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<p>This study examines how emerging adults define autonomy through their romantic relationship choices. Emerging adulthood provides a lot of opportunities to try different things, but the diversity of alternatives makes it difficult to choose. Under these conditions, autonomy becomes a necessary personal characteristic. We set out to examine how young people construct romantic narratives identities based on the characteristics of choices—emotional or rational, emotional tone, and their own autonomy. To do this, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 heterosexual emerging adults aged 18 to 25 and analyzed the data using McAdams’ narrative analysis. It was found that early choices are mostly made with low autonomy, and they are emotional. Later, autonomy increases, and choices become rational. Most of the narratives are positive because of the optimistic sense of future possibilities that characterizes emerging adulthood as a life period that provides a lot of opportunities. We also found that some respondents refuse to enter relationships, demonstrating a high level of autonomy. This may be explained by either a reluctance to enter a relationship due to unwillingness or an avoidant attachment style. Further research clarifying how autonomy and two systems of decision-making relate is needed to better understand how choices affect well-being.</p>

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Emerging Adults’ Autonomy in Romantic Narrative Identities: Choices Between Emotions and Rationality

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月24日

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  • Victoria G. Yerofeyeva,
  • Ekaterina M. Tsyganova,
  • Alexandra A. Bochaver

摘要

This study examines how emerging adults define autonomy through their romantic relationship choices. Emerging adulthood provides a lot of opportunities to try different things, but the diversity of alternatives makes it difficult to choose. Under these conditions, autonomy becomes a necessary personal characteristic. We set out to examine how young people construct romantic narratives identities based on the characteristics of choices—emotional or rational, emotional tone, and their own autonomy. To do this, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 heterosexual emerging adults aged 18 to 25 and analyzed the data using McAdams’ narrative analysis. It was found that early choices are mostly made with low autonomy, and they are emotional. Later, autonomy increases, and choices become rational. Most of the narratives are positive because of the optimistic sense of future possibilities that characterizes emerging adulthood as a life period that provides a lot of opportunities. We also found that some respondents refuse to enter relationships, demonstrating a high level of autonomy. This may be explained by either a reluctance to enter a relationship due to unwillingness or an avoidant attachment style. Further research clarifying how autonomy and two systems of decision-making relate is needed to better understand how choices affect well-being.