Devin is 23 years old. They have a strong sense of their own identity, but they still are working out who they are while in a relationship and how to make a healthy relationship with a partner. Although Devin has had several “serious” relationships, they have never had a partner longer than 6 months. Which of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development does Devin’s situation best represent? Multiple Choice Industry vs. Inferiority Trust vs. Mistrust Intimacy vs. Isolation Integrity vs. Despair
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The stage that best represents Devin’s situation is Intimacy vs. Isolation, which is the sixth stage in Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development.
At 23 years old, Devin is likely navigating the transition from adolescence into young adulthood, a period where the challenge of forming intimate relationships becomes central. In this stage, individuals focus on developing deep, meaningful connections with others, particularly romantic partners. A key aspect of this stage is the ability to form close, committed relationships while maintaining one’s sense of identity.
Devin’s situation, where they have a strong sense of self but are still learning how to balance this identity within the context of a relationship, fits perfectly within this stage. The fact that Devin has had several “serious” relationships but none lasting longer than 6 months suggests that they are encountering challenges in achieving lasting intimacy, possibly due to struggles with maintaining their individuality while also connecting deeply with a partner.
Erikson describes this stage as a critical period where the individual either successfully forms intimate relationships, leading to a sense of connection and fulfillment, or struggles with isolation, which may result from an inability to share oneself deeply with others. Devin’s situation reflects the process of figuring out how to create and sustain intimacy, making the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage the most applicable.
The other stages, such as Industry vs. Inferiority, which typically occurs during childhood, or Trust vs. Mistrust, which is associated with infancy, are not relevant to Devin’s current developmental stage. Similarly, Integrity vs. Despair, which happens later in life, is not applicable yet. Thus, the correct answer is Intimacy vs. Isolation.
