Jeffrey Arnett defined the theory of emerging adulthood as a developmental period of identity exploration, instability, self-focused behaviors and thoughts, a sense of being at halfway between adolescence and adulthood and an overwhelming sense of optimism about the future. Additionally, there is time throughout life to improve and change your mindset and behavior. Emerging adults explore who they are or want to be, tend to no longer feel like adolescents but do not yet see themselves as having reached adulthood, are extremely optimistic about their life goals and opportunities, focus on their own needs and desires, and they experiment with different life paths. In my opinion, the theory actually accurately reflects the experiences of young people between the ages of 18 and 25. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The developmental phase has uncovered decreased expression of anger and high levels of depression, especially for females (Zimmermann et al, 2014). Emotional stability was also not established during emerging adulthood. Relationships with parents and peers are essential aspects in the development of adolescents' identity. Young adolescents must be sure that they have the support of their parents, they must have a consolidated sense of industriousness and they must be able to take a self-reflective attitude towards the future. A study by Sussman and colleagues found that poor communication between mothers and adolescents, as well as with friends, was linked to less positive identity development. A recent study found that open and active identity exploration when adolescents feel comfortable with close friends contributes to positive friendship quality. Depending on age-specific biological, social, or environmental resources and age-associated options, goals, and restrictions, emotion regulation strategies vary in functionality for different emotions. A total of 124 studies found that during adolescence and emerging adulthood, identity, temporary, and prohibition status increased steadily until age 19 and then decreased; identity realization is increased in late adolescence and emerging adulthood; and states of foreclosure and diffusion fluctuated into emerging adulthood. Increased complexity in college students' reasoning abilities combined with a wide range of new experiences that highlight contrasts between home and college and between themselves and others stimulates them to achieve a higher level of integration of various dimensions of their identity . Such behaviors include excessive alcohol consumption, marijuana use, uncontrollable sleep schedules, or anything that might increase their popularity status. Sussman and colleagues suggested that students leaving their parents' home and attending college have been linked to increased substance use. Emerging adulthood is perhaps the only or major period of life in which risky behavior is most tolerated or promoted as a means of maximizing “emerging adults as they grow are at greater risk of having problems if they are male, have parents who are substance dependent, demonstrate externalizing behaviors during adolescence, have favorable attitudes toward substance use, show a lack of belief in conformity or moral order, have poor school effort, or if they used substances during adolescence (Zimmermann, 2014). One study found that entry into emerging adulthood in the social contexts ofyoung adults may be predictive of lower levels of substance involvement such as engaging in work, marriage, and graduating from college. East Asian adolescents and emerging adults may develop their identity through identification with and imitation of others in their cultural group. Identity development may take longer in some countries than in others. It has been found that young Italians may postpone significant identity exploration beyond adolescence and emerging adulthood, fixating on one identity until their mid-adulthood, late twenties. Furthermore, many young Italians live at home with their parents until they are 30 and beyond. Some factors influenced the achievement of emerging adulthood. the decision between two or more sources of identification: one's ethnic group and traditional, or dominant, culture. The timing of your birth and generation is another influence. First-generation immigrants are likely to be secure in their identity and unlikely to change much; they may or may not develop a new identity. For second-generation immigrants, ethnic identity is likely to be linked to the maintenance of ethnic language and social networks. Third and subsequent generations are considered more influenced by social media and mainstream social groups. A study developed by Seiter et al, revealed that the majority of young people between the ages of 18 and 26 studied felt that they had reached adulthood and emphasized the attributes necessary to fulfill family roles as necessary characteristics for age adult. Differences in optimism levels were found between students and non-students. Hinduism, caste, gender socialization, and the education system are discussed as possible explanations for the findings. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To conclude, some emerging views adulthood as a period of profound transitions and others see it as one of the heaviest periods they will have to go through. Major population-level demographic changes have occurred, including increases in post-secondary education and delays in marriage and childbearing, which have opened up space for the emerging developmental phase of adulthood (Nelson et al, 2012) . Researchers have found that emotion regulation is a difficult way to overcome in emerging adulthood, but an individual may show signs of greater stability and growth. The emerging adulthood level of seeking social support in fearful situations is compared to the early adolescent level. Allem et al discussed that a greater understanding of transition-to-adulthood issues among emerging adults could lead to more informed prevention programs that will ultimately lead to a decrease in the prevalence of substance use among this target population. Nelson et al also discussed the need for work to better understand how the unique characteristics of emerging adulthood may contribute to establishing long-term behavioral patterns and the possible vulnerability of this life stage to various influences. Works Cited Arnett, J. J. ( 2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from late adolescence through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469-480. Zimmermann, P., Iwanski, A., & Stone, A. A. (2014). Identity congruence across the life course: Theoretical and methodological implications. European Psychologist, 19(3), 177-187. Sussman, S., Arnett, J. J., Edwards, C., Ritt-Olson, A., & Mislowsky, J. (2006). Prevalence of substance use among emerging adults: Analysis of nationally representative data, 31(2), 207-222.