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Course Overview

Session 10: Late Adolescence, 18--??

Jeffery Smith, MD

Transition to Adulthood

Theme: Adulthood Through the Eyes of Youth

Characteristics of this era:

Compared to Mid-Adolescence

Room for differentiation
Deeper relationships
Focus on future
Beginning to accept limitations

How are late adolescents different from adults

Still physically very active
Contradictions abound
Idealistic & righteous allegiance to principle
Self centeredness: College student with 15 min shower.
Seeking intense experiences
Getting drunk, why it feels so great
Feeling of omnipotent responsibility
Taking big risks on life-determining decisions
Effect of Chance

Ego Strengths achieved

"Freestanding Human Being"
Finding personal ego ideal
Impulse control
Personal values and morality
Exploring one's limits & self concept
Accepting some shortcomings
Ability to form deeper relationships

To grow up or not to grow up?

Looks interesting
Looks like Drudgery
Looks scary
Finding your passion
Mentorship
Having no passion
Having a focus that is bound to early life, and not relevant to adulthood.
"Making it" or not in college

Clinical notes on the process:

Sponsorship & mentorship
Leaving home
Taking parental relationships along
Military, religious life, dependent relationships
Risk takers, vs. security seekers.
Experiments & rites of passage
Outcome of the parental battle
Effect your own cure
Notes on Theory
Stage oriented vs. Criteria based
Gradual transition
Drive to complete maturation