How does socialization occur over the life course? Although the stages of the life course are a social construction, they provide a useful way of looking at how humans make their way through life....

How does socialization occur over the life course? Although the stages of the life course are a social construction, they provide a useful way of looking at how humans make their way through life. Childhood is the period from birth to puberty. Our notion of childhood is not universal, nor has it remained the same historically. The idea of adolescence emerged along with the development of specialized job markets; young people needed specialized education. Adulthood is often marked by completion of one’s education, getting a job, getting married, moving into one’s own home, or having a baby. The transition from adolescence to adulthood is occurring later in life now, when people are in their 30s instead of in their 20s.