So let me get this straight: the authors of this study find that adults are showing signs of infantilism. And rather than looking at what are the consequences, they focus on the causes, and label the child - adolescent - adult stages as...traditional, hinting that it's just one of many ways in which we can "stratify" lifespans, so to say.
In fact, in the very first sentence, they say that this view is no longer relevant. As in, for who knows how long, it was. Suddenly it isn't.
This framework for viewing ways of organizing society as equally valid and inconsequential defeats the purpose of what, I believe, social sciences are for. I don't need a taxonomy of options, I want actionable insights!
> This framework for viewing ways of organizing society as equally valid and inconsequential defeats the purpose of what, I believe, social sciences are for. I don't need a taxonomy of options, I want actionable insights!
The article is describing academic research, not self-help. In this context it is perfectly reasonable to examine causes rather than consequences, and taxonomies rather than "actionable insights". Thats not to say that consequences etc aren't valid areas on inquiry, just that this article isn't examining them.
> This framework for viewing ways of organizing society as equally valid and inconsequential defeats the purpose of what, I believe, social sciences are for. I don't need a taxonomy of options, I want actionable insights!
social sciences suffer from a lack significance and repeatability more than others, which suggests to me that they are indeed foremost required to establish taxonomies and definitions because anything more is just guessing with a great potential to harm ppl.
Ha ha ha, you're probably right, I came across as an entitled teenager.
But seriously though, taxonomies are part of the whole science enterprise. Unless we formulate hypothesis that can be used to predict new phenomena, we're missing out. Or just cargo culting.
For example, Lego is now targeting adults as well as kids. You can make a living out of collecting sets as an investment vehicle or by starting a YouTube channel where you review and show your collection.
In fact, in the very first sentence, they say that this view is no longer relevant. As in, for who knows how long, it was. Suddenly it isn't.
This framework for viewing ways of organizing society as equally valid and inconsequential defeats the purpose of what, I believe, social sciences are for. I don't need a taxonomy of options, I want actionable insights!