While many legal systems define adulthood at 18 years old, the reality is more complex. Adulthood encompasses not only legal responsibilities but also emotional maturity, financial independence, and cognitive development.
There's no single age at which these aspects fully develop. Some may reach emotional maturity earlier, while others might achieve financial independence later. Similarly, cognitive development can continue into the mid-20s, with the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, fully maturing around age 25.
Therefore, defining the beginning of adulthood solely based on age is a simplification. It's a continuous process, with different aspects maturing at different rates, making it a multifaceted journey rather than a specific age.
