Ebook: Emerging and Young Adulthood: Multiple Perspectives, Diverse Narratives

The most distinctive feature of the Second Edition is its theoretical orientation coupled with a focus on understanding emerging and young adulthood from multiple perspectives. The updated and expanded book offers readers an opportunity to “listen to the voices” of emerging and young adults, parents, and employers, which is key to understanding this particular developmental period. In addition, the case studies provided throughout the book are diverse and detailed.

The issues of emerging adulthood are complicated, nuanced, and defy easy characterizations. This book provides an opportunity to debunk many established pernicious stereotypes about emerging and young adults. The presentation of diverse voices and case material serves as a springboard for discussion and engages readers with material depicting emerging adults in the throes of working through developmental challenges characteristic of this period. In addition, the recent economic downturn has created havoc and further instability in the lives of emerging and young adults. The Second Edition focuses on the effects of – as well as possible solutions to – unemployment on emerging and young adults. A new chapter focuses on career experimentation versus career floundering, which is an important distinction. Additional new chapters address the effects of technology as well as depression and anxiety on emerging and young adults.

The Second Edition examines emerging and young adulthood within a larger developmental and ecological context. In addition, it ensures that readers are well positioned to understand how the developmental demands of this period intersect with current economic, social, and political realities. It is a must-have resource for developmental, clinical child and school psychologists, rehabilitation counselors and therapists, I/O psychologists, and sociologists as well as for researchers and graduate-level students across these various disciplines.

This data-rich volume offers new insights into the transitional period between adolescence and adulthood. It analyzes core concepts typically associated with adolescence, such as identity development, emerging sexuality, deepening relationships, and exploration of career choices as individuals age into their twenties and early thirties. Chapters examine the challenges of self-exploration, responsibilities, and independence as this generation approaches adulthood with deliberation in an uncertain world with vastly different perspectives from that of their parents. And in the tradition of its predecessor, the book's first-person excerpts emphasize and illuminate the diversity of the population and its stakeholders, including parents and employers.

Each chapter is updated and revised to reflect the current literature that has evolved since the first edition was published. Additional chapters address two increasingly important areas of interest: the virtual life of the emerging and young adult; and the career-related challenges emerging and young adults encounter in their search for a vocational home. Rich additional narratives serve to elucidate the terrain emerging and young adults encounter as they begin to establish themselves in the world of work and social and romantic relationships.

Key areas of coverage include:

• Identity formation in environmental context
• Culture: opening paths, creating detours
• The "tyranny" of choice: re-examining the prevailing narrative
• Examination of career paths for emerging and young adults
• Emotional and social lives of emerging and young adults
• Overlapping and disparate views of employers
• Mental health issues of emerging and young adults

The Second Edition of Emerging and Young Adulthood is essential reading for researchers, clinicians, therapists and other professionals, and graduate students in developmental, school, and counseling psychology and related social and behavioral sciences.