From the biological point of view, adulthood is characterized by the complete development of the system. Humans during this stage fully develop the skills psychological , which are the result of having managed to overcome childhood as well as adolescence.

Adulthood is also related to the ability to face cultural and legal issues typical of this stage. The individual develops faculties that allow him to make decisions in a more responsible way. In addition, it is during this stage that all the social and emotional skills , which were acquired during the previous stages, are put into practice .

What is adulthood?

The word adult is an adjective that has its origin in the term used in the old Latin language “adultus”. This word is used to describe a person who has managed to complete his development completely. This can be from the point of view of your physique or mentality . The human being in the course of his life goes through three stages, the first is childhood and the second adolescence.

The last stage of human development is adulthood, this period of maturity is characterized by the clear manifestation of knowledge and activities that have been perfected in the course of life. People who have reached this last stage are able to carry out any subsistence activity with greater skill.

When the individual has developed within a normal social framework, he is capable of establishing interpersonal relationships with greater success. Psychological and motor skills are essential, to be able to face the different challenges that people eventually have to overcome. When the previous stages, childhood and adolescence, were truncated or lived without having managed to overcome certain difficulties; it will undoubtedly have an effect on adult life.

What are the characteristics of this period? 

Adulthood is usually a period of time that is described from 25 to 60 years of age. It is described by identifying three main stages. The characteristics of adulthood appear through a gradual process , this means that the full development of the individual does not occur immediately. For this reason, each of the stages of which adulthood is constituted can be identified, each one of them has particular characteristics.

The first is early adulthood, from the point of view of the legal system it ranges from 18 to 21 years on average, although it can also extend up to 25 years. It is the beginning of the psychological and physical process that allows developing decision-making skills. In addition, the individual begins to be aware of the consequences of their own actions.

In early adulthood, psychologists are able to identify the personality of the individual more clearly , in addition the emotional state presents a certain stability. These are people who are capable of assuming greater responsibilities , their mental performance has come to be fully developed and therefore there will be greater productivity.

Middle adulthood is often described as a stage in which the maximum productive potential will be reached . This stage is usually described from 25 to 40 years of age. From the psychological point of view, it is when people manage to definitively undertake their personal and professional paths.

During middle adulthood, people learn to survive and also put into practice the social skills that guarantee them to be able to remain independent . On the other hand, during late adulthood, also called old age, the person begins to become more dependent on third parties. In addition, the psychological and motor capacities decline markedly. 

It is during this period that the person begins to define what his personal and professional path will be . Adulthood is a stage that cannot be described in a unanimous way. For example, in some people the need to establish a family of their own begins to manifest. Motherhood or fatherhood are some of the traditional characteristics, the basic model of a family, but it is not the pursuit of all individuals.

The study of adulthood and its importance in psychology

In psychology, the study of the last period of people’s lives corresponds to the maximum development of psychological capacities. Psychological maturity, taking into account different aspects, implies that the individual has managed to overcome childhood, adolescence and youth with some success. The results of this experience are clearly manifested in behavior and emotional state.

People who belong to the third age can suffer different types of psychological ailments . These are the result of a great diversity of factors, for example biological factors such as genetic predisposition and chemical changes in the system.

On the other hand, psychological factors are strongly influenced by social and cultural factors . Depending on the education, the daily habits, the diet and the rhythm of life that the person followed in their previous stages; old age will correspond in the same way.

Psychologists claim that some individuals may voluntarily refuse upon reaching adulthood. These individuals express their preference for maintaining characteristics typical of childhood, this can sometimes be the result of the need to protect themselves in certain situations .

This is especially relevant during the first years of this period. People passively discover how their abilities, both physical and mental, are facing certain difficulties. The fear of aging is a common characteristic, so psychologists focus their efforts on trying to ensure that patients can enter old age with more confidence.

The most important psychological characteristic is the longing for the independence of the individual. During early adulthood, full emotional and physical development are the result of the combination of the individual’s own capacities and the social, cultural, economic and geographical environment. Friendship and family relationships will also help determine when to begin the process of independence.

Adulthood is the stage of greatest stability, the typical volatility of adolescence and the fragility of childhood are replaced. Now the individual passes into a progressive state in which his character deepens and he knows his own identity .

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Alexa Clark specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has experience in listening and welcoming in Individual Therapy and Couples Therapy. It meets demands such as generalized anxiety, professional, love and family conflicts, stress, depression, sexual dysfunction, grief, and adolescents from 15 years of age. Over the years, She felt the need to conduct the psychotherapy sessions with subtlety since She understands that the psychologist acts as a facilitator of self-understanding and self-acceptance, valuing each person's respect, uniqueness, and acceptance.

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