Intimacy Versus Isolation
The teen years dissolve swiftly into young adulthood and the next challenge
in Erikson’ s model: developing intimate relationships. Young men and women
search for that special relationship within which to develop intimacy and
grow emotionally. Although these relationships typically result in marriage or
a romantic commitment to one person, this is not always the case. One can
share intimacy without marriage and, unfortunately, marriage without inti-
macy. People who fail to develop intimacy during this stage face emotional
isolation . They may pass through many superficial relationships without find-
ing the satisfaction of closeness promised by genuine relationships. Indeed,they may avoid emotional commitment. The single-person ’s lifestyle has its
advantages and may be pleasant for a while, but failure to move beyond this
lifestyle can seriously inhibit emotional growth and happiness.
Generativity Versus Stagnation
As men and women approach the middle years of life, they develop a concernfor guiding the next generation. Parents find their lives enriched by the influence
they have on their children. Adults without their own children find this enrich-
ment by working with youth groups or playing an active role in raising nieces
and nephews. Adults who fail to develop this sense of generativity may suffer
from a sense of stagnation —a feeling of emptiness and questioning one ’sp u r -
pose in life. We ’ve all seen parents whose lives are filled with continued meaning
and interests through raising their children. Unfortunately, we ’ve also seen par-
ents who obtain little pleasure from this process. As a result, they become bored
and generally dissatisfied with their lives. Failure to see the potential for personalgrowth in the development of their children is tragic for parent and child alike.
Erikson described old age as a time for either feelings of integrity and satisfaction with
life or feelings of despair and contempt for others.Erik Erikson 109