Are people maturing slower these days?

[LED Dasher 228]

In the past, people who were under the age of 21 had to take up responsibilities such as getting a job and taking care of themselves. Many young people moved out of their parents' house by this age. These days it seems like people are more likely to end up living with their parents after college and not knowing what type of career they want. Many young people also lack social skills necessary to deal with people when doing things such as buying a house, buying a car, or looking for a job. Do you think people are taking a longer time to become more mature? It just seems to me that people are taking on adult responsibilities later in life then they were used to. I guess it all depends on what is defined as "mature" these days. 

[Doctor XFizzle 8,670]

Parenting also plays a role. Back in my parents' day, their parents (my grandparents) made their lives a hassle if they lived at home so it inspired my parents to get jobs and make money so they can move out. Today's parents might be pampering their young adult children too much and not putting enough pressure on.

[silvadel 1,393]

Does it really seem odd that with an assumed lifespan of over 80, people take longer to mature than they did when 60 was a more normal endpoint?

 

If people lived to 130, I would assume there would be a lot of thirty-somethings who were still minors at heart.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think it's the young people and the parents. The young people who aren't ready to take care of themselves or the parents give their children that are grown up now, too much freedom and not able to give them any guidance.

[RED20 289]

Pampering... lol. Some people do, some people don't. Kind of depends on the parents, and their social class. I work for my dad all the time, plus sports, plus school. I work hard. 

 

I guess it depends on the kid too. I'm getting into the Air Force Academy, and I bleed for my goal every day. Some people don't really have goals, I guess. 

[Twiliscael 3,960]

Just look at the economy. If you think that some normal kid who just barely was able to financially scrap through college is going to be a-okay to just get up and live on his own, you've got another thing coming. The workforce is only growing smaller and demanding more out of smaller amounts of people for smaller amounts of pay. Either you get a job and get overwhelmed by it, not even making enough money or you don't have one, and probably won't get one because what businesses want is experienced workers. It's not these guys faults that they have to live at home, it's the economy's.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Twiliscael

[Frosty Flurry 173]

This is a fact i learnt. Us humans mature slower because we are complex and intelligent beings. Maybe we're getting more clever!

Or because people can't be bothered sometimes and just wan't to say longer at home

[Shanks 10,816]

Yes, part of it is the fact that some parents kind of baby their children a bit more than they should and part of it is because the job market is becoming increasingly crappy with jobs being outsourced to third world countries, education becoming more expensive along with everything else and alot of college are now effectively becoming worthless. Employers are expecting more work out of less people and even dead end jobs are starting to become more of a luxury.

[Wayzer 1,418]

Well, yeah I see your point. But sometimes especially children mature too quick. With all the violence and stuff on tv nowadays, children know so much more about the world then older people.

[Fhaolan 4,484]

In the past, people who were under the age of 21 had to take up responsibilities such as getting a job and taking care of themselves.

 

In the past, people who were under the age of 15 had to take up responsibilities such as getting married, joining the army, etc. Of course, it was unlikely to reach 40 at that point. I would already be dead if I lived back then, for multiple reasons.

 

But whether they are maturing slower? I dunno about that. Physically kids are maturing earlier now. Mentally and emotionally on the other hand....

 

I do know that there are less opportunities to learn, despite school, because kids are constantly being sheltered more and more over time. I grew up on a livestock farm. If I hadn't figured out what sex, death, and violence really was by the time I was 5, I would have been a good candidate for the short bus for being the most unobservant person on the planet. The bedtime stories I was told by my parents were the older European tales, with hobgoblins, changelings, and whatnot. Red Riding hood cutting herself out of the wolf with the woodsman's axe, for example. The kind of thing nobody would *dare* tell a kid now-a-days for fear of having the child taken away from them by the government.

 

So yeah, many kids don't have the opportunity to mature, and 'adults' are constantly trying to slow it down even more.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Parenting also plays a role. Back in my parents' day, their parents (my grandparents) made their lives a hassle if they lived at home so it inspired my parents to get jobs and make money so they can move out. Today's parents might be pampering their young adult children too much and not putting enough pressure on.

 

Or, you know: The economy is in the crapper and a great deal of people born after 1990 couldn't make it living by themselves because the cost of living has gone up, while income has actually stayed the same(or even gone down in some cases.) Try $400 a month for rent or a house payment, maybe another $250-$400 for bills and such, food, clothes, medical expenses if you can't get insurance, and the price of cars(or even public transportation) to get to work, taxes. Keep in mine that's just where I live, and my town is relatively cheap to live in. Let's not forget other little misc things like hygiene supplies either  

 

TL;DR: Living on your own is far harder and expensive then most people that have it cushy and don't give what they have to spend a second thought would think. If I didn't own this house and have my parents living here, too, ALL OF US would be living under bridges somewhere. 

