Theories Psychosocial Psychology Psychosocial Development Guide Psychosocial Development Guide Overview Trust vs. Mistrust Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Initiative vs. Guilt Industry vs. Inferiority Identity vs. Confusion Intimacy vs. Isolation Generativity vs. Stagnation Integrity vs. Despair Intimacy vs. Isolation: Psychosocial Stage 6 By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 28, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Intimacy? Benefits of Intimacy Causes Consequences of Isolation How to Build Intimacy How to Overcome Isolation Next in Psychosocial Development Guide Generativity vs. Stagnation in Psychosocial Development Intimacy vs. isolation is the sixth stage of Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, which happens after the fifth stage of identity vs. role confusion. The intimacy vs. isolation stage takes place during young adulthood between the ages of approximately 19 and 40. The major conflict at this stage of life centers on forming intimate, loving relationships with other people. Success at this stage leads to fulfilling relationships. Struggling at this stage, on the other hand, can result in feelings of loneliness and isolation. Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee Overview Psychosocial Conflict: Intimacy versus isolation Major Question: "Will I be loved or will I be alone?" Basic Virtue: Love Important Event(s): Romantic relationships What Is Intimacy? Erikson believed that it was vital to develop close, committed relationships with other people. As people enter adulthood, these emotionally intimate relationships play a critical role in a person's emotional well-being. What does Erikson mean by intimacy? While the word intimacy is closely associated with sex for many, it encompasses much more than that. Erikson described intimate relationships as those characterized by closeness, honesty, and love. Romantic and sexual relationships can be an important part of this stage of life, but intimacy is more about having close, loving relationships. It includes romantic partners, but it can also encompass close, enduring friendships with people outside of your family. An example of intimacy vs. isolation would be one person forming health relationships with romantic partners in adulthood as well as a circle of friends, acquaintances, family members, and others. Isolation, on the other hand, would be marked by a lack of social connections, poor or unhealthy relationships, and a general lack of social social support. Benefits of Intimacy People who are successful in resolving the conflict of the intimacy versus isolation stage have: Close romantic relationshipsDeep, meaningful connectionsEnduring connections with other peoplePositive relationships with family and friendsStrong relationships People who navigate this period of life successfully are able to forge fulfilling relationships with other people. This plays an important role in creating supportive social networks that are important for both physical and mental health throughout life. How Social Support Contributes to Psychological Health What Causes Intimacy vs. Isolation? How do you develop intimacy vs. isolation? Intimacy requires being able to share parts of yourself with others, as well as the ability to listen to and support other people. These relationships are reciprocal—you are sharing parts of yourself, and others are sharing with you. When this happens successfully, you gain the support, intimacy, and companionship of another person. But sometimes things don't go so smoothly. You might experience rejection or other responses that cause you to withdraw. It might harm your confidence and self-esteem, making you warier of putting yourself out there again in the future. Isolation can happen for a number of reasons. Factors that may increase your risk of becoming lonely or isolated include: Childhood experiences including neglect or abuse Divorce or death of a partner Fear of commitment Fear of intimacy Inability to open up Past relationships Troubles with self-disclosure No matter what the cause, it can have a detrimental impact on your life. It may lead to feelings of loneliness and even depression. Intimacy Strong and deep romantic relationships Close relationships with friends and family Strong social support network Isolation Poor romantic relationships and no deep intimacy Few or no relationships with friends and family Weak social support network Consequences of Isolation Struggling in this stage of life can result in loneliness and isolation. Adults who struggle with this stage experience: Few or no friendshipsLack of intimacyLack of relationshipsPoor romantic relationshipsWeak social support They might never share deep intimacy with their partners or might even struggle to develop any relationships at all. This can be particularly difficult as these individuals watch friends and acquaintances fall in love, get married, and start families. Loneliness can affect overall health in other ways. For example, socially isolated people tend to have unhealthier diets, exercise less, experience greater daytime fatigue, and have poorer sleep. Loneliness and isolation can lead to a wide range of negative health consequences including: Cardiovascular diseaseDepressionSubstance misuseStressSuicide If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Loneliness: Causes and Health Consequences How to Build Intimacy Learning to be open and sharing with others is an important part of the intimacy versus isolation stage. Some of the other important tasks that can play a role in succeeding or struggling at this point of development include: Being intimate: This is more than just engaging in sex; it means forging emotional intimacy and closeness. Intimacy does not necessarily have to be with a sexual partner. People can also gain intimacy from friends and loved ones. Caring for others: It is essential to be able to care about the needs of others. Relationships are reciprocal. Getting love is important at this stage, but so is giving it. Making commitments: Part of being able to form strong relationships involves being able to commit to others for the long term. Self-disclosure: This involves sharing part of the self with others, while still maintaining a strong sense of self-identity. Importance of Sense of Self Things learned during earlier stages of development also play a role in being able to have healthy adult relationships. For example, Erikson believed that having a fully formed sense of self (established during the previous identity versus role confusion stage) was essential to being able to form intimate relationships. People with a poor sense of self tend to have less committed relationships and are more likely to experience emotional isolation, loneliness, and depression. Such findings suggest that having a strong sense of who you are is important for developing lasting future relationships. This self-awareness can play a role in the type of relationships you forge as well as the strength and durability of those social connections. How to Overcome Isolation If you are struggling with feelings of isolation, there are things that you can do to form closer relationships with other people: Avoid Negative Self-Talk The things we tell ourselves can have an impact on our ability to be confident in relationships, particularly if those thoughts are negative. When you catch yourself having this type of inner dialogue, focus on replacing negative thoughts with more realistic ones. Build Skills Sometimes practicing social skills can be helpful when you are working toward creating new relationships. Consider taking a course in social skill development or try practicing your skills in different situations each day. Determine What You Like Research suggests that factors such as mutual interests and personality similarity play important roles in friendships. Knowing your interests and then engaging in activities around those interests is one way to build lasting friendships. If you enjoy sports, for example, you might consider joining a local community sports team. Evaluate Your Situation What are your needs? What type of relationship are you seeking? Figuring out what you are looking for in a partner or friend can help you determine how you should go about looking for new relationships. Practice Self-Disclosure Being able to share aspects of yourself can be difficult, but you can get better at it through practice. Consider things you would be willing to share about yourself with others, then practice. Remember that listening to others is an essential part of this interaction as well. A Word From Verywell Healthy relationships are important for both your physical and emotional well-being. The sixth stage of Erikson's psychosocial theory of development focuses on how these critical relationships are forged. Those who are successful at this stage are able to forge deep relationships and social connections with other people. If you are struggling with forming healthy, intimate relationships, talking to a therapist can be helpful. A mental health professional can help you determine why you have problems forming or maintaining relationships and develop new habits that will help your forge these important connections. Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Schrempft S, Jackowska M, Hamer M, Steptoe A. Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):74. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6424-y Hämmig O. Health risks associated with social isolation in general and in young, middle and old age [published correction appears in PLoS One. 2019;14(8):e0222124]. PLoS One. 2019;14(7):e0219663. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663 Mushtaq R, Shoib S, Shah T, Mushtaq S. Relationship between loneliness, psychiatric disorders and physical health? A review on the psychological aspects of loneliness. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(9):WE01–WE4. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/10077.4828 Campbell K, Holderness N, Riggs M. Friendship chemistry: An examination of underlying factors. Soc Sci J. 2015;52(2):239-247. doi:10.1016/j.soscij.2015.01.005 Additional Reading Erikson EH. Childhood and Society. W. W. Norton & Company; 1950. By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit