Keywords
the rite of passage
liminal phase
How to Cite
Abstract
Abstract
The article contains a comparison of emerging adulthood (EA) to the rite of passage by van Gennep and Turner. The authors argue that EA is a far and residual equivalent of the liminal phase of the rite of passage, in its extended form. At first, they present the concept of the rite of passage, the idea of liminality, the phenomenon of extending the psychosocial moratorium and some aspects of the concept of emerging adulthood. Further they analyse the similarities and differences between the liminal phase and EA. They conclude that EA is a liminal period, but such that, on the one hand, is elaborated and extended in time, and on the other hand – degraded in its symbolism and significance (nonsanctified). The EA is associated with the specificity of western culture, such as degradation and disappearance of rites of passage in their traditional forms, orientation towards consumption and hedonism. It seems to have its source in the psychic qualities of young people, among other things, in their lack of readiness to take up the responsibility for others. Finally, the authors state that the results of a lack in initiation are thus beginning to make themselves particularly keenly felt in today’s world.
References
Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469-480.
Arnett, J. J. (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. New York: Oxford University Press.
Arnett, J. J. (2006). Emerging adulthood: in Europe: A response to Bynner. Journal of Youth Studies, 9(1), 111-123.
Arnett, J. J. (2007a). Emerging adulthood: What is it, and what is it good for? Child Development Perspectives, 1(2), 68-73.
Arnett, J. J. (2007b). Emerging adulthood, a 21st century theory: A rejoinder to Hendry and Kleop. Child Development Perspectives, 1(2), 80-82.
Arnett, J. J. (2007c). Adolescence and emerging adulthood: A cultural approach. New Jersey: Pearson Education.
Arnett, J. J., & Tanner, J. L. (2005). Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st Century. Washington: American Psychological Association Press.
Arnett, J. J., Kloep, M., Hendry, L. B., & Tanner, J. L. (Eds.) (2011). Debating emerging adulthood: Stage or process. New York: Oxford University Press.
Basko, N. (2009). Prywatna koncepcja wejścia w dorosłość i status dorosłości u młodych dorosłych w Polsce i na Ukrainie [A private theory of entering adulthood and the status of adulthood in young adults in Poland and Ukraine] (Unpublished master's thesis written under the supervision of W. Zagórska). Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw.
Bynner, J. M. (2005). Rethinking the youth phase of the life course: The case for emerging adulthood? Journal of Youth Studies, 8(4), 367-384.
Côté, J. E., & Bynner, J. M. (2008). Changes in the transition to adulthood in the UK and Canada: The role of structure and agency in emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth Studies, 11(3), 251-268.
Czarniawska, B., & Mazza, C. (2003). Consulting as a liminal space. Human Relations, 56(3), 267-290.
Dajczer, T. (1977). Egzystencjalny charakter mitu [The existential nature of myth]. Studia Theologica Varsaviensia, 1, 111-145.
Dajczer, T. (1979). Religijny charakter inicjacji plemiennej [The religious nature of tribal initiation]. Studia Theologica Varsaviensia, 1, 143-171.
Dajczer, T. (1984). Inicjacje i ich wymiar kosmiczny u ludów Kalifornii [Initiations and their cosmic dimension in the peoples of California]. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo ATK.
Deflem, M. (2002). Rytuał, anty-struktura i religia, czyli Victora Turnera procesualna analiza symboli [Ritual, antistructure, and religion: Victor Turner's processual analysis of symobols]. Konteksty, 1-2. Retrieved January 30, 2010, from: http://victorturner.webpark.pl/opus.html.
Eliade, M. (1959a). The sacred and the profane. The nature of religion. New York: A Harvest Book, Harcourt, Brace and World.
Eliade, M. (1959b). Initation, rites, sociétés secrètes. Naissances mystiques. Assai sur quelques types d’initatin. Paris: Éditions Gallimard.
Eliade, M. (1963). Aspects du mythe. Paris: Éditions Gallimard.
Erikson, E. (1968). Youth and crisis. New York–London: W.W. Norton & Company.