 

As for mental maturity, that's due to longer life spans. Since we live in an age where you're not even considered aging until your late 40s, and not really considered old until you're 60+, the period of life most people would call "when I was young" has increased. I have a friend that was a bit of a frat boy type and he's just now starting to grow out of it at like 35.  

Edited December 15, 2013 by Shoboni

[British Brony Mk.II 11]

I think that there are many reasons why children are maturing slower than they used to. I suppose that one of the reasons why is because parents/guardians ard trying to shelter children from things like sex, drugs and violence. Why? Name one valid reason why we do this. To preserve their innocence? Let me tell you this, innocence is one of the most useless concepts out there and is nothing but a hinderence. All innocence is shattered in the end and in a world such as this, only holds you back.

 

Another reason is because it's getting later and later until we learn important life skills. I'm fifteen now, I'm in my last year at high school before I head off to collage. I'm less than a year away from being thrust into the adult world and do I know how to write a CV? No. Do I know how to do taxes or set up insurance? No, I do not. All of these important topics and more are not even touched upon until my last year of collage.

[Jokuc 8,174]

Probably. People get more and more lazy, kids get more and more lazy. The kids grow up and get their own kids, now the new kids has lazy parents, etc, etc.

 

It's like everyone here has said, parenting. But also how people live these days, the world has changed a lot. You're not going to have 50 hard tasks to do after waking up in the morning when you're 13 years old as they could have back in time   ...ok maybe I went back too long but you know what I mean

[LED Dasher 228]

Parenting also plays a role. Back in my parents' day, their parents (my grandparents) made their lives a hassle if they lived at home so it inspired my parents to get jobs and make money so they can move out. Today's parents might be pampering their young adult children too much and not putting enough pressure on.

 

This is true in a sense, but I do believe that young adults still face plenty of pressure these days. The problem is that many of these young adults aren't ready for the "real world" with skills such as preparing taxes, finding a job, and creating a network.

 

Does it really seem odd that with an assumed lifespan of over 80, people take longer to mature than they did when 60 was a more normal endpoint?

 

If people lived to 130, I would assume there would be a lot of thirty-somethings who were still minors at heart.

 

I'm not so sure about this. At a certain age peoples' bodies and minds generally develop, perhaps from the age of 15 - 25. Longevity is more or less determined by how well you take care of yourself.

 

I think it's the young people and the parents. The young people who aren't ready to take care of themselves or the parents give their children that are grown up now, too much freedom and not able to give them any guidance.

 

I think that freedom without proper guidance can be detrimental, but if children aren't allowed to become independent thinkers and make smaller mistakes early on then they might end up making bigger mistakes in the future.

 

Pampering... lol. Some people do, some people don't. Kind of depends on the parents, and their social class. I work for my dad all the time, plus sports, plus school. I work hard. 

 

I guess it depends on the kid too. I'm getting into the Air Force Academy, and I bleed for my goal every day. Some people don't really have goals, I guess. 

 

Working hard is definitely important. At the same time, being satisfied with what you're doing is even more important. Perhaps more find need to find their direction earlier in life, but that's easier said than done considering they don't have much life experience.

 

Just look at the economy. If you think that some normal kid who just barely was able to financially scrap through college is going to be a-okay to just get up and live on his own, you've got another thing coming. The workforce is only growing smaller and demanding more out of smaller amounts of people for smaller amounts of pay. Either you get a job and get overwhelmed by it, not even making enough money or you don't have one, and probably won't get one because what businesses want is experienced workers. It's not these guys faults that they have to live at home, it's the economy's.

 

Yeah, the economy and job market sucks. Employers are expecting way too much from people these days and schools are just not training people enough for getting and keeping jobs.

 

 

This is a fact i learnt. Us humans mature slower because we are complex and intelligent beings. Maybe we're getting more clever!

Or because people can't be bothered sometimes and just wan't to say longer at home

 

Hah! To each their own I guess!   Perhaps it's okay to just keep one's mind away from all the boring routines of daily life, at least for a while.

 

 

Yes, part of it is the fact that some parents kind of baby their children a bit more than they should and part of it is because the job market is becoming increasingly crappy with jobs being outsourced to third world countries, education becoming more expensive along with everything else and alot of college are now effectively becoming worthless. Employers are expecting more work out of less people and even dead end jobs are starting to become more of a luxury.

