NANCY HEATH, PHD PROGRAM DIRECTOR, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL & COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY Emerging Adulthood: The New Developmental Stage and Implications for University Academic Advisers

Overview Introduction Past understanding & advising Current knowledge Implications for Advisers Question Period

Introduction: The challenge of youth!  Sarah tells her adviser as they review her file that she thought in high school that she wanted to go into politics and thus did no sciences. Then discovered in last year, when she worked for a candidate in the election, that she hated politics...  Had to take an extra year at CEGEP to gain sciences requirements  Entered McGill in Biology, found she didn’t like it  Switched to psychology, discouraged by stories of no clear job upon graduation  Takes a gap year, works with Habitat for Humanity for a year  Returns to McGill switches to Education  Wants to go to graduate school but unsure in what  Meets with adviser and is frustrated at “lack of clear options” Why is Sarah struggling?

Past Understanding Developmentally there are stages/ seasons of life  Infancy/Toddlerhood 0-2yrs  Childhood (Early 2-6) (Middle 6-11)  Adolescence (Early 11-14) (Middle 14-16) (Late 16-18)  Adulthood (Early 18-40) (Middle 40-65) (Late 65+)  Early Adult transition 17-22;  Entry Life Structure (Design Adult Life, including relationships, occupations) Each stage has “tasks”  Historically Early Adulthood and transition to adulthood consisted of short exploration with early commitment to relationship, values and career  Typically by 28 Early Adulthood Life Structure in place

Advising in the past Although exceptions abound... most students:  after an initial first year exploration, settled into a path  fairly independent of parents and family, had less obvious parental involvement  becoming clear on who they wanted to be (identity)  In sum, “seemed more mature”!

Current Knowledge: Emerging Adulthood In early 2000, developmental psychologists proposed a new developmental stage between Adolescence and Early Adulthood “Emerging Adulthood”: A bit of adolescence and a bit of early adulthood! Although not without controversy there is overwhelming evidence that in industrialized nations this new stage does exist (e.g., Arnett, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007; Berk, 2010; Buhl & Lanx 2007; Maeck, Bejcek, & Vanickova, 2007)

Emerging Adulthood yr olds are still completing the “transition to early adulthood” Emerging Adulthood: year olds are:  characterized by “unprecedented exploration”  exploration is extensive with a dual–cycle model breadth/depth  making a commitment (trying something) then evaluating and trying again (broader or deeper)  adolescent exploration and risk taking but without the parental supervision  completing education in a “drawn out and non-linear way” (U.S. Department of Education, 2009)

Is emerging adulthood good or bad? ++There are clear personal and societal benefits in young people having clearer identities, values and commitments as well as greater competencies as a result by adulthood ++Also the extended exploration frequently involves more contributions to community -- For some the extended exploration leads to remaining uncommitted for too long and decreasing their ability to move forward -- Extended risk taking may be problematic for those “at risk”

Other considerations... There are variations by culture. This is a very “western” phenomenon. This can result in additional stress on students from cultures where this is not acceptable when they are in a milieu where it is common. Parents frequently do NOT know about this and fear their son/daughter is “never going to grow up”.

Advice for Advisors! Knowing that this is normal/common and NOT negative/ or immature. Working with our frustration over the apparent “immaturity” of our students. Educating students and parents (where relevant) regarding this new normal, to allay anxiety and decrease conflict. Helping the student to balance their need for extended exploration with the need to advance in development.  Consciously progressing/gaining  Framing it as exploration, with skill development and competency gains  Goals always being discussed even when they repeatedly shift Do we need system change to adapt for this?

Questions?