Erikson’s Theory during Young and Middle Adulthood

Erikson’s Theory during Young and Middle Adulthood

Introduction

In many societal settings, it is usually perceived that young adulthood is a transitional phase coming from adolescence and free from the stigma associated with old age (Hutchison, 2016). In support of this statement regarding young adulthood, it is a stage where individuals start exhibiting realignment in their ways of thinking and perceiving life. The realignment of thoughts by young adults is not a mysterious scenario; instead, it is facilitated by numerous factors and conditions within their surroundings. Also, various scholars have come up with different schools of thought in trying to unravel the complexities surrounding the way of thinking in young adulthood. For this purpose of understanding the phase of young adulthood, scholars such as Erikson, Peck, and Levinson came up with various theories which, to some considerable levels, explain young adults.

Erikson’s Theory during Young and Middle Adulthood

According to (Mossman 2005), Erikson advocates that psychological changes are a result of the surrounding environment, out of which one needs to learn what is coming to his/her ways. Erikson had earlier in 1950 come up with the theory of psychological development in the context of intimacy versus isolation. Through contrast from Erikson’s concept of privacy versus isolation, the aspect of intimacy regarded positive and isolation being negative manifests itself. These two stages of crisis of intimacy and isolation are after young people develop a sense of identity, according to Erikson.

Worth noting to Erikson’s theory is that this theory is usually applied to individuals coming from their adolescence, probably in their twenties. In the application of this theory to the behavior of humans, different results can be acquired. These results, as a result of human behavior, can be viewed as having a positive or negative impact. By one being intimate, a person is open to various life issues while at the same time, there is no guarantee they will not face psychological damage. For the ones practicing isolation, they lock themselves from learning anything new despite acting cautiously. In early twenties, people might seek relationships where they will be appreciated which can end up into isolation when interests in a relationship differ.

Peck’s Theory during Middle Adulthood

It appears that Peck’s theory tries to address the psychological aspect of a more advanced group age-wise, the middle-adulthood. According to (Zastrow, 2007), Peck mentioned that there is a critical mental aspect for one to undergo in the transformation to middle adulthood. These aspects, according to Peck, takes into account the element of appreciating wisdom against other materialistic factors, the ability to think flexibly, emotional enrichment, and the aspect of socializing against mere sexual advances. In reference to the issues Peck is bringing out, there are chances that some individuals in this stage of middles adulthood may hold on firmly to what they believe. Such people tend to think that their way of thinking is not open to change, thus becoming introverts. Subsequently, these people locking themselves into their cocoons might live lives that are unrewarding with little or no meaning.

By relating to certain fundamentals of life such as wisdom and being flexible mental wise, this theory can offer a moral compass to individuals in relation to how they behave. Unfortunately, not all people relate or share fundamental aspects of life such as emotional enrichment. These people can ultimately hold on to their rigid background beliefs which can be considered not healthy in social growth amongst people.

Levison’s Theory of Life Structure, Life Eras, and Transitions during Adulthood

According to (Zastrow 2007), Levison gives life a more complex structure concerning what one goes through and what one has encountered in a lifetime. Through an approach that is quite different from other psychological theories on young adults, Levison views life, as not in a particular phase; instead, his argument is that of life stages, being progressive. In addition to Levison’s theory, individuals have different takes on life based on what one has gone through in regards to the environment to which was brought up in. For this reason for having different takes on life, critical aspects such as religion, values, and beliefs play a pivotal role in defining the life of a person.

In application of this theory to human behavior, the theory can influence consistence in the positive behavior among people. Positive behavioral traits influenced by this theory can be values such as honesty. In a sharp contrast to this theory however, is that to some extent this theory, views life as rigid which is not the case. With culture being dynamic so do people tend to change from what they initially valued or believe in.

Application of Theories of Young Adults to Human Behavior

The above discussed theories can be well used in explaining certain issues occurring in young and middle adulthood together with the process of transition. Erikson’s theory tries to answer the reason why getting into new relationships among peers is an anxious affair as young people try experimenting getting intimate. Peck’s theory on the other hand seeks to offer justification why people as they advance in age, they try to align themselves with certain expectations such as wisdom and emotional enrichment. This situation of aligning to certain expectation is quite real among people leaving colleges and seeking for jobs. Finally, Levison’s theory offers why certain people hold onto certain rigid ways of life. The case of rigidity among people is experienced in various religions some of which are extreme.

Content analysis, observational study or even case study can be instrumental in understanding human behavior. Content analysis can be through research in various platforms such as print media for related cases in relation to the above discussed theories and case study which involves repeatedly observing certain people’s behavior over time. Observational study can also be employed which takes a qualitative aspect and involves systemic recording of information. All these professional techniques can prove to be resourceful in the above discussed theories.