Introduction
When applied in the real-life context, Erikson’s theory allows for identifying the patterns in the psychosocial development of individuals by exploring their level of development within the context of a particular stage. In an attempt to verify the theory, an interview was conducted with an individual at the fifth stage of psychosocial development, according to Erikson’s theory.
The stage selected for the interview is Intimacy vs. Isolation, which unfolds in either an ability or a disability to form meaningful intimate relationships in adulthood. This paper analyzes the interview from the perspective of the theory’s correctness to justify that the interviewee’s psychosocial development complies with the theory.
Selected Developmental Stage
According to Erikson’s theory, the selected stage of development used in the interview is Intimacy vs. Isolation. This stage is characterized by the crisis or conflict between the two polar outcomes. Typically, the age when a person experiences this stage of development is between 18 and 40 years (Adamczyket al., 2022). The adaptability to life is generated during this stage based on the manifestation of one’s identity in a relationship with others, including friendships, romantic ties, and family.
As with any other Erikson’s stage, the selected developmental phase is characterized by the crisis with two contrasting outcomes, namely isolation or intimacy. According to Adamczyk et al. (2022), “the favorable outcome of this crisis (the attainment of intimacy) involves the development of close friendships and loving, sexual relationships (p. 1600). However, the unfavorable result of the crisis is the failure to develop intimate relationships, loneliness, isolation, and fear of commitment (Adamczyk et al., 2022).
This stage follows the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, which predetermines the readiness of an individual to engage in intimate relationships (Nusser et al., 2022). Since Erikson’s theory implies that each stage is based on the completion of previous ones, the relationship between the stages allows for interpreting the outcomes of the consecutive steps of psychosocial development. In this regard, it is essential to identify the level of intimacy achievement in a person.
Correctness of Erikson’s Theory
To test whether the theory is correct, a small 7-question interview was conducted with the interviewee to identify the essential elements of their personality and psychosocial development. When analyzing the results of the interview, one should state that the answers provided by the interviewee demonstrate that their outcome at this stage of development is an unfavorable one. Indeed, as it has been said, an adverse result of the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage is the fear of relationships and commitment (Adamczyk et al., 2022).
In response to question 1, the respondents stated that they were afraid of commitment and tended to avoid long-term relationships, which demonstrates the unfavorable outcomes (Appendix). Moreover, the interviewee demonstrated a correct perception of the meaning of intimacy while displaying the inability to establish it in a relationship due to a lack of confidence (Appendix). Such a tendency is explained by the absence of the sense of identity that should have been developed and served as a foundation for meaningful relationships.
Furthermore, isolation is another negative implication of the resolution of this stage’s crises, which is one of the features identified during the interview. Indeed, when answering question 5, the interviewee stated that they felt better being alone rather than with friends and family (Appendix). This finding is supported by the claims of Mitchell et al. (2021), who indicate that “fear of making oneself open and vulnerable in a close, intimate relationship with other leads to a sense of isolation and distance” (p. 546). Indeed, when asked about the ability to maintain relationships, the interviewee admitted having problems with it. Moreover, the additional questions pertaining to independence (question 6) and sense of identity (question 7) unveiled role confusion as an unfavorable outcome of the previous stage of development, which is a probable cause of the issue.
Discontinuity of the Developmental Stage
Given the implications of the interview results and interpretation, one might state that the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage of Erikson’s theory is discontinuous. Discontinuity implies that development occurs stage by stage, where the completion of a previous stage predetermines the outcomes of future ones (Mitchell et al., 2021). The identified difficulties with self-awareness, self-esteem, and the lack of a sense of identity do not allow the respondent to function genuinely and purposefully in relationships, which is why they fear and escape from them.
Indeed, at the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, an individual should become independent from caregivers (Nusser et al., 2022); however, the interviewee admitted to being still dependent on their parents (Appendix). Thus, the lack of independence, self-doubt, and a lack of self-acceptance, as well as self-esteem, might be the cause of the interviewee’s isolation.
Conclusion
In summary, the analysis of the interview results conducted in the context of Erikson’s developmental stage, which was called intimacy vs. isolation, allowed for the conclusion that the theory was correct. The fifth developmental stage is discontinuous due to the advancement of psychosocial changes occurring step-by-step, with consecutive developmental particularities being based on the completion of the previous stages.
Indeed, since the interviewee demonstrated role confusion as a result of the last Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, their failure to achieve intimacy occurred. Therefore, the theory is proven by the interview results, which indicate that due to the lack of a sense of identity, the individual fails to build meaningful intimate relationships.
References
Adamczyk, K., Park, J. Y., & Segrin, C. (2022). Patterns of intimacy crisis resolution and their associations with romantic loneliness in Polish and US young adults. Developmental Psychology, 58(8), 1600-1613.
Mitchell, L. L., Lodi-Smith, J., Baranski, E. N., & Whitbourne, S. K. (2021). Implications of identity resolution in emerging adulthood for intimacy, generativity, and integrity across the adult lifespan. Psychology and Aging, 36(5), 545-556.
Nusser, L., Zimprich, D., & Wolf, T. (2022). Themes of trust, identity, intimacy, and generativity in important autobiographical memories: Associations with life periods and life satisfaction. Journal of Personality, 2022, 1-13.
Appendix – Interview Questions and Answers
Question 1. Do you need help with commitment? Explain your answer.
Answer: I might have a problem with committing to a relationship. I tend to avoid long-lasting romantic relationships because I am afraid of becoming too attached to a person, which might make it painful to stop the relationship later.
Question 2. Do you have issues with showing intimacy? Explain your answer.
Answer: Sometimes, I feel intimidated when it comes to displaying intimacy with a person who seems more confident than me. It is easier for me to be intimate in terms of sharing my personal life with somebody if it is a friendly relationship rather than a romantic one.
Question 3. Is maintaining relationships an easy or challenging task?
Answer: It is definitely a hard task for me because maintaining relationships involves too much compromise sometimes, as well as requires changing my worldview, habits, and routines. I often find myself in a situation where I have to finish the relationship because I am not sure where I want it to go, and I feel confused and want to escape.
Question 4. What does intimacy mean to you?
Answer: For me, intimacy is a type of interpersonal interaction in which one can share personal matters with another person. I think it is most relevant to romantic relationships where people connect at emotional and physical levels. However, I do not believe that physical or sexual closeness is the only aspect of intimacy.
Question 5. Are you finding being alone better than being around friends and family?
Answer: Yes, I do find it better being alone than being with anyone else. Being around someone often takes too much energy out of me, so I prefer to be alone most of the time. This is how I can really be myself.
Question 6. When did you start living alone and making your own decisions?
Answer: I started living separately from my parents when I was 20, but I cannot say that I started making my own decisions at that time. To some extent, I am still making decisions with the help of my parents, whom I rely on in every decisive event of my life.
Question 7. Would you say that you have a strong sense of identity and self-awareness?
Answer: It is a difficult question for me because I feel like I am in search of my true identity and understanding of who I am and what my aspirations in life are.