What does being an ADULT mean? What are the criteria? What does being an ADULT mean to YOU? (sociopath, mentally)

[MikeNigh]

Being responsible, independent, fully grown, and having a certain number of years worth of life experience.

You are old enough if you are old enough.

I don't think being an adult is something a child can achieve so I think it's cruel and demented for adults to tell children to "be an adult".

What I used to be perceive being an adult must have meant as a kid was to lose all imagination, be an a**hole, find one thing that works and stick to it your entire life, and force your mentality / way of life upon others. If that's the case then up to this day I still refuse to be an adult.

[mordant]

Originally Posted by sade693

To me, the only criterion is being at least 21. That's when most legal age restrictions no longer apply to a person (here in the States, at least). You can't run for president and you'll still have to pay a bit extra if you rent a car at 21, but you're completely immersed in the world of adulthood in so much as you have both complete freedom and complete accountability.

All those other things you've listed are qualities of a RESPONSIBLE adult, but not just being an adult in general.

It's been known for some time now, and for some reason much reported in the press in recent months, that the brain is not fully wired up until one's mid-to-late twenties. The areas still lacking are largely connections that evaluate risk (connection between risk and consequences), which is why young adults are sometimes so reckless and feel so invulnerable.

I have always believed that the age at which a person is fully able to handle adult responsibilities without undue stress or side effects could occur anywhere between about age 12 and 30 (or never). It depends in part, too, on the individual and what a person's environment actually demands of them. I know someone who was in a neglectful situation and was, for significant stretches of time, fully responsible for caring for her 4 year old brother and 1 year old sister beginning at the age of 6. She pulled it off but has had crippling life-long anxiety issues as a side effect, as she clearly at that age was taking on way too much. I know someone with a personality disorder who will probably always be not firing on all cylinders.

All this raises other interesting questions. Should we consider sociopaths adults just because they function in the adult world, for some given value of "function"?

The truth is there is no pat answer, but for most people, legally I would say 21 and relationally I would say 26 would be decent average ages of full adulthood. In terms of knowing oneself well enough to make sound major decisions for oneself, I would go even further and say, about age 30. I wish I had waited that long to marry, for example.

[Tracysherm]

Being responsible

Doing the sensible or wise thing even though you have the "freedom" to do the frivolous or irresponsible things

Being able to meet your own needs, without being dependent on someone else

Recognizing that you might not get all your needs or wants fulfilled, and that you're not necessarily entitled to have all your needs and wants fulfilled, and being able to accept that

Buying gas before you get down to "E"

Paying a bill when it arrives instead of the day it's due

Realizing that your mom was right when she said that who you hang out with speaks of who you are

Not feeling the requirement to be constantly entertained, being totally able to entertain yourself

Doing the right thing because it's the right thing, and not just so you won't get in trouble

Not having to eat stuff you don't like

[UserNamesake]

Very, very good responses in this thread. Thank y'all...

Originally Posted by Rangerdude_Charlie

I agree with the above posters but I would add that to me being an adult is being able to support yourself financially and take care of things without the assistance of familial support.

I hear you... but I agree with this:

Originally Posted by purehuman

I think that's what everyone wants...but even if you do need "familial support", it doesn't mean you're not an adult...maybe just not a content one.

[The Postman]

Being sexually mature/having completed puberty. So generally about 18.

[timberline742]

I am going to answer this question a bit differently. Not being an "adult", but being "mature".

To me, being mature is knowing there is a time and place for every behavior, and acting accordingly. There are times to goof off, swear, horse around, joke, etc and times to be somber, or serious, silent, whatever... all these actions are fine, in the proper time, place, and situation. A mature person realizes the moment and acts correctly within it.

As far as an adult, if you can take care of yourself without family's help, or government assistance really, that is being an adult to me.

[sade693]

Originally Posted by mordant

It's been known for some time now, and for some reason much reported in the press in recent months, that the brain is not fully wired up until one's mid-to-late twenties. The areas still lacking are largely connections that evaluate risk (connection between risk and consequences), which is why young adults are sometimes so reckless and feel so invulnerable.

Yes, I'm aware of that little factoid. My dad repeated it ad nauseam to my sister and I growing up whenever we would do something he didn't like.

If we're going by brain capacity, that would imply that adults with mental retardations, elders who suffer dementia, and anyone with a brain injury/deficit over the age of 18 couldn't be classified as adults. Doesn't sound very fair to me.

[LLN]

An adult is a person who has to fix the problem. The buck stops here.

My daughters and wife continually have problems I have to fix for them. I can't pass my problems on to someone. I have to solve them. I am the adult. They are not, regardless of age.

OBTW, it pretty much sucks to be an adult.

[MacInTx]

I was not an adult when I reached sexual maturity.
I was not an adult when I went off to college.
I was not an adult when I turned 21.
I was not an adult when I got my first full-time job and my first apartment.
I was not an adult when I bought my first new car.
I was not an adult when I got married.
I was not an adult when I bought my first house.
I was not an adult when my first child was born.

I became an adult when I was the one who had to get out of bed in the middle of the night and investigate the strange noise that had awakened my wife.

[statisticsnerd]

When you turn 18. Mommy and daddy aren't legally responsible for you anymore at that age.