What makes someone "adult"? How do you define?

Question

If its maturity, how do you define it also?

Gee thanks Jack! Great answer too!
I'll get back to you with a little follow up.
Thanks.

Answer 1

This is a great question. I'm particularly impressed that you've differentiated between "Adulthood" and "Maturity," because they're both totally different.

To be an adult is to accept unfliching responsibility for one's choices in life. A lot of people think that being an adult is all about wanting and having their own way -- and that's incorrect -- every two-year old wants that. The real "Adult" will say, "This is my choice, and I accept full responsibility for the consequences of it -- nor do I expect you to pick up the pieces if something goes wrong, and nor do I blame you or anyone else if I screw up." In short, to be an adult is to accept, without reservation, the implications embedded in the poem "Invictus,"

"I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul."

Too many people want to be masters and captains, but only when the going is good. Yet when things go wrong, they blame everyone else, and run to others to bail them out. They may think of themselves as adults, but they're kidding themselves. They're just overgrown two-year olds who don't want to shoulder the responsibility for thier actions. If you're the "master" and the "captain," you don't get to blame others -- it's all on you. Adults know this.

Maturity, on the other hand, is completely different. To be "Mature" is to be "Seasoned." It means that through experience one has determined which choices in life are most likely to lead to the best and most desireable outcomes. It's about the achievement of "Wisdom" really -- "the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of correct choosing."

To be mature is to know which risks to take, and which to run away from. It is to be able to distinguish that which is worthwhile from that which is worthless. And that usually comes from having made bad choices early on, learning from the mistakes, and then moving on and growing.

One can be very much a self-reliant adult and still be very immature. That's why it's important to differentiate between them.

Once again -- great question. Cheers, mate.

Answer 2

It is based upon the structures of the society we are living in, for instance 500 years ago you were a man when you either killed a man in battle or you turned a certain age (15) which was most common at that time. But what it comes down to is the skills of our time have been taught and now you must use them.

Answer 3

Maturity and adult are two different things.

Adult means you have physically attained to full bodily functions for reproduction.

Maturity means you understand the nature of your surroundings and can live with nature. You have learned Natures signals and tones.

Answer 4

Maturity /adulthood comes the time you realise and value how much your parents sweated out to make your every wish fulfilled . Therafter it is only refinement . Age is no barrier for attaining it .Just realise , somebody sweats for you and you are grown up.

Answer 5

The humility to admit one's limitations, the knowledge to foresee consequences, the wisdom to recognize and appreciate distinctions and the will to accept responsibility for one's decisions.

Answer 6

kids are not adults. what diffrentiates between a kid and adult? besides age, also in maturity -how they act and make decision. children, they make silly decisions. adult they often think before they act. they're wise, just like yoda. some don't however, like Britney spears.

Answer 7

I don't think it's necessarily the decisions you make, but the capability to bear responsibility for them.

Answer 8

decisions you make.... and the choices you take

well done jack!