Jeffrey Jensen Arnett

The transition from adolescence to adulthood has undergone significant changes in recent decades. Unlike a half century ago, when young people in industrialized countries moved from adolescence into young adulthood in relatively short order at around age 20, now the decade from the late teens to the late twenties is seen as an extended time of self-focused exploration and education in pursuit of optimally fulfilling relationships and careers. Recognition of this new period is stronger than ever, but an important question remains: should emerging adulthood be considered a developmental stage, or a process? In Debating Emerging Adulthood: Stage or Process? two pairs of developmental psychologists take sides in a debate that is central to the very concept of emerging adulthood. Arnett and Tanner argue that as young people around the world share demographic similarities, such as longer education and later marriage, the years between the ages 18 and 25 are best understood as entailing a new life stage. However, because the experiences of emerging adults worldwide vary according to cultural context, educational attainment, and social class, these two scholars suggest that there may not be one but many different emerging adulthoods. An important issue for this burgeoning area of inquiry is to explore and describe this variation. In contrast, Hendry and Kloep assert that stage theories have never been able to explain individual transitions across the life course; in their view, stage theories-including the theory of emerging adulthood-ought to be abolished altogether, and explanations found for the processes and mechanisms that govern human change at any age. This engaging book maps out the argument of "stage or process" in detail, with vigorous disagreements, conflicting alternatives, and some leavening humor, ultimately even finding some common ground. Debating Emerging Adulthood is an absolute must-read for developmental psychologists as well as anyone interested in this indisputably important time of life.

Why do people believe the unbelievable? Why do fictional ideas so often inspire real-world action-sometimes joyful, sometimes destructive-while the people inspired by them never recognize that they are fictional? In Imaginary Realities, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett explores the psychological and cultural forces that lead people to embrace beliefs that defy logic yet shape lives, societies, and history. From religious and magical thinking to conspiracy theories and superstitions, Arnett reveals how these "imaginary realities" help us make sense of a chaotic world and why we adhere to them even when they mislead us. This groundbreaking book examines the psychological roots of irrational beliefs and how they soothe anxiety and foster social cohesion; how they underlie the double-edged sword of moral egoism, which motivates many of our best and worst behavior; the surprising role of imaginary realities in joy, humor, and group celebration; and the looming threats posed by modern myths surrounding AI, ecological collapse, and genetic engineering. With clarity, insight, and cultural depth, Imaginary Realities challenges readers to rethink what we believe and why.

In recent decades, the lives of people in their late teens and twenties have changed so dramatically that a new stage of life has developed. In his provocative work, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett has identified the period of emerging adulthood as distinct from both the adolescence that precedes it and the young adulthood that comes in its wake. Arnett's new paradigm has received enormous worldwide scholarly attention due to his book that launched the field, Emerging Adulthood. On the 20th anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking work, this third edition of Emerging Adulthood fully updates and expands Arnett's findings, and adds a new chapter on cultural and international variations. Merging stories from the lives of diverse emerging adults with decades of research, Arnett covers a wide range of topics, including love and sex, relationships with parents, experiences at college and work, and views of what it means to be an adult. As the nature of American youth and the meaning of adulthood further evolve, Emerging Adulthood will continue to be essential reading for understanding the face of modern America.

A research-based guide to debunking commonly misunderstood myths about adolescence Great Myths of Adolescence contains the evidence-based science that debunks the myths and commonly held misconceptions concerning adolescence. The book explores myths related to sex, drugs and self-control, as well as many others. The authors define each myth, identify each myth's prevalence and present the latest and most significant research debunking the myth. The text is grounded in the authors’ own research on the prevalence of belief in each myth, from the perspective of college students. Additionally, various pop culture icons that have helped propagate the myths are discussed. Written by noted experts, the book explores a wealth of topics including: The teen brain is fully developed by 18; Greek life has a negative effect on college students academically; significant mood disruptions in adolescence are inevitable; the millennial generation is lazy; and much more. This important resource: Shatters commonly held and topical myths relating to gender, education, technology, sex, crime and moreBased in empirical and up-to-date research including the authors' ownLinks each myth to icons of pop culture who/which have helped propagate themDiscusses why myths are harmful and best practices related to the various topicsA volume in the popular Great Myths of Psychology series Written for undergraduate students studying psychology modules in Adolescence and developmental psychology, students studying childhood studies and education studies, Great Myths of Adolescence offers an important guide that debunks misconceptions about adolescence behavior. This book also pairs well with another book by two of the authors, Great Myths of Child Development.

