Becoming Adult

How young people are making it in today's world.

by Jennifer L. Tanner PhD

Was Casey Anthony an "Adult?" I Wish Someone Would Have Asked

Despite public opinion, Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering or abusing her daughter. She was acquitted on any charge of having anything to do with her daughter's disappearance. As far as the jury was concerned; Casey Anthony was uninvolved in the disappearance and death of her baby girl. Read More

Casey Anthony Is Normal, That's the Problem

Casey Anthony is the "Tot Mom" on trial, accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter. She was 22 when the alleged occurred.

Now 25, Casey Anthony is defending herself against first-degree murder charges. The prosecution contends that Ms. Anthony chloroformed her daughter and then suffocated the baby by putting duct tape over her nose and mouth. Read More

Child abuse induced suicide: What helps people write different endings?

Bill Zeller died of suicide at age 27, due to abuse he suffered during childhood. But what helps people write different endings? In this guest post, Emily Rosenbaum, PhD writes about the stories of child abuse. Read More

Suicide at Age 27: Death due to child abuse

Statistically, Bill Zeller's death will count as ‘1' in the 18- to 29-year-old column for deaths due to suicide. The CDC reports such fatal injury data by cause of death. But no government agency is responsible for correcting the CDC's counts of suicide when the cause of death occurred long before the suicide. And maybe there should be. Read More

Bill Zeller, age 27, suicide

Bill Zeller's suicide note reveals decades of persistent pain Read More

Definition of a successful adult: Part I

This one goes out to you: What does it mean to be a successful adult? Read More

Understanding 20-somethings is different from knowing a 20-something

Understanding St. Elmo's Fire is different from understanding Kirby, Billy, Kevin, Jules, Alec, Leslie or Wendy. Read More

At weddings, ask twentysomethings--how is life going?

Well-meaning grown-up types are advised not to ask twentysomethings...what are you doing, rather, how is life going? Read More

Congratulations graduate, you're a "dependent" now!

get on your parents' health insurance plan! Being labeled a "dependent" may not feel good to emerging adults. Alternatively, it may feel right; given that 80% of college graduates move back home after graduation, are emerging adults best understood as dependents? What issues does "being a dependent" raise for emerging adults? Their parents? Society?

Welcome to the first installment of Becoming Adult. This blog is about 18 to 29 year-olds and the paths they take from adolescence into adulthood. This is the theme of my work as an applied developmental psychologist. Since my years as an undergrad working with Dr. Read More