There is more and more talk of a period of a “prolonged adolescence”, or even of a new intermediate age as “emerging adults.” Are these phenomena a “sign of the times” or are we witnessing the rise of some new yet ancient ideological model? What is the single most important element that clearly distinguishes youth from adulthood? - Stephen D.
For years psychologists have studied and spoken about this phenomenon, typical of this era where young adults start working at a much older age or defer making definitive choices in life until much later. The different classifications are not able to give us a complete picture of the complex reality, and the subject would require much discussion, which I would not attempt at the moment.
However, I’ll first answer your final question about what distinguishes the juvenile stage from the adult. If I were to summarize it in one word, I would say: love. As a person passes from a juvenile to an adult stage, the love that he or she has received as a child and then as a juvenile should mature to such a point that it is transformed into altruistic love, a love that is no longer self-centered but projected outward and directed towards the other.
In fact, love is contained in the DNA of every person, and thus it’s something we all possess at birth. It develops and is expressed ever more fully as we mature. Slowly we learn how to open ourselves up, to relate to others, and to love them, as we become aware that we are not the center of the universe.
Mature or adult love places the other’s welfare before one’s own. It wants the good of the others; because of this, it takes care of others. Think of the love of a father and mother who, having learned to take care of their spouse, can now create a new life and care for it; this includes the mature love shown by someone who gives himself to God, and now places himself at the service of those in need.
Francesco Chatel and Ting Nolasco
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