Analyzing Erikson's Psychosocial Model Of Social Development

Early adulthood is the time in a person’s life when they are between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. This time period is often one of significant role changes, such as beginning a career, entering a long-term relationship or marriage, or having children. Physically, early adults are fully mature. The senses, brain growth, and physical capabilities are all at their peak of development. Because so many life changes and new roles present themselves during early adulthood, stress, and coping become a common challenge. How this is managed depends on a combination of physical and psychological factors. Stress can come from many different avenues, some good and some bad, and can be categorized as acute or chronic. Chronic stress can cause the development …show more content…
In Erik Erikson's psychosocial model of social development, young adults are in the intimacy versus isolation stage which focuses on the development of close and intimate relationships with others. This can be achieved through friendship, intimacy, and love. If not achieved, feelings of isolation and loneliness can occur. Erikson’s theory, while containing some flaws, and limitations, has been greatly influential in the development of new and expanding theories and ideas. Two relatable theories that broadened Erikson’s views on intimacy are that of psychologists Elaine Hatfield/Ellen Berscheid and Robert Sternberg on the “faces of love”. Hatfield and Berscheid theory focus on passionate and companionate love referring to them as the two faces. Passionate, or romantic love, is a state of powerful absorption in someone that includes intense interest, arousal, and caring for someone else’s needs. Companionate love is the strong affection for someone with whom a person’s life is deeply involved with. Sternberg proposed a triangular theory around the three faces of love. The first of the three components is intimacy, which includes the feelings of closeness, affection, and connectedness. The second component is passion, which motivates the drives pertaining to sex, physical closeness, and romance. The third component is decision/commitment which describes the initial realization that a person loves another and determines long-term to maintain that love. Sternberg proposed that these components can all be combined in ways to form eight different types of love. Each type is determined by which of the three above components is missing or present in the relationship. The eight types are described as nonlove, liking, infatuated love, empty love, romantic love, companionate love, fatuous love, and consummate