Abstract
The following article delineates at least two important thrusts of the Journal of Adult Development. First, it demonstrates the journal’s commitment to the complementarity of natural science (quantitative) and human science (qualitative) models of research in either studies that utilise a single method or mixed-models methods. The journal’s theoretical and methodological flexibility evokes Maslow’s (1946) classic distinction between means-oriented and problem-oriented research in which, in the former, the method dictates the range of problems that can be studied whereas the latter–most consonant with the journal’s approach–gives priority to the phenomenon being studied. Second, since its inception, the journal has been committed to providing young scholars with an outlet for the publication of their work. Later, Karl Dominey of Brown University discusses his own transition from adolescence to young adulthood (or what now would more likely be called emerging adulthood). As his piece demonstrates, Karl integrates psychological and sociocultural factors with a keen literary bent to explore this personally important developmental transition using a variant of narrative analysis. He hopes to be admitted into a doctoral programme in sociology and/or American civilisation next fall to explore issues related to individual and social (e.g. father–son) development. Readers who wish to correspond with Karl either about his piece and/or about the gruelling process of admission to doctoral programmes are strongly encouraged to do so.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cobbett, W. (1982). Exploration, becoming, growth and pain. In P. M. Spacks (Ed.), The adolescent idea: Myths of youth and the adult imagination. London: Faber and Faber.
Demos, J., & Demos, V. (1982). Exploration, becoming, growth and pain. In P. M. Spacks (Ed.), The adolescent idea: Myths of youth and the adult imagination. London: Faber and Faber.
Foucault, M. (1978). The history of sexuality: An introduction (Vol. 1). New York: Random House.
Freud, S. (1950). Family romances. In J. Strachey (Ed.), Collected papers (Vol. 5, pp. 74–78). London: Hogarth Press.
Gore, M. (1990). ‘World in My Eyes’ from the album violator—Depeche mode. London: Mute Records.
Hartnett, S. (1995). Sleeping dogs. Melbourne: Penguin.
Lanagan, M. (1996). Touching earth lightly. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
Locke, J. (1982). Exploration, becoming, growth and pain. In P. M. Spacks (Ed.), The adolescent idea: Myths of youth and the adult imagination. London: Faber and Faber.
Morrissey, S. P. (1986). ‘There is a Light and it Never Goes Out’ and ‘I Know it’s Over’ from the album ‘The Queen is Dead—The Smiths’. London: Warner Music.
Musgrove, F. (1982). Exploration, becoming, growth and pain. In P. M. Spacks (Ed.), The adolescent idea: Myths of youth and the adult imagination. London: Faber and Faber.
Salinger, J. D. (1951). The catcher in the rye. New York: Penguin.
Salzberg, J. (1990). Introduction to critical essays on Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. New York: Penguin.
Shelley, M. (1994). Frankenstein or a modern Prometheus. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions.
Smith, C. (1982). Exploration, becoming, growth and pain. In P. M. Spacks (Ed.), The adolescent idea: Myths of youth and the adult imagination. London: Faber and Faber.
Smith, R. (1987). ‘If Only Tonight We Could Sleep’ from the album ‘Kiss Me KissMe Kiss Me–The Cure’. London: Fiction Records.
Spacks, P. M. (1982). The adolescent idea: Myths of youth and the adult imagination. London: Faber and Faber.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The original paper had the cover art from Depeche Mode’s 1990 Album ‘Violator’ and the lyrics to the song ‘World in My Eyes’ adorning its first page. It was this song—and the ‘adolescently’ dramatic album cover—a single blood red rose on a pure black background—that inspired the structure and tone of this paper and the connection I make between the visceral human response and its commodification. There is some irony in the fact that having wanted to see the band live all of my life I will be doing so tomorrow night (7/31/09)—2 days after I found out that this paper would be published and 10 years after I wrote it. Or perhaps it is not ironic at all and makes the implicit point of this paper a little more explicit: I am still moved by the drama that was so potent in my teenage years. I am still drawn down the dark corridors that made my heart beat loud and hard at 18 years old. I still want, no… need, the rush of thousands of people locked in a shared moment of indulgence, a shared moment of well-marketed, socially prescribed and allowable adolescence. And I know I am not the only one. It may be that I can appreciate and interpret it in a more sophisticated and ‘knowing’ way than I once did, but I still allow myself to feel as I always have. And it really does feel as it always has. I am excited about tomorrow night. Of course I am. After all, I am just a (much) older adolescent and, in the world through my eyes, my continued adolescence is merely a proof of my adult development.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dominey, K. World in My Eyes. J Adult Dev 19, 21–27 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-011-9128-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-011-9128-9