Adult Development

This entry focuses on two concepts: adulthood and psychological development. Adulthood is an extensive period of life, starting around age 20. Adult development is linked to childhood and adolescence development but is not determined by them. Even if unfavorable early experiences, such as a child’s aggressive behavior, are generally associated with adult difficulties, a warm family environment may prevent this type of development.

Adulthood includes several phases, defined as early (20−34 years), middle (35−60 years), and later adulthood (60 years and older), each with its typical developmental tasks and psychosocial crises. The specific age boundaries of the phases vary somewhat across theoreticians. Adulthood has traditionally been defined as arriving when certain developmental tasks have been established; these tasks have to do with intimate relationships, childbearing, work, ...