A research-based guide to debunking commonly misunderstood myths about adolescence Great Myths of Adolescence contains the evidence-based science that debunks the myths and commonly held misconceptions concerning adolescence. The book explores myths related to sex, drugs and self-control, as well as many others. The authors define each myth, identify each myth's prevalence and present the latest and most significant research debunking the myth. The text is grounded in the authors’ own research on the prevalence of belief in each myth, from the perspective of college students. Additionally, various pop culture icons that have helped propagate the myths are discussed. Written by noted experts, the book explores a wealth of topics including: The teen brain is fully developed by 18; Greek life has a negative effect on college students academically; significant mood disruptions in adolescence are inevitable; the millennial generation is lazy; and much more. This important resource: Shatters commonly held and topical myths relating to gender, education, technology, sex, crime and moreBased in empirical and up-to-date research including the authors' ownLinks each myth to icons of pop culture who/which have helped propagate themDiscusses why myths are harmful and best practices related to the various topicsA volume in the popular Great Myths of Psychology series Written for undergraduate students studying psychology modules in Adolescence and developmental psychology, students studying childhood studies and education studies, Great Myths of Adolescence offers an important guide that debunks misconceptions about adolescence behavior. This book also pairs well with another book by two of the authors, Great Myths of Child Development.

For courses in Lifespan DevelopmentHelp students understand how culture impacts development — and why it mattersHuman Development: A Cultural Approach leads students to examine all stages of development through the engaging lens of culture. Jeffrey Jensen Arnett and new coauthor Lene Arnett Jensen integrate cross-cultural examples throughout the narrative to reveal the impact of cultural factors both in the US and around the world. The 3rd Edition includes thoroughly updated research and data for a learning experience that best prepares students to face challenges in our diverse and globalized world — whether they travel the globe or remain in their hometowns.Human Development: A Cultural Approach, 3rd Edition is also available via RevelTM, an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience.

For courses in Child Development which take a topical approach An expansive, topical approach to how culture impacts developmentChild Development Worldwide presents a topical examination of all stages of development — from prenatal development through middle childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood — through the engaging lens of culture. Cross-cultural examples integrated throughout the narrative reveal the impact of cultural factors both in the US and around the world. Authors Lene Arnett Jensen and Jeffrey Jensen Arnett emphasize culture to foster a thorough, balanced view of development that prepares students to face challenges in our diverse and globalized world — whether they travel the globe or remain in their hometowns.Child Development Worldwide is also available via RevelTM, an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience.

In recent decades, the lives of people in their late teens and twenties have changed so dramatically that a new stage of life has developed. In his provocative work, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett has identified the period of emerging adulthood as distinct from both the adolescence that precedes it and the young adulthood that comes in its wake. Arnett's new paradigm has received a surge of scholarly attention due to his book that launched the field, Emerging Adulthood. On the 10th Anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking work, the second edition of Emerging Adulthood fully updates and expands Arnett's findings and includes brand new chapters on media use, social class issues, and the distinctive problems of this life stage. In spite of the challenges they face, Arnett explains that emerging adults are particularly skilled at maintaining contradictory emotions--they are confident while being wary, and optimistic in the face of large degrees of uncertainty. Merging stories from the lives of emerging adults themselves with decades of research, Arnett covers a wide range of topics, including love and sex, relationships with parents, experiences at college and work, and views of what it means to be an adult. He also refutes many of the negative stereotypes about emerging adults today, finding that they are not "lazy" but remarkably hard-working in most cases, and not "selfish" but rather concerned with making a contribution to improving the world. As the nature of American youth and the meaning of adulthood further evolve, Emerging Adulthood will continue to be essential reading for understanding the face of modern America.