EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING EMERGING ADULTHOOD

Abstract

The transition from adolescence to adulthood represents one of the most dynamic and formative phases of psychological development. Classic theorists such as Erik Erikson and Daniel Levinson emphasized the psychosocial and structural aspects of this process, while Jeffrey Arnett later introduced the concept of emerging adulthood as a distinct developmental stage characterized by exploration, instability, and self-focus. Despite the extensive research on its cognitive and social dimensions, relatively little attention has been paid to the emotional mechanisms that shape adaptation and identity during this period. Emerging adulthood can therefore be viewed as a paradoxical stage – marked by both maximal freedom and minimal structure – where individuals must navigate uncertainty, autonomy, and emotional complexity. The aim of the paper is to examine emotional intelligence as a central theoretical framework for understanding the psychological dynamics of emerging adulthood. Drawing on the models of Salovey and Mayer as well as Goleman’s social-competence perspective, this article argues that emotional intelligence mediates the interaction between cognitive growth, affective awareness, and social experience. By integrating developmental, emotional, and neurobiological perspectives, the paper proposes that emotional intelligence provides the regulatory and interpretive mechanisms through which emerging adults transform emotional turbulence into coherence and self-understanding. In this sense, emotional intelligence functions not merely as a coping resource but as the developmental architecture that supports identity formation, self-regulation, and resilience. Recognizing emotional intelligence as a key component of emerging adulthood enriches both theoretical and practical approaches to education, counselling, and social integration, positioning emotion as a driving force in the journey toward mature adulthood.