 

I think there is way too much emphasis on getting a college education. I wouldn't expect all 18 year olds to know what they want to do with their lives. They really should take the time to explore opportunities rather than get pressured into doing something they may not want to do.

 

Well, yeah I see your point. But sometimes especially children mature too quick. With all the violence and stuff on tv nowadays, children know so much more about the world then older people.

 

I guess that's another way to look at it. With the internet and social media, people tend to learn a lot of things at an earlier age. That includes the good, bad, and ugly. 

 

 

 

In the past, people who were under the age of 15 had to take up responsibilities such as getting married, joining the army, etc. Of course, it was unlikely to reach 40 at that point. I would already be dead if I lived back then, for multiple reasons.

 

But whether they are maturing slower? I dunno about that. Physically kids are maturing earlier now. Mentally and emotionally on the other hand....

 

I do know that there are less opportunities to learn, despite school, because kids are constantly being sheltered more and more over time. I grew up on a livestock farm. If I hadn't figured out what sex, death, and violence really was by the time I was 5, I would have been a good candidate for the short bus for being the most unobservant person on the planet. The bedtime stories I was told by my parents were the older European tales, with hobgoblins, changelings, and whatnot. Red Riding hood cutting herself out of the wolf with the woodsman's axe, for example. The kind of thing nobody would *dare* tell a kid now-a-days for fear of having the child taken away from them by the government.

 

So yeah, many kids don't have the opportunity to mature, and 'adults' are constantly trying to slow it down even more.

 

Those must have been some demanding times. Growing up in an unsheltered environment is definitely important and it is something that is missing nowadays. I really wish I had been more adventurous when I was younger.

 

Or, you know: The economy is in the crapper and a great deal of people born after 1990 couldn't make it living by themselves because the cost of living has gone up, while income has actually stayed the same(or even gone down in some cases.) Try $400 a month for rent or a house payment, maybe another $250-$400 for bills and such, food, clothes, medical expenses if you can't get insurance, and the price of cars(or even public transportation) to get to work, taxes. Keep in mine that's just where I live, and my town is relatively cheap to live in. Let's not forget other little misc things like hygiene supplies either  

 

TL;DR: Living on your own is far harder and expensive then most people that have it cushy and don't give what they have to spend a second thought would think. If I didn't own this house and have my parents living here, too, ALL OF US would be living under bridges somewhere. 

 

As for mental maturity, that's due to longer life spans. Since we live in an age where you're not even considered aging until your late 40s, and not really considered old until you're 60+, the period of life most people would call "when I was young" has increased. I have a friend that was a bit of a frat boy type and he's just now starting to grow out of it at like 35.  

 

There is nothing wrong with living alongside your parents. In Indian and Asian cultures, it is encouraged so that there is a support system that can help the family prosper during difficult times. It's never a good idea to mooch off of the help you are given though.

 

You make an interesting point about longer life spans and mental maturity. There's nothing wrong about growing up later in life. It's always important to have goals and aspirations though and learn new things along the way.

 

 

I think that there are many reasons why children are maturing slower than they used to. I suppose that one of the reasons why is because parents/guardians ard trying to shelter children from things like sex, drugs and violence. Why? Name one valid reason why we do this. To preserve their innocence? Let me tell you this, innocence is one of the most useless concepts out there and is nothing but a hinderence. All innocence is shattered in the end and in a world such as this, only holds you back.

 

Another reason is because it's getting later and later until we learn important life skills. I'm fifteen now, I'm in my last year at high school before I head off to collage. I'm less than a year away from being thrust into the adult world and do I know how to write a CV? No. Do I know how to do taxes or set up insurance? No, I do not. All of these important topics and more are not even touched upon until my last year of collage.

 

It seems that sheltering children can cause more harm than good. If parents don't teach children about sex, drugs, and violence then they may end up getting the wrong ideas from someone else and going on the wrong directions. It's a shame really.

 

I really believe colleges (and high schools) should teach certain skills earlier rather than later, especially if the student is willing to learn. Having knowledge of certain subjects like statistics, psychology, and computing can be practical in life.

 

Probably. People get more and more lazy, kids get more and more lazy. The kids grow up and get their own kids, now the new kids has lazy parents, etc, etc.

 

It's like everyone here has said, parenting. But also how people live these days, the world has changed a lot. You're not going to have 50 hard tasks to do after waking up in the morning when you're 13 years old as they could have back in time   ...ok maybe I went back too long but you know what I mean

 

Things have definitely gotten easier in some ways compared to the old days, but it seems that people still face a lot of pressure to impress others and obtain a wealthy lifestyle. In America people are pressured to make a lot of money earlier in life so that they can "keep up with the Joneses." 

