The field of psychology prides itself on being a data-driven science. In 2008, however, Arnett brought to light a major weakness in the evidence on which models, measures, and theories in psychology ...rest. He demonstrated that the most prominent journals in six subdisciplines of psychology focused almost exclusively (over 70% of samples and authors) on a cultural context, the United States, shared by only 5% of the world's population. How can psychologists trust that these models and results generalize to all humans, if the evidence comes from a small and unrepresentative portion of the global population? Arnett's analysis, cited over 1,300 times since its publication, appears to have galvanized researchers to think more globally. Social scientists from the United States have increasingly sought ways to collaborate with colleagues abroad. Ten years later, an analysis of the same 6 journals for the period of 2014 to 2018 indicates that the authors and samples are now on average a little over 60% American based. The change is mainly due to an increase in authorship and samples from other English-speaking and Western European countries. Thus, it might be said that 11% of the world's population is now represented in these top psychology journals, but that 89% of the world's population continues to be neglected. Majority world authors and samples (4-5%) are still sorely lacking from the evidence base. Psychology still has a long way to go to become a science truly representative of human beings. Several specific recommendations are discussed.
Public Significance Statement
The field of psychology prides itself on being a data-driven science, but a major weakness in the evidence base has been overreliance on a cultural context, the United States, shared by only 5% of the world's population. In 2008, it was reported that the most prominent journals of six subdisciplines in psychology relied on samples that were over 70% American. Ten years later, an analysis of the same journals indicates that authors and samples are now on average a little over 60% American based, but with the change mainly due to an increase in participation from other English-speaking and Western European countries. Majority-world authors and samples (4-5%) are still sorely lacking from the evidence base.
In Emerging Adulthood, Arnett examines in detail the lives of people in their late teens and twenties - a period of exploration, instability, possibility, self-focus, and a sustained sense of being ...in limbo. An increasing number of emerging adults emphasise meaningful and satisying work - not just a job - to a degree not seen in prior generations. Marrying late, often after a series of intimate relationships, they have new and different hopes and fears about long-term commitments, love, and sex. Emerging adults face the challenge of defneding their new and longer road to adulthood to parents and others who entered adulthood at an earlier age in a different time. In spite of these challenges, Arnett's research shows emerging adults are particularly skilled at maintaining contradictory emotions.
A large national sample of adults ages 18–60 was surveyed on features proposed in the theory of emerging adulthood, including identity explorations, self-focus, feeling in-between, instability, and ...possibilities/optimism. Additional items were included on feeling that this time of life is a time of freedom and a time that is fun and exciting and on feelings of anxiety and depression. Emerging adults (ages 18–25) were more likely to endorse nearly all the items proposed in the theory of emerging adulthood, yet a surprisingly high proportion of adults in the older age groups (26–29, 30–39, and 40–60) also agreed that the items apply to their current time of life. Thus, the results indicate that the features proposed in the theory of emerging adulthood are more likely to be found among 18- to 25-year-olds than among people in older age groups, but they may not be as distinctive to emerging adulthood as the theory predicted.
Joy: An integrative theory Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen
The journal of positive psychology,
01/2023, Volume:
18, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
This paper proposes a new theory of joy as defined by the elation of right relation, i.e., an intense and temporary feeling of heightened positive emotion as a consequence of a just right fit between ...our identity and the moment we are experiencing. Diverse domains of joy are explored: emotional, social, cognitive, physical, communal, and ideological. Several 'paradoxical' forms of joy are also elucidated, including schadenfreude, self-denial, and 'killjoy' attempts to thwart the joy of others. Throughout the paper, promising research questions are presented. At the close of the paper, methodological issues in the investigation of joy are discussed. Researchers are encouraged to investigate joy among a wide range of groups - cultures, countries, ages, genders, and social classes.
Many myths about adolescence have been refuted by research, but similar myths have grown up in recent years around emerging adulthood. This essay addresses three of those myths: the claim that they ...suffer from a normative "crisis"; the accusations that they are "selfish"; and their alleged reluctance to "grow up" and become adults. For each issue, evidence is presented showing that the myths exaggerate or falsify the true experience of emerging adults.
