I notice that a lot of people on here said they believe that age 18 was officially adulthood.?

Question

When people answered the question in the following link, they often implied that 18 was when you become an “adult”.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070607050455AACd1nV&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiTVXUUryjDfp16yBWctBAobFxSD25pWee1LN7wOrruqLAYPRc5W_OaN.p9uYRM.XNg--&paid=answered#Q5csUmG.UGSaZaUqRPeK6wWu9_IBVcHLHVRB3Bbufl.iYz0yUtAi

Studies show that your brain changes a great deal from the age of 18 to the age of 21 (more than it will your entire life afterwards), but…

18 is the age of consent in most states in the USA (and the age at which you can join the army), but why do you believe that you somehow reach adulthood when you are 18? What happens to you that didn’t happen when you were 17? Are you ready to get married and start popping out kids at 18?

Answer 1

Well people mature at different rates. One 18 year old may be more mature than the next. I do agree that mostly 18 year olds aren't as mature as a 21 year old. I'm in my mid 40's and still get accused of being in my 20's. lol Not all the time but when I get goofing off.

I got married the day I turned 18 and had my first child when I was 22. Heck even then I wasn't ready for a baby.

Answer 2

For me, adulthood comes at 13. From 13, you are considered an adult and can be punished as an adult. Biologically, 13 is about where boys will put on their adult growth and bulk. For girls it's much more simple. The moment they start their period and can have children, they are considered grown women. I think the world would be a lot better if we listened to the biological protocols set forth by our Creator than arbitrary numbers created by mankind. (Of course, I am not attracted to 13 year olds. As a matter of fact, most women I meet under the age of 30 are far too immature for my tastes.)

Here in the US, we worship youth and, therefore, want to keep our children in that category (children) as long as possible.

Personally, I became an adult at 9. From then on, it was just about adding more maturity to what I already had, not like I somehow fundamentally changed. At 9, I had to take on a lot of the responsibilities of the "man of the house" because my father was paralyzed in a car accident. So it's different for different people.

Answer 3

I think you are an adult at 20, since youre no longer a teen. I mean, what would you be at 20 if you were a teen at 19, but not an adult until you were 21?

Answer 4

The drinking age is 21. I think 21 should be the age when you become a legal adult. Being a mother, I am wishful to want my kids to be adults when they prove to me they can handle life. I think being a responsible adult comes with learning about life, trial and error and maturity.

Answer 5

I think most people associate adult hood with choice and at 18 you really have the freedom of choice to do anything but drink (why the hell you can die for your country but not have a rum and coke is beyond me) so I think that is why most people associate 18 with adulthood since you can now start to make all those important life decisions.

Answer 6

I know a lot of adults that never grew up. I think 21 is closer to being an adult than 18 is.

Answer 7

I didnt consider myself a man until i was 33.

Answer 8

Lol, good question. I'm 27, and I still feel like a kid most of the time...

Answer 9

You used the word "officially." Look up the definition, numbskull. "Legal adulthood" and "maturity" are two different things.