In a new Q&A, renowned psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Jensen Arnett describes coining the phrase “emerging adulthood” in a paper published in American Psychologist, which challenged and helped change society’s perception of today’s young adults in their late teens to early twenties. Arnett discusses encouraging young people to take the time to find themselves, appreciating their relationships with their parents and attending to their wellbeing.
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, PhD, is a Senior Research Scholar at the Department of Psychology at Clark University and the Executive Director of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood.