Biologically it's possible to indicate the approximate age when a person reaches full physical maturity. However, emotional maturity is more challenging to define or distinguish. While physical and emotional maturity are subjective, typically, a person reaches physical maturity before becoming emotionally mature. For example, it's likely that a teenager would be physically mature but not emotionally mature enough to become a parent.
In fact, one study showed that the average man doesn't reach full emotional maturity until age 43, while women mature by age 32. That's an 11-year difference! Yet, again, the topic is very subjective. And while there are no tools (yet) available to determine the exact age one becomes 'ripe,' there are so-called signs of maturity. Similarly to how psychological conditions are diagnosed via symptoms, so can full psychological maturation be determined by signs of emotional maturity.
While signs of maturity in a man and woman may differ, gendering signs of maturity is irrelevant. So what exactly are those cues that a person has reached full emotional growth? When a Reddit user came in with the same question, numerous people chimed in in a Reddit thread sharing their personal experiences and the various signs of a mature man or woman.
Below, we've gathered some of their most upvoted answers sharing signs of a mature person. Do you agree with any of these statements? Which behavior or state of mind would you consider a sign of maturity? At what stage of emotional maturity would you consider yourself to be right now? Let us know!
#61
"Sometimes I wake up at 6 am. Just naturally. And instead of going back to sleep I get up and do dishes or something."
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10points
#64
"Telling your children they are being irresponsible when they are doing what you did."
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10points
#65
"This is also a sign of maturity: recognizing your own flaws, owning up to them, and actively trying to work on them!"
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9points
#66
"Not making excuses for a failure and owning it. It's amazing how many adults still haven't gotten this down."
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9points
#67
"Being able to delay gratification and do something you really don't want to do. I think that's one of the biggest differences between maturity and immaturity."
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9points
#68
"Being able to swallow your ego and apologize even if you don't necessarily think you've done anything wrong. 'I completely understand your point and sincerely apologize for the lapse in communication,' instead of 'Can't you read, I clearly said that.'"
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9points
#70
"Someone is mature when they can brush off insults with a laugh and not hold any kind of grudge. Someone is mature when they are focused on BEING a good person, not LOOKING like a good person."
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9points
#71
"I feel like it's when you realize you're not the center of the world and start doing things for others. Immature people have no concept of anything post their own noses. Mature people realize that there's a world full of millions, even billions, of people who could use help. Just the realization, to me, makes that person mature."
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9points
#75
"Doing puzzle night on a Saturday night. Actually, having a puzzle night in general."
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9points
#77
"How about being able to focus on solving the problem, not on blaming the person who made it."
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9points
#78
"Doing what's right for the long-term, despite the guarantee of short-term pain."
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9points
#79
"Being able to recognize your own flaws, and then work on improving them. Accept people as they are and focus on yourself, overall just do everything in your power to be a better person."
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8points