[Anyone_here 47]

I don't know, but I'm 21 and I love cartoons and my little pony lol

 

I don't know about the people around me, but I love my way to be (:

 

I think the time changes the society so, we have a pretty good time right now (:

[ChoroChii 284]

Possibly, though I wouldn't really consider that a bad thing if we're coming to a point where life is going to be longer. 

 

Sometimes I think people mature too fast because there are 15 year olds with jobs and looking into colleges already. 

[TorqueEffect 112]

Never grow-up.

Do you know how many adults I have heard say that? Countless.

 

Even though people are looked down upon for being acting like a child, everyone wishes they could have the carefree lifestyle like that again.

[LED Dasher 228]

I don't know, but I'm 21 and I love cartoons and my little pony lol

 

I don't know about the people around me, but I love my way to be (:

 

I think the time changes the society so, we have a pretty good time right now (:

 

There's nothing wrong with loving cartoons at any age. If I enjoy a cartoon then I would watch it regardless of what anyone thinks of me. I guess this is an interesting time where people are more likely to express themselves, and that's definitely a good thing as long as it is in a positive manner! 

 

Possibly, though I wouldn't really consider that a bad thing if we're coming to a point where life is going to be longer. 

 

Sometimes I think people mature too fast because there are 15 year olds with jobs and looking into colleges already. 

 

I don't think people should worry about deciding their careers at 15 years of age. Most people at that age lack real world experience and are unsure of what real life entails. It's better to make such decisions after you've gained more life experience and awareness.

 

Never grow-up.

Do you know how many adults I have heard say that? Countless.

 

Even though people are looked down upon for being acting like a child, everyone wishes they could have the carefree lifestyle like that again.

 

I definitely agree with this. Childhood is a very important part of your life that you can look back to. 

[ChoroChii 284]

I don't think people should worry about deciding their careers at 15 years of age. Most people at that age lack real world experience and are unsure of what real life entails. It's better to make such decisions after you've gained more life experience and awareness.

 

Me neither, though they're mostly part-time jobs at some food joint but still. 

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Lately yeah.

 

Parents also have the blame as most are too easy going and loose towards what their children do nowadays.

 

My parents never raised me correctly, but I learn from myself, and I've been mature since I entered middle school.

[Gone Airbourne 21,977]

I see where you are going with this for sure... 

 

Whenever I hear of my parents talking or hear from other elders speak of their times and experiences. It would seem they had it a lot harder than most of in our generation of now. If you look at our generation and compare it to those of past it does start to make sense. When I think of my grandparents I think of how hard working they were and the lessons and values they had taught me when I was younger. I think a lot of our generation now lacks the motivation to do anything and choosing the easy way out in life. I do believe that to an extent people are maturing slower compared to older generations.

[Dddrgn 450]

I think a lot of it has to do with parenting, but there are most likely other factors - but yes, we do seem to be maturing more slowly. I'm 18 and working a job while living at home with my parents, I graduated high school with one of the lowest GPA's in my class, even though I found almost all the classes irritatingly easy. I have severe issues with social situations, so even talking to the cashier at the grocery store is difficult - the reason I'm not attending college is because I was too scared to talk to the people I needed to in order to get my application in. I would say I'm the perfect example!

[Fluttermena 1,223]

I don't know about maturity, but that doesn't really bother me that much. I'm much more concerned about the fact that society doesn't seem to grow some basic human niceness. Case in point: the people in this thread who thinks that hardship and negative reinforcement is the only way to improving yourself, who blame immaturity on parents being "too soft" and think it's morally acceptable to look down on people who are less mature.

 

Sure, it's important to improve yourself, but I'd rather deal with a bit of immaturity here and there than support the kind of sugar-coated social darwinism that the majority of people seem to advocate. Get some damn perpective guys, this issue isn't black and white.

 

I'm thinking that maybe if parents (and, by extention, society) could teach responsibility and perseverance without being massive douches about it like they are now, we just might make the human race into something civilised for once.

[Argos 191]

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Edited March 16, 2014 by Argos

[Nightmare Night 151]

yes but I blame the parents/laws that effect the ability to be a parent. Most parents just let there kids do w/e they want with little to no consequence and the ones who do try to discipline there children get in trouble for child abuse or some other nonsense. Im not saying parents should hit there kids with intent to hurt them, but a good slap from time to time would do them good. Just to show that ''hey, don't do that again or else this will happen''