entitled, "From Program Participant To Community Activist: A Developmental Journey." The abstract from the EA conference talk is available here, alphabetically within the letter S, whereas the abstract from a similar presentation elsewhere is available here (bottom of p. 11).
In the Q & A session after the talks, several audience members wanted to know more about the youth club at the center of Joyce's presentation. In response, she stated that the club is called "Skrappy's," and that it puts on performances by music bands, among other activities. As stated in the group's My Space page (ALL CAPS in original):
SKRAPPY'S IS MORE THAN A PLACE FOR MUSIC- IT IS A YOUTH COMMUNITY. SKRAPPY'S IS A SAFE, POSITIVE, DRUG & ALCOHOL FREE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO FREELY EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH MUSIC, THEATRE, ART, JOURNALISM, DANCE AND LIFESTYLES. SKRAPPY'S ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO EMBRACE WHO THEY ARE AND HELPS THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED AT SKRAPPY'S LEARN VALUABLE LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS. WHETHER THEY ARE HELPING RUN THE CENTER, PLAYING IN A BAND OR PARTICIPATING IN A CLASS ACTIVITY, THEY INCREASE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, REFINE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
In the Q & A session after the talks, several audience members wanted to know more about the youth club at the center of Joyce's presentation. In response, she stated that the club is called "Skrappy's," and that it puts on performances by music bands, among other activities. As stated in the group's My Space page (ALL CAPS in original):
SKRAPPY'S IS MORE THAN A PLACE FOR MUSIC- IT IS A YOUTH COMMUNITY. SKRAPPY'S IS A SAFE, POSITIVE, DRUG & ALCOHOL FREE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO FREELY EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH MUSIC, THEATRE, ART, JOURNALISM, DANCE AND LIFESTYLES. SKRAPPY'S ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO EMBRACE WHO THEY ARE AND HELPS THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED AT SKRAPPY'S LEARN VALUABLE LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS. WHETHER THEY ARE HELPING RUN THE CENTER, PLAYING IN A BAND OR PARTICIPATING IN A CLASS ACTIVITY, THEY INCREASE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, REFINE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Photos from 3rd EA Conference
This past weekend, the 3rd biennial (more or less) conference on Emerging Adulthood was held, this time in Tucson, Arizona, near the University of Arizona campus. Previous EA conferences had been held in Miami (February 2005) and Cambridge, Massachusetts (November 2003). Abstracts from EA '07 are available here. Also, below are a few pictures I (and others) took at the '07 conference (you can click directly on the photos to enlarge them).
Pictured above, in a dark seminar room, are several members of the Texas Tech University Human Development and Family Studies contingent that attended the conference. Judy Fischer (faculty) is shown front and center. From left to right in the back row, those pictured are: Rick Herbert (graduate student), Jackie Wiersma (graduate student), myself (Alan Reifman, faculty), Bo Cleveland (faculty), and Jacki Fitzpatrick (faculty). [Note that the above photo replaces an earlier one I had up, on which the pictured individuals did not show up as well in the dark.]
This next picture shows the speakers in the session I was in.
Preliminary planning for the next Emerging Adulthood conference, in 2009, is underway. All attendees at the recent conference received a questionnaire, seeking suggestions for the next one.
Pictured above, in a dark seminar room, are several members of the Texas Tech University Human Development and Family Studies contingent that attended the conference. Judy Fischer (faculty) is shown front and center. From left to right in the back row, those pictured are: Rick Herbert (graduate student), Jackie Wiersma (graduate student), myself (Alan Reifman, faculty), Bo Cleveland (faculty), and Jacki Fitzpatrick (faculty). [Note that the above photo replaces an earlier one I had up, on which the pictured individuals did not show up as well in the dark.]
This next picture shows the speakers in the session I was in.
Preliminary planning for the next Emerging Adulthood conference, in 2009, is underway. All attendees at the recent conference received a questionnaire, seeking suggestions for the next one.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Welcome to Attendees of 3rd EA Conference
Welcome to attendees of the 3rd Conference on Emerging Adulthood in Tucson, Arizona! I believe this website would be of general interest to everyone involved in EA research, but in particular, those of you attending the brown bag session on teaching EA may be most likely to find classroom applications from the resources on this page.
The links column on the right puts you one click away from a variety of sources on EA and related topics. The main write-ups provide concise discussions of various topics related to EA (often with external links embedded therein). Visitors can leave comments at the end of each write-up. Entries currently available (below) include:
January 22, 2007 -- Emerging Adulthood in the Culture and Media
January 21, 2007 -- Emerging Adulthood and Substance Use
January 20, 2007 -- Introductory Message on Emerging Adulthood
If you'd like to submit a lead essay as a guest contributor, please e-mail me via my faculty website at the top of the links column.
The links column on the right puts you one click away from a variety of sources on EA and related topics. The main write-ups provide concise discussions of various topics related to EA (often with external links embedded therein). Visitors can leave comments at the end of each write-up. Entries currently available (below) include:
January 22, 2007 -- Emerging Adulthood in the Culture and Media
January 21, 2007 -- Emerging Adulthood and Substance Use
January 20, 2007 -- Introductory Message on Emerging Adulthood
If you'd like to submit a lead essay as a guest contributor, please e-mail me via my faculty website at the top of the links column.
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