Final answer:
Becoming an adult involves conceiving a coherent narrative of one's life, comprising past experiences and future aspirations, reflecting both independence and the evolving social roles throughout the life course.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept that becoming an adult means, in part, conceiving of one's own life as a coherent narrative is indeed true. Adulthood is marked not only by chronological age but also by the social roles individuals engage in and how they perceive themselves within society's narrative. They transition from reliance on others to independence, seeking to establish their identities through relationships, careers, and personal philosophies. This self-concept often involves a life story which provides coherence to the adult's experiences, roles, and responsibilities, as reflected in the changing social roles from student to parent, or from significant other to partner.
For example, this narrative emerges as individuals leave college, enter the workforce, and grapple with the shift from dependency to autonomy, as well as the life course they envision for themselves. The developmental theories of Erik H. Erikson further support the view that each phase of our lives, from adolescence to old age, is characterized by certain challenges and milestones that contribute to our personal narrative. It is through overcoming these challenges that individuals weave the complex tapestry of their life story, projecting both their past and their envisioned future into a coherent whole.