What are the necessary conditions of being considered an adult?

1. 60

   celticdude7posted 12 years ago

   What are the necessary conditions of being considered an adult?
   
   Some think of it as a continuum, some think once they achieve a certain age, or perhaps even marry, but even those vary by culture. In most western cultures there is no set point as with a few others, which have some form of adulthood ceremony.  How do we know if we have achieved this classification? There are several definitions, legal, social, self perceptual, but is there one overarching definition?

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2. 0

   msorenssonposted 12 years ago

   I don't think there is such a definition...we are all children, adolescents and adults all at once.
   I studied engineering. I know how to fix some stuff...When we first moved into our home, I was trying to fix the gate of our fence, to lift it off the ground just a little bit. My son was watching me do it, and as I was trying to fix the lever, my son told me, I am turning the screws the wrong way...I looked..it was true..At that moment, I was the child and he was the adult.

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3. 61

   ackman1465posted 12 years ago

   When I get to be King of the World I am going to institute a test which will have to be taken and passed as a condition of someone/anyone claiming to be an "adult."

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4. 93

   Cre8torposted 12 years ago

   I believe being an adult comes with responsibility. I don't mean run out and get married or have kids but instead, to have an idea of who you're going to be and set out to be that. If that's a high class, high society individual...then fine, go to college. If that's to live a simpler life then that's fine too. Just don't expect to be high society while sitting on the couch and don't expect the simple life if you run yourself into debt or impregnate every girl (vice-versa) you meet. Don't blame others for where you are and take responsibility for your choices. (correct them if they were wrong) Now, I'd say you're an adult.

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5. 77

   Joelipooposted 12 years ago

   I don't think adulthood can be obtained by reaching a certain age (ie. 18 for tabacco, 21 alcohol, or 25 car insurance drops).  These ages don't really make you an adult.  I think people become adults when they accept responsibility for themselves.  This means some people become adults very young, while others never do.

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6. 0

   Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

   Well, it certainly is not age. I have known people in their 40s who have never grown up.
   
   I think the true test of adulthood is:
   --the ability to manage your own life, and seek help when you need it.
   --the ability to disagree with someone without being disagreeable.
   --the ability to accept the fact that your may sometimes be wrong.
   --having respect for the feelings and views of others.
   --the ability to recognize that you have grown up and you cannot spend your time the same way you did as a child or a teen.

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