The nature of the concepts “adult” and “adulthood” in scientific research

Herasymenko, Olha and Герасименко, Ольга Юрьевна and Герасименко, Ольга Юріївна (2020) The nature of the concepts “adult” and “adulthood” in scientific research. Наукові записки. Серія: педагогічні науки (191). pp. 234-238. ISSN 2521-1919

Preview

Text Herasymenko_3.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Any socio-economic changes in our developed society significantly affect transformations of all spheres of life. Education, in particular adult education, is no exception. Education helps a person to acquire new knowledge, to adapt to life and new conditions. Adult education requires great attention in the context of integration and globalization processes of society. That is because adult education is considered as a guarantor of social protection of a person and his or her possibility to study the whole life. The presented article is deals with the definition of basic theoretical concepts of the study of such problems as lifelong learning and adult education –«adult» and «adulthood». Common and different criteria for the interpretation of these concepts are identified. Discussion aspects of such concepts as «adult» and «adulthood» understanding in the psychological and pedagogical literature by Ukrainian, Russian and foreign scholars are presented. Different approaches to understanding of the above mentioned definitions have been generalized. They are biological, social, economic, psychological etc. As there are no clearly defined boundaries of adulthood, we have compared the views of different scientists with the help of a table. The article attempts to establish a chronological framework of the «adult» based on the results of research by both psychological and pedagogical scientists. Understanding, differentiation and interdependence of the definitions «adulthood» and «maturity» are determined. Great attention is paid not only to the physiological indicator of «adulthood», but also to social, psychological, ethical and so on. The nature of the concept of «adult learner» is substantiated. Moreover there are key characteristics of adult student such as independence in choice and decision-making, interaction with the teacher at the level of exchange of knowledge and experience, a clear awareness of the importance of learning and understanding the scope of application acquired skills. Indicators that distinguish «adult learner» from non-adult student are analyzed with the help of table. Based on these characteristics, a comparative analysis of their differences was carried out. Adult person is a person who not only has reached biological and physiological maturity, but also has rich life experience, aspires to a certain goal, is conscious, is responsible for his or her own life, has a social status.

Actions (login required)

View Item