Mistrust In Early Adulthood

Erikson considered young adulthood to be a longer stage than the previous ones, extending from the end of adolescence to about age 35. During this period we establish our independence from parents and quasi-parental institutions, such as college, and begin to function more autonomously as mature, responsible adults. We undertake some form of productive work and establish intimate relationships close friendships and sexual unions. In Erikson’s view, intimacy was not restricted to sexual relationships but also encompassed feelings of caring and commitment. These emotions could be displayed openly, without resorting to self-protective or defensive mechanisms and without fear of losing our sense of self-identity. We can merge our identity with …show more content…
Erikson argued that a new mother who resumes a job outside the home and leaves her infant in the care of relative or in a day care center risks promoting mistrust in the child. Although the pattern of trust or mistrust a dimension of personality is set in infancy, the problem may reappear at a later development stage. For example, an ideal infant-mother relationship produces a high level of trust, but this secure sense of trust can be destroyed if the mother dies or leaves home. If that occurs, mistrust may overtake the personality. Childhood mistrust can be altered later in life through the companionship of a loving and patient teacher or friend. The basic strength of hope is associated with the successful resolution of the crisis during the oral-sensory stage. Erikson described this strength as the belief that our desires will be satisfied. Hope involves a persistent feeling of confidence, a feeling we will maintain despite temporary setbacks or reverse. Erikson suffered several personal identity crises and developed a personality theory in which the search for identity plays a major role. He built on Freud’s theory by elaborating on the development stages, emphasizing the ego over the id, and recognizing the impact on personality on personality of culture, society, and …show more content…
An understanding of intimacy has its own logic, but it runs counter to conventional wisdom and most brands of psychology.
They hold that to understand the nature of, and to improve, relationships, the proper place to start is the self. The thinking is that you need to understand yourself before you can confide in a partner, but I have found just the opposite to be true. An exploration of the self is indeed absolutely essential to attaining or rebuilding a sense of intimacy.
How do these four items relate to one another in the scheme of understanding yourself in the context of the church? Establishing a personal relationship with the Lord requires commitment and dedication. Futhermore, the process of spending time with the Lord develops a relationship of trust. Therefore, place your faith upon his solid foundation and these obstacles will not deter a person from