Final answer:
Emerging adulthood is a phase after adolescence, from 18 to mid-20s, focused on exploring identity in preparation for adult responsibilities. Adolescence involves significant cognitive and social changes and starts with puberty. Pre-adolescence is the early period of developing abstract thinking and self-identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transitional period when young people have left adolescence but have not yet assumed full adult responsibilities is known as emerging adulthood. This is a relatively new concept in lifespan development covering the ages from 18 to the mid-20s. During emerging adulthood, individuals focus on exploring their identities, with particular attention to work and love, as they prepare to take on the responsibilities typically associated with full-fledged adulthood.
Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood, generally starting with puberty. It includes not only physical changes such as sexual maturation and growth spurts but also significant cognitive, emotional, and social changes. Cognitive developments allow adolescents to think abstractly and develop a sense of personal identity while they navigate changes in relationships and independence.
Pre-adolescence, roughly ages 11 to 12 years, can coincide with the beginning of puberty, marking the starting point of this transition. It encompasses early mental and emotional development stages, with children beginning to develop the capacity for more complex thought processes and a nascent sense of identity.