Mapping the Intricacies of Young Adults' Developmental Journey from Socially Prescribed to Internally Defined Identities, Relationships, and Beliefs

Recent research has called for complex holistic models of college student development, but traditionally, scholars have focused heavily if not exclusively on creating models that emphasize only psychological explanations and probe only one dimension or aspect of development. This article synthesizes a wide range of theories and models to construct an integrated map of both the psychological and sociological factors that influence young adults' learning and development. Moreover, the synthesis discusses the conditions that foster cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal growth.