FINDINGS Erikson saw the development of inatimate relationships as the crucial task of young adulthood. The need to form strong, stable, close, caring relationship is a powerful motivate of human behaviour. An important elemen of intimacy is self-disclosure, ‘revealing important information about oneself to another’ (Collins & Miller, 1994, p 457). People become intimate and remain intimate through shared disclosures, responsiveness to one another’s need and mutual acceptance and respect (Harvey & Omarzu,1997, Reis & Patrick, 1996). Intimate relationships require self-awareness; empathy; the ability to communicate emotions, resolve conflict and sustain commitments if the relationship is potentially a sexual one, sexual one, sexual decision making. Such skills are pivotal as young adults decide whether to marry or form intimate partnerships and to have or not to have children ( Lambeth & Hallett, 2002). Let’s look at two expressions of intimacy in young adulthood: friendship and love. …show more content…
Frienships in young adulthood tend to center on work and parenting activities and the sharing of confidences and advice. Some friendships are extremely intimate and supportive; others are marked by frequent conflict. Some friendships are lifelong; other are fleeting (Hatup & Stevens, 1999) ; Some ‘ best friendships’ are more stable than ties to a lover or spouse. For examples, the number of friends and the amount of time spent with my friends is increase when I am young adulthood. This is because I always spend my time with them especially when I’m at college to continue my study. Friendships are important to me because from friendships I can learn something new such as learn Calculus subject with my friends. I also alwalys receive advice and support from them when I feel so stress in my
A person entering their twenties are in for a challenge when they are asked to take on Erickson 's first task of adult life. The first stage of adulthood is intimacy versus isolation where people are searching for a partner also looking for a loving relationship. This can be a very entertaining experience or a very stressful experience for young adults. Both Belsky, Privacy, Intimacy, and Isolation and observation can give a reader many great examples of what it is like to go through this time in life.
The other four participants, Lesego, MJ, Solomon and Thabo, who are all between the ages of 22 and 25 years old are in an ‘intimacy vs isolation stage’ (Sadock et al., 2015). During this stage, the virtue of fidelity is important as it emphasises the need for young adults to make and honour any commitments they enter (Sadock et al.,
Because of this, Steve Duck of University of Iowa refers to women’s studies as “understudied relationships” (Duck 1). In his book, Under-Studied Relationships: Off the Beaten Track, Steve delves into the complicated world that is friendship between women. He reveals that even the best of relationships, more often than not, will “dissolve due to geographical distance”, especially during the transition from high school to college (133). However, Duck claims that this occurrence during young adult transitional periods is “more detrimental to male friendships than female friendships” (133). He explains that, “men’s inability to maintain distal friends may be due to a lack of awareness about and skills to utilize effective strategies that maintain a [friendship]” (184). This argument implies that though males are invested in their friendships, they do not express as much emotional interest in these relationships as their female counterparts. While distance may seem challenging for women to overcome, they collectively put more effort into preserving their friendships than men. Duck further instills this concept by explaining that “women’s same-sex friendships tend to be based more on intimate and emotional discussions than men’s” (186). Men, Duck argues, lack the depth in their friendships that women possess, and, for this reason, have difficulty sustaining a friendship that is met with the strain
From a young age most people have gone through many relationships with other people who were not their family. Thus, we often acknowledge these relationships as friendships. But the word friend is too broad, so people categorize their friends to several types. In her book “Necessary Losses: The Lovers, Illusions, Dependencies and Impossible Expectations That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Grow”, Judith Viorst divided friendships to six types. Those are convenience friends, special Interest friends, historical friends, crossroad friends, cross-generation friends and close friends. In my life, I have been friend with many people since I was little. Although I have met all six kinds of friend of Viorst, convenience friends and close friends are two important kinds of friends in my life.
... like…togetherness or something”. Their definition of love contains key intimacy characteristics with definitions like “integral part of whom you are”, “deep connection”, “happiness”, and “togetherness”. This individual touches upon love in a much more meaningful and emotional closeness compared to the previous individual who’d described it in a more physical and excitable manner. This form of love follows passion, and plays a role in the future commitment of two individuals. Like passion, this concept is also a stepping stone towards allowing young adults to