fei75766_ch07_206-241.indd 223  02/06/20 11:52 AM
Chapter 7    Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory223
Intimacy versus Isolation
Young adulthood ismarked bythepsychosocial crisis ofintimacy versus isolation. 
Intimacy istheability tofuseone’s identity withthatofanother person without fear
oflosing it.Because intimacy canbeachieved onlyafterpeople haveformed astable 
ego,theinfatuations often found inyoung adolescents arenottrueintimacy. People 
whoareunsure oftheiridentity mayeither shyaway from psychosocial intimacy or
desperately seekintimacy through meaningless sexual encounters.
Incontrast, mature intimacy means anability andwillingness toshare amutual 
trust. Itinvolves sacrifice, compromise, andcommitment within arelationship oftwo
equals. Itshould bearequirement formarriage, butmany marriages lackintimacy 
because some young people marry aspartoftheirsearch fortheidentity thatthey
failed toestablish during adolescence.
Thepsychosocial counterpart tointimacy isisolation, defined as“theincapacity 
totakechances withone’s identity bysharing trueintimacy” (Erikson, 1968, p.137). 
Some people become financially orsocially successful, yetretain asense ofisolation 
because theyareunable toaccept theadult responsibilities ofproductive work, pro-
creation, andmature love.
Again, some degree ofisolation isessential before onecanacquire mature love.
Toomuch togetherness candiminish aperson’s sense ofegoidentity, which leads 
thatperson toapsychosocial regression andaninability tofacethenextdevelopmen -
talstage. Thegreater danger, ofcourse, istoomuch isolation, toolittleintimacy, and
adeficiency inthebasic strength oflove.
Love: The Basic Strength of Young Adulthood
Love, thebasic strength ofyoung adulthood, emerges from thecrisis ofintimacy ver-
susisolation. Erikson (1968, 1982) defined loveasmature devotion thatovercomes 
basic differences between menandwomen. Although loveincludes intimacy, italso
contains some degree ofisolation, because eachpartner ispermitted toretain asepa-
rateidentity. Mature lovemeans commitment, sexual passion, cooperation, competi -
tion,andfriendship. Itisthebasic strength ofyoung adulthood, enabling aperson to
cope productively withthefinaltwostages ofdevelopment.
Theantipathy ofloveisexclusivity, thecorepathology ofyoung adulthood. 
Some exclusivity, however, isnecessary forintimacy; thatis,aperson must beable
toexclude certain people, activities, andideas inorder todevelop astrong sense of
identity. Exclusivity becomes pathological when itblocks one’s ability tocooperate, 
compete, orcompromise—all prerequisite ingredients forintimacy andlove.
Adulthood
Theseventh stage ofdevelopment isadulthood, thattimewhen people begin to
taketheir place insociety andassume responsibility forwhatever society produces. 
Formost people, thisisthelongest stage ofdevelopment, spanning theyears from 
about age31to60.Adulthood ischaracterized bythepsychosexual mode ofpro-
creativity, thepsychosocial crisis ofgenerativity versus stagnation, andthebasic 
strength ofcare.Final PDF to printer