Emerging Adulthood Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen
The American psychologist,
05/2000, Volume:
55, Issue:
5
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Emerging adulthood is proposed as a new conception of development for the period from the late teens through the twenties, with a focus on ages 18-25. A theoretical background is presented. Then ...evidence is provided to support the idea that emerging adulthood is a distinct period demographically, subjectively, and in terms of identity explorations. How emerging adulthood differs from adolescence and young adulthood is explained. Finally, a cultural context for the idea of emerging adulthood is outlined, and it is specified that emerging adulthood exists only in cultures that allow young people a prolonged period of independent role exploration during the late teens and twenties.
The theory of emerging adulthood has been proposed as a way of conceptualizing the developmental characteristics of young people between the ages of 18 and 25. Here, the theory is applied to ...explaining the high rates of substance use in this age group. Specifically, five developmentally distinctive features of emerging adulthood are proposed: the age of identity explorations, the age of instability, the age of self-focus, the age of feeling in-between, and the age of possibilities. Then, each of these features is applied to an explanation of drug use in emerging adulthood.
Previous studies provided mixed findings of well-being in midlife, so the present study sought to add new dimensions to this area of research by investigating diverse aspects of midlife well-being, ...including sources of enjoyment and stress. In a national sample of 834 Americans ages 40–60, overall well-being was high, and most participants agreed that their current time of life is “fun and exciting” (71%), a time of freedom (71%), and a time when “anything is possible” (77%). They also regarded themselves as being in a time of life for focusing on themselves (56%) and “finding out who I really am” (55%). However, 65% assessed this time of their lives as stressful (65%), and many agreed that they often feel anxious (39%), depressed (25%), or that “my life is not going well” (27%). Regression analyses revealed no notable variations in well-being by gender, ethnicity, educational attainment, work status, or relationship status. In sum, among Americans in midlife, well-being is generally high even as it coexists with stress and other mental health challenges.
This book paints a portrait of adolescent psychology in 4 major regions: Africa/the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Featuring 24 revised and updated chapters from the International ...Encyclopedia of Adolescence (2007), readers are introduced to the way the majority of the world’s adolescents actually live. Most contributors are indigenous to the country they review. As a whole the book paints an engaging panorama of adolescent life around the world, broadening students’ cultural perspective.
All chapters follow the same template to make it easier to compare topics across countries: Background (including demographics, ethnic diversity, and political system), Period of Adolescence, Beliefs, Gender, the Self, Family Relationships, Friends and Peers/Youth Culture, Love and Sexuality, Health Risk Behavior, Education, Work, Media, Politics and Military, and Unique Issues. Each chapter contains a map and photos and a list of references and suggested readings.
The introductory chapter explains why the countries were selected and introduces the book’s common themes. The section on Africa and the Middle East introduces students to teen life in Cameroon, one of the few places left where adolescents go through formal puberty rituals. In addition, readers learn about adolescent life in Ethiopia, Israel, Morocco, Nigeria, and Sudan. Next we travel to Asia -- China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Here readers see how economic growth in India and China is creating opportunities for young people. In The Americas , readers are introduced to life in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. The book concludes with adolescent life in Europe including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, and the UK.
Intended for courses in adolescent psychology, lifespan development, and/or cultural (cross-cultural) psychology taught in departments of psychology, human development and family studies, sociology, and education, this book will also appeal to researchers and clinicians who study or work with adolescents.
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. During 2005 he was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Dr. Arnett is the editor of the Journal of Adolescent Research and author of the book Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties (2004). He is also author of one of the most widely-used textbooks on adolescent development, Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach, 4 th Edition (2009). He has appeared on television and frequently in print media, and was featured in a cover story in the New York Times Sunday magazine in August, 2010.
