POSTPONEMENT OF ADULTHOOD. REFLECTIONS ON BECOMING AN ADULT

Abstract

The article about “the postponement of adulthood” has been inspired by the data which I got from my biografical research. The research I did was about the adults who experienced the dis- ability when they were adult already. The “postponement of adulthood” is in my understanding of some kind of change. It the is redefinition of our person, our identity. It is the redefinition of our adulthood. The ordered world of adult (dreams and plans) is destroyed and has to be changed. I analyze The process of changes on the example of one of the definitions of adulthood by M.S. Knowles.

“The postponed adulthood”, as has been noticed by Havighurst, as well as from the an- dragogical perspective is particularly important event in the educational context. Formal, non- formal and informal education is helpful to fili the experienced emptiness. The person who has experienced “the postponement of adulthood” quite often undertakes different kind of educational activities. To sum up the “postponement of adulthood” is an educational situation.