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Redressing the Emperor!—A Rejoinder to Arnett
Author(s) -
Hendry Leo B.,
Kloep Marion
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
child development perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1750-8606
pISSN - 1750-8592
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-8606.2007.00019.x
Subject(s) - merge (version control) , psychology , life span , emperor , developmental psychology , early adulthood , cognitive psychology , young adult , gerontology , medicine , history , ancient history , computer science , information retrieval
—This rejoinder to Jeffrey Arnett’s essay evaluates his viewpoint by examining where there is agreement, disagreement, and potential integration between his interpretations of the transitions from adolescence to adulthood—emerging adulthood—and ours. We disagree with Arnett that it is necessary to create a new age stage because age‐based stage theories describe but cannot explain human development and thus do not fulfill the criteria for a good theory. We also question whether emerging adulthood is experienced positively by young people and propose that it might be problematic for society. However, we suggest that it would be possible to merge his concept with our life span model, as it provides illustrations of developmental challenges within a hitherto neglected period of the life span.