" Adolescent Psychology Around the World represents one of the many steps needed to move psychology and the field of human development forward, and, as such, it is essential reading whether one is a practitioner working with adolescents, a university lecturer." –Laura Ferrer-Wreder and Sarah Thomas, PsycCritiques
"This outstanding, timely volume edited by Jeffrey Arnett is a must read for anyone wanting research information about the lives of adolescents globally. The well-written chapters are structured to optimize cross-national comparisons. Fascinating and useful!" – Anne C. Petersen, University of Michigan, USA
"There is no better proof than this book of Jeffrey Arnett’s statement "the modern adolescent is not the modal adolescent." It is a much-needed antidote to Western parochialism, written to appeal to a broad audience of scholars, students, and anyone who deals with adolescents." – Alice Schlegel, University of Arizona, USA
"This recent contribution by Jeff Arnett to the cross-cultural literature on adolescence is a welcome addition. This in-depth work examines the similarities and differences across cultures in the lives of adolescents." – T. S. Saraswathi, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India (retired) "This volume represents a very exciting development for students and teachers of adolescent psychology. … I … am certain that it will be widely successful and used extensively in the classroom. The chapters are very well-researched, well-written, and well-organized. ... I would most certainly adopt such a book." – Phillip L. Hammack, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
"The information is novel and interesting. ... The topics … capture the key domains of adolescence ... from the various regions of the world. ... It would fit nicely into ... a … course on "Cultural Differences in Adolescence" … or "Development and Culture". – Larry J. Nelson, Brigham Young University, USA
"The breadth of regions … will ... give students a good sense of the wide range of adolescent experiences. … It is clearly written, thorough, and covers issues that are relevant to adolescence from a unique and valuable perspective." – Lisa Cramer Whitfield, Santa Clara University, USA
"I find the scope, intellectual motivation, organizational structure and the range of topics covered exciting, rigorous and innovative. … The writing style is clear and accessible." – Ramaswami Mahlingham, University of Michigan, USA
J. Jensen Arnett, Introduction. Part 1. Africa and the Middle East. T. Mungah Shalo Tchombe, J. Lo-oh, Cameroon. G. Tadele, W. Kifle, Ethiopia. R. Seginer, S. Shoyer, Israel. D. A. Davis, S. Shaefer Davis, Morocco. P. N. Ibeagha, Nigeria. A. Dafalla Ahmed, Sudan. Part 2. Asia. X. Chen, L. Chang, China. N. Chaudhary, N. Sharma, India. H. Lestari Mikarsa, Indonesia. Part 3. The Americas. A. Facio, S. Resett, Argentina. H. A. Sears, Canada. M. Loreto Martinez, P. Cumsille, Chile. R. Mejia-Arauz, R. Sheets, M. Villasenor, Mexico. J. Pinzas, Peru. A. DeDios, United States. Part 4. Europe. P. Macek, L. Lacinova, E. Polaskova, Czech Republic. L. Lannegrand-Willems, C. Sabatier, C. Brisset, France. E. Dreher, U. Sirsch, S. Strobl, Germany. S. Bonino, E. Cattelino, Italy. W. Meeus, Netherlands. W. Podolskij, Russia. K. Trost, Sweden. J. Coleman, D. Roker, United Kingdom.
Although parental psychological control has been consistently linked with negative outcomes in the child and adolescent literature, little is known about how it functions during the developmental ...time frame of emerging adulthood, which is characterized by increased freedom and instability. Consequently, this study examined the extent to which paternal and maternal psychological controls were directly and indirectly (via self-esteem) related to hallmarks of emerging adult adjustment, notably risky behaviors, life satisfaction, and feelings about adulthood status. Recruited via MTurk, participants were 310 emerging adults (M
age = 25.37; 56% female) across the U.S. who completed an online survey. Results revealed paternal psychological control had a direct effect on risky behaviors and self-esteem, whereas maternal psychological control solely had a direct effect on risky behaviors. Results also indicated indirect effects of paternal psychological control. Increases in paternal psychological control were linked to declines in self-esteem, which in turn was associated with decreased life satisfaction and endorsement of adulthood status. Altogether, findings suggest that even low levels of parental psychological control were linked to detrimental outcomes in an age-representative sample—encompassing the full age range of emerging adulthood from 18 years to 29 years—of emerging adults. Thus, findings contribute to a better understanding of parent–child relationships and the consequences of parental control during the third decade of life, which has important implications for informing parenting strategies across emerging adulthood.
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