Dorosłość jako etap rozwojowy a zarazem kategoria pedagogiczna

This article presents a variety of research approaches to adulthood as a stage of human life. Most sci- entists recognize as valid adulthood division into three roughly equal parts: early adulthood between twenty and forty years of age, middle adulthood forty years to about sixty-five, and late adulthood six- ty-five years until death. This division reflects the fact that the optimal physical and cognitive function- ing, achieved in an adults twenties and thirties, begins to weaken in the forties and fifties in a noticeable and measurable way. Adulthood in this sense, is an important category not only in adult education, but especially in pedagogy. Andragogy indicates a separate and specific features of an adult as a learner, involving the possession of a significant life experience, social and professional life, greater autonomy in managing their behavior, carrying out professional work, social activity, prone to large deep reflection and criticism in relation to themselves and their experiences. An important task of modern andragogy is to integrate the academic achievements of adults, their development and education.