Erikson, E. (1994). Identity and the life cycle. New York–London: W.W. Norton & Company (first published 1959).
Gendreau, J. (1998). L’adolescence et ses «rites» de pasage. Paris: Desclée de Brouwer.
Gennep, A. van (1981). Les rites de passage. Paris: Éditions A. et J. Picard (first published 1909).
Goodman, P., & Goodman, P. (1947). Communitas: Means of livelihood and ways of life. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hendry, L. B. (2008). A letter from Lucifer. Invited letter to the Editor as a response to an article by J. J. Arnett & G. H. Brody, Human Development, 51(5-6), 1-3.
Hendry, L. B., & Kloep, M. (2007a). Conceptualizing emerging adulthood: Inspecting the Emperor’s new clothes? Child Development Perspectives, 1(2), 74-79.
Hendry, L. B., & Kloep, M. (2007b). Redressing the emperor! – A rejoinder to Arnett. Child Development Perspectives, 1(2), 83-85.
Hendry, L. B., & Kloep, M. (2010). How universal is emerging adulthood? An empirical example. Journal of Youth Studies, 13(2), 169-179.
Hendry, L. B., & Kloep, M. (2011). Lifestyles in emerging adulthood: Who leads stage anyway? In J. J. Arnett, M. Kloep, L. B. Hendry, & J. L. Tanner (Eds.), Debating emerging adulthood: Stage or process (pp. 77-104). New York: Oxford University Press.
Higgins, L., Hamilton, K. (2020). Pilgrimage, material objects and spontaneous communitas. Annals of Tourism Research, 81. DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2019.102855
Human, O., & Robins, S. (2011). FIFA 2010 and the elusive spirit of communitas: a return to Victor Turner (with some differences). Anthropology Southern Africa, 34(1-2), 38-50.
Johnson, J. (2011) Through the Liminal: A Comparative Analysis of Communitas and Rites of Passage in Sport Hazing and Initiations. Canadian Journal of Sociology, 36(3), 199-227.
Kirkeby, O. F. (2008). Management philosophy. London: Springer.
Kurzydło, D., Zagórska, W. (2016). Nie jestem już dzieckiem. Quasi-rytuały wyjścia z dzieciństwa w narracjach nastolatków. Perspektywa psychologii antropologicznej. Psychologia Rozwojowa, 1(21), 77-96. DOI: 10.4467/20843879PR.16.006.4795
Liberska, H. (2007). Współczesny obraz moratorium [The contemporary image of moratorium]. In B. Harwas-Napierała & H. Liberska (Eds.), Tożsamość a współczesność. Nowe tendencje i zagrożenia [Identity and conteporary times. New trends and threats] (pp. 25-51). Poznań: Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM.
Lubieniecka, J. (2010). Skupienie na sobie jako cecha dystynktywna okresu „stającej się dorosłości” w ujęciu Jeffreya J. Arnetta. Próba weryfikacji empirycznej [Self-focus as a distinctive feature of the period of emerging adulthood as described by Jeffrey J. Arnett. An attempt at empirical verification]. (Unpublished master's thesis written under the supervision of W. Zagórska). Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw.
Mead, M. (1978). Culture and commitment. A study of the generation gap. New York: Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group (originally published 1970).
Nelson, L. J. (2003). Rites of passage in emerging adulthood: Perspectives of young Mormons. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 100, 33-49.
Pawlik, J. J. (2006). Antropologiczne badania rytuału [Anthropological research on ritual]. In M. Filipiak & M. Rajewski (Eds.), Rytuał. Przeszłość i teraźniejszość [Ritual. Past and present] (pp. 19-37). Lublin: Wydawnictwo UMCS.
Sisson, M. (2012). Do we need rites of passage? Marks Daily Apple. Retrieved March 28, 2021, from: https://www.marksdailyapple.com/do-we-need-rites-of-passage/
Spierenberg, M. (2011). The politics of the liminal and the liminoid in transfrontier conservation in Southern Africa. Anthropology Southern Africa, 34(1-2), 81-88.
Sulima, R. (2000). Antropologia codzienności [The anthropology of everyday life]. Krakow: Wydawnictwo UJ.
Surma, M. (2007). Wydłużająca się droga ku dorosłości. Próba weryfikacji empirycznej koncepcji emerging adulthood Jeffreya J. Arnetta w warunkach polskich [The extended way to adulthood: An attempt at an empirical verification of Jeffrey J. Arnett's theory of emerging adulthood in the Polish context]. (Unpublished master's thesis written under the supervision of W. Zagórska). Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw.
Szakolczai, A. (2009). Liminality and experience: Structuring transitory situations and transformative events. International Political Anthropology, 2(1), 141-172.
Szlendak, T. (1998). Technomania. Cyberplemię w zwierciadle socjologii [Technomania. Cybertribe in the mirror of sociology]. Toruń: Graffiti BC.
Thomassen, B. (2009). The uses and meanings of liminality. International Political Anthropology, 2(1), 5-27.
Turner, V. (1975). Dramas, fields, and metaphors: Symbolic action in human society. New York: Cornell University Press.
Turner, V. (1982). From ritual to theater. The human seriousness of play. New York: Performing Arts Journal Publications.
Turner, V. (1995). The ritual process: Structure and anti-structure. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers (first published 1969).
Van de Velde, C. (2007). Devenir adulte. Quatre modèles européens. Agora Débats/Jeunesses, 45, 22-31.
Van de Velde, C. (2008). Devenir adult. Sociologie comparée de la jeunesse en Europe. Paris: PUF.
Zagórska, W. (2001). Symbolic transfer and adult participation in a culture-created reality. Studia Iagellonica Humani Cultus Progressus, 5(1), 19-32.
Zagórska, W. (2004). Uczestnictwo młodych dorosłych w rzeczywistości wykreowanej kulturowo. Doświadczenie, funkcje psychologiczne [The participation of young adults in culture-created reality. Experience and psychological functions]. Krakow: Universitas.
Zagórska, W. (2007). Searching for mythos. A new approach to ludic activity in adulthood. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 38(3), 156-165.
Zagórska, W. (2009). Participation in rave-created reality as a substitute for seeking values in the mythos sphere. In W. Zagórska, J. Cieciuch, & D. Buksik (Eds.), Axiological aspects of development in youth (pp. 131-162). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe UKSW.
Zagórska, W. (2017). Współczesne zachowania quasi-mityczne. Aplikacja fenomenologii religii ks. prof. Tadeusza Dajczera do psychologii antropologicznej [Modern quasi-mythical behaviours. Application of phenomenology of religion by Rev. Prof. Tadeusz Dajczer to anthropological psychology]. In L. Fic, Mazanka, E. Sakowicz, P. Szuppe & W. Zagórska (Eds.), Chrześcijaństwo wśród religii świata. Księga dedykowana Księdzu Profesorowi Tadeuszowi Dajczerowi (1931-2009) [Christianity among the religions of the world. Book dedicated to Rev. Professor Tadeusz Dajczer (1931-2009)] (s. 121-140). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe UKSW.
Zagórska, W. (2020). Niezbywalna potrzeba mythosu. [The inalienable need of mythos]. In M. Obrębska & A. Pankalla, (Eds.), Mity kultury współczesnej. Perspektywa psychoantropologiczna [Myths of contemporary culture. Psychoanthropological perspective] (s. 139-158). Poznań: Wydawnictwo Nauk Społecznych i Humanistycznych UAM.
Zagórska, W., Jelińska, M., Surma, M., Lipska, A. (2012). Wydłużająca się droga do dorosłości.[The extended way to adulthood]. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe UKSW.
Zagórska, W., Lipska, A. (2016). Pokochać tradycję i rytuały rodzinne [Falling in love with traditions and family rituals]. In I. Grochowska & P. Mazanka (Eds.), Szczęśliwe małżeństwo i rodzina [Happy marriage and family] (s. 211-223). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe UKSW.
Zorotovich, J., Johnson, E. I. (2019). Five dimensions of emerging adulthood: a comparison between college students, nonstudents, and graduates. College Student Journal, 53(3), 376-386.