The Path Between Adolescence and Adulthood
18 is a magic number. It somehow holds the potential to transform one’s world and provides the keys to unlock a pathway to new possibilities. The adolescent skin is shed and the new you emerges. Except, this doesn’t simply occur once the candles are blown out. The start of adulthood should be viewed as a transitional journey rather than a pinnacle event. Childhood isn’t simply early biological and social development. It is also imperfectly packaged with the ability to play, be curious, carefree, and protected. Once a person reaches 18 years of age, they’re given increased opportunities and freedoms, yet simultaneously stripped of these childlike characteristics. As a high school senior who is graduating in several months and planning to attend a university, I often think about whether or not I am prepared to face the enigma that is adulthood. 18 years of age is a legal symbol of change, but is it truly representative of adulthood? With an average life expectancy of 77.3 years in the U.S., why do we consider less than 1/4 of our lives to be the developmental stage?
According to United States law, a child crosses the threshold to adulthood at 18 years old, also referred to as the age of legal majority. A child is no longer considered to be a minor, and they gain control over their actions and persons, essentially becoming responsible for themselves. 18-year-olds have the liberty to many significant decisions including voting, moving out of their parents’ home, changing their name, joining the military, getting married, and signing a binding contract. While these are all exciting choices to make, each one can be life-changing and must be approached rationally. Ironically, the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for making decisions, as well as solving problems and planning, is not yet developed at the age of 18.
Similar to the irony of the legal age, the justice system contradicts scientific evidence as well. The brain has a reward system that causes us to enter uncertain and potentially dangerous situations. The reward system in an adolescent or a young adult brain is highly active, making them more vulnerable. It is even more active when surrounded by peers. 18-year-olds, who fall under this category, are legally tried as adults. Exposing young minds to adult prison puts them at greater risk of violence and increased trauma. They’re also more susceptible to continuing a life of crime into their adulthood. Fortunately, studies show that most offenders “age-out” of crime as their emotional control develops. According to the National Institute of Justice, “40 to 60 percent of justice-involved youth stop offending by early adulthood”.
Adulthood should not be based solely on age, as it is a dynamic concept that is determined by social, biological, cognitive, and personality changes. According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, adulthood is defined as “the period of human development in which full physical growth and maturity have been achieved”. An average 18 year old, just graduating from highschool, attempting to navigate the world around them, has not reached full physical growth and maturity. In fact, neuroscientist and scientific author Sandra Aamodt says “Brain scans show clearly that the brain is not fully finished developing until about age 25”. With this knowledge in mind, why are we continuing to define adulthood with a single age marker?
Discussions of adolescence and adulthood are more relevant now than ever due to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of 2020, most emerging adults have been deprived of crucial parts of their transition from adolescence. There are several factors that contribute to a child’s experience and preparation for adulthood. The economic and social factors, in particular, have been challenged by the consequences of the pandemic. Emerging adults are facing unemployment/underemployment and issues with access to education. Pamela Aronson, a sociology professor at the University of Michigan says, “those with jobs had their hours reduced by nearly 25 percent — COVID-19 has decreased income and put gaps in the resumes of those in their teens and 20s across the world.”
COVID-19’s outcomes for young adults is a prime example of how adulthood is not defined by age, but by individual progress. Adolescents can be prepared for similar situations that may inhibit their resources and growth in the future. This is why there should be a shift from an age milestone to a competency model, that focuses on teaching emotional and situational intelligence and self-sufficiency checkpoints.
One could argue that children develop at different rates and that evaluating their progress could be difficult. Therefore, a change in federal laws would be a complex and intricate process. However, each developmental checkpoint could be taught and evaluated in households by parents and guardians. Many children don’t have the privilege of a fulfilling childhood due to a lack of resources or caring guardians. On a neurological level, a deprived childhood causes problems with the prefrontal cortex function, which creates distinct differences between the organizing and planning abilities of children who grew up in stable environments, and those who didn’t. For children living in difficult situations, competency discussions and lessons could be held in schools by teachers or guidance counselors.
There is no guarantee that there will be a significant improvement in young individuals, but it would still promote thoughtfulness in parenting and education, and mindfulness in adolescents. Teaching competency could prevent potentially dangerous situations, and prepare emerging adults for the bright futures that lie ahead.
Works Cited:
“Adulthood .” APA Dictionary of Psychology, American Psychological Association, https://dictionary.apa.org/adulthood.
Aronson, Pamela. “How Covid-19 Disrupts the Transition to Adulthood.” University of Michigan Dearborn, University of Michigan, 9 Sept. 2020, https://umdearborn.edu/news/all-news/articles/how-covid-19-disrupts-transition-adulthood.
Board, Editorial. “18-Year-Old Offenders Belong in the Juvenile, Not Adult, Justice System .” The Boston Globe, The Boston Globe, 28 Feb. 2020, https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/28/opinion/18-year-old-offenders-belong-juvenile-not-adult-justice-system/.
Chein, Jason “Peers increase adolescent risk taking by enhancing activity in the brain’s reward circuitry.” Developmental science vol. 14,2 (2011), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3075496/
“From Youth Justice Involvement to Young Adult Offending.” National Institute of Justice, 10 Mar. 2014, https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/youth-justice-involvement-young-adult-offending.
“Legal Age.” Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/legal_age.
“Life Expectancy: Could Where You Live Influence How Long You Live?” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 1 Oct. 2021, https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/interactives/whereyouliveaffectshowlongyoulive.html#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20most%20recent,and%2081.1%20years%20for%20women.
