Adulting: A Prototype Analysis of the Construct of Adulthood

To understand the transition into adulthood, it is necessary to have a definition of what adulthood is. Prototype analysis methodology is used to build a definition of a construct from the bottom up and assess whether the construct is structured prototypically in our minds (Fehr, 1988; Kearns & Fincham, 2004). The current study is Step 3 in the prototype analysis methodology. In Step 1, participants generated attributes of adulthood, and in Step 2, a new sample of participants rated the attributes for centrality. The current study tested whether activating the prototype of adulthood would make central features more commonly recognized than peripheral features. Results indicated no evidence that central attributes were correctly remembered better than peripheral attributes. However, central attributes were falsely remembered more than peripheral attributes. A significant interaction of centrality (central vs. peripheral) by group (Group A vs. Group B) suggests attributes presented to both groups were not equal. An assessment of valence revealed that peripheral attributes were considered more negative than central attributes, especially for Group B compared to Group A. The importance of this study is to contribute to literature on perceptions of adulthood and support adolescents during their transition into adulthood.