Cultural Differences in Adolescence

In some cultures, young people move directly from childhood to adulthood.  However, a prolonged period of adolescence is seen primarily in industrialized nations.  In these societies (such as our own), rapid technological progress has made lengthy education, and therefore prolonged economic dependence, the norm.  So, young people are capable of reproduction and are therefore physiologically mature.  Yet they have not achieved the emotional and economic independence from their parents that are the hallmarks of adulthood.