Adulthood (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what adulthood is, its beginning, end and characteristics. Also, its biological and psychological aspects and what its stages are.

What is adulthood?

Adulthood is the stage of human development that follows youth and precedes old age. It is the stage in which full physical and intellectual maturity of the individual is obtained and the fullness of social and legal rights and duties is obtained. It is commonly framed between 21 and 60 years old and is understood as an intermediate plateau in human life.

In biological terms, adulthood corresponds to the imago state of animals, that is, with the sexual, physiological and social maturity of the individual. However, given the vital complexity of the human being, these equivalences are always tentative.

Adulthood of human beings comes after the stage of rapid changes of adolescence. It not only brings with it this biological and physiological plenitude, but also relative emotional and psychological stability, along with a greater burden of responsibilities and autonomy in the face of culture and society.

However, coming of age and adulthood should not be confused. The first is the minimum age necessary to be considered a responsible and autonomous actor under the law, but in a strict sense, adulthood usually comes in later years. In any case, the use of age ranges to define the stages of human life is always tentative and approximate.

Characteristics of adulthood

In general terms, adulthood is characterized by the following:

The muscle and bone growth of the individual ends and after a leveling off of his physical capabilities, towards the end of the stage a very gradual decline begins.
The individual reaches the fullness of his mental and intellectual processes with a gradual and progressive decrease in learning capacity, but at the same time greater emotional stability and a greater ability to relate what is known.
The personality of the individual is now expressed in its entirety that is, each person becomes as they are.
Greater moral responsibility is expected of the individual once the stages of youthful selfishness have been overcome, and therefore a greater capacity to make responsible decisions and to judge their social environment in a responsible way.
It is the stage in which a family usually forms that is, paternity or maternity begins to constitute a concern for individuals.

Stages of adulthood

Adulthood generally includes two major stages: early adulthood and middle adulthood.

early adulthood It is the initial period of adult life, which ranges between 21 and 40 years. This is the stage in which the processes of bodily, physical and intellectual growth end, reaching the fullness of their physical capabilities around the age of 25-30, with great agility, strength and resistance. In this stage, social and reflective thinking flourishes, open, adaptable and integrating logic, emotion and intuition. Socially, the young adult assumes a greater burden of responsibilities and freedoms, taking his first firm steps in the professional, ethical and social direction that will define the rest of his life. The affective and emotional ties become more solid and the love life begins a notable settlement.
middle adulthood Instead, it is the plateau of human life, which ranges between 40 and 65 years of life. It is also known as “second adulthood” and is a vital stage marked by self-realization and great productivity in intellectual (and/or scientific, philosophical or artistic) terms, given that the cultural baggage acquired in the previous stages is sufficient to realize significant contributions to the world. At this stage there is also the so-called “mid-life crisis” in which the individual forges a new inflection of his personality, to confront the decline in his physical and sensory capabilities, which is already beginning to become noticeable. as well as the appearance of early diseases. This usually goes hand in hand with the pursuit of pleasures rather than the satisfaction of social or individual pressures, and in general it is a stage of full independence, which ideally prepares the individual to face old age.