PS276 Chapter 3: Variations in Continuity and the Transition Into Adulthood in Contemporary Society
Document Summary
Continuity: the extent to which the adolescent"s transition into adulthood is gradual or abrubt. Continuous transitions: gradual, individual assumes roles and status bit by bit. Discontinuous: transitions not smooth, sudden entrance in adulthood, kids who enter labor force for first time when they graduate from college. In contemporary society, we give young people little direct training for adult life and thrust them abrubtly into total adult independence. Transitions into adulthood in contemporary industrialized society = more disontinuous. Before becoming parents, most young people have little training in child rearing. Young people permitted to vote at 18 but they receive little preparation for participation in government. In most traditional societies, entry in adulthood is gradual as continuity is typical in societies where hunting, fishing and farming are the chief work activities (emphasis on informal education) Modernization and globalization have made the transition from adolescence to adulthood longer and increaingly more discontinuous all over the world.
