Adulthood
Adulthood, can be correctly understood as the period in the human lifespan during which complete physical and intellectual maturity is attained. Adulthood is commonly regarded to begin at the age of 20 or 21 years. Middle age is taken to commence from 40 years, which is gradually followed by old age from about 60 years.
Speaking physically, the early and middle adulthood is marked by slow and gradual declination in body functioning, the declination of which accelerates with the old age attainment. Adulthood brings in series of responsibility, which is social as well as emotional. One starts living away from the security of the care giver. Therefore it can be rightly said that adulthood begins with the act of taking care of oneself, alone. Adulthood is marked by social responsibilities like earning, sustaining, marrying bearing children, etc. However, successful attainments of these marks is not the only goal of adulthood.