fei75766_ch07_206-241.indd 222  02/06/20 11:52 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories222
stages ofdevelopment. Wemaypostpone theresponsibilities ofadulthood anddriftaim-
lessly from onejobtoanother, from onesexpartner toanother, orfrom oneideology to
another. Conversely, ifwedevelop theproper ratioofidentity toidentity confusion, we
willhave(1)faithinsome sortofideological principle, (2)theability tofreely decide 
howweshould behave, (3)trustinourpeers andadults whogiveusadvice regarding 
goals andaspirations, and(4)confidence inourchoice ofaneventual occupation.
Fidelity: The Basic Strength of Adolescence
Thebasic strength emerging from adolescent identity crises isfidelity, orfaithinone’s 
ideology. After establishing theirinternal standards ofconduct, adolescents areno
longer inneed ofparental guidance buthaveconfidence intheirownreligious, politi -
cal,andsocial ideologies.
Thetrustlearned ininfancy isbasic forfidelity inadolescence. Young people 
must learn totrustothers before theycanhavefaithintheirownviewofthefuture. 
They must havedeveloped hope during infancy, andtheymust follow hope withthe
other basic strengths—will, purpose, andcompetence. Each isaprerequisite forfidel-
ity,justasfidelity isessential foracquiring subsequent egostrengths.
Thepathological counterpart offidelity isrole repudiation, thecorepathology 
ofadolescence thatblocks one’s ability tosynthesize various self-images andvalues 
intoaworkable identity. Rolerepudiation cantaketheform ofeither diffidence or
defiance (Erikson, 1982). Diffidence isanextreme lackofself-trust orself-confidence 
andisexpressed asshyness orhesitancy toexpress oneself. Incontrast, defiance is
theactofrebelling against authority. Defiant adolescents stubbornly holdtosocially 
unacceptable beliefs andpractices simply because these beliefs andpractices are
unacceptable. Some amount ofrolerepudiation, Erikson believed, isnecessary, not
onlybecause itallows adolescents toevolve theirpersonal identity butalsobecause it
injects some newideas andnewvitality intothesocial structure.
Young Adulthood
After achieving asense ofidentity during adolescence, people must acquire theability 
tofusethatidentity withtheidentity ofanother person while maintaining theirsense 
ofindividuality. Young adulthood —atimefrom about age19to30—is circumscribed 
notsomuch bytimeasbytheacquisition ofintimacy atthebeginning ofthestage and
thedevelopment ofgenerativity attheend.Forsome people, thisstage isarelatively 
short time, lasting perhaps onlyafewyears. Forothers, young adulthood maycon-
tinue forseveral decades. Young adults should develop mature genitality, experience 
theconflict between intimacy andisolation, andacquire thebasic strength oflove.
Genitality
Much ofthesexual activity during adolescence isanexpression ofone’s search for
identity andisbasically self-serving. Truegenitality candevelop onlyduring young 
adulthood when itisdistinguished bymutual trustandastable sharing ofsexual sat-
isfactions withaloved person. Itisthechief psychosexual accomplishment ofyoung 
adulthood andexists onlyinanintimate relationship (Erikson, 1963).Final PDF to printer