Late Adolescence / Early Adulthood – Expectations

Human development is a lifelong process of physical, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional growth and change. Numerous changes take place in the every stages of life—from babyhood to childhood, childhood to adolescence, and adolescence to adulthood. Throughout the process, each person develops attitudes and values that guide choices, relationships, and understanding.

In late adolescence or early adulthood, this is a period where there will be changes and exploration that covers many aspects in life such as home, family, work, school. In this period, their physical and sexual body changes are primarily complete but it is still an adjustment period to new physical sense of themselves. They need to adjust to sexually maturing body and feelings. They have to adapt and develop sense of sexual identity which includes incorporating personal sense of masculinity and femininity into their identity. Also, they will develop and apply thinking skills. There will be changes in their capacity to think. They are able to understand, think ahead, think about possibilities and outcomes of events. When they are able to consider different points of view, this allows them to empatise and begins to show concern on others.

Youths start to develop sense of self as an individual and as a person connected to different people and groups. Late adolescent should already have a firmer identity, although they are still exploring. They will begin to refine their identity around issues like genders, ethnicity or physical attributes. By this time, they can understand moral behavior and underlying principles of justice. Thus, they will be able to make their stand, less influenced by their peers when making decisions. Peer relationships are able to provide adolescent supports and motivation. When their network with peers broaden, this relationship becomes deeper, thus help them in shaping their interaction.

Then, they gradually take up adulthood roles. From these roles, they learn the skills needed, in the mean time, manage various demands and meet expectations. They will have greater concern for others as well as concern for future. Besides, transition to college, university, independent living, or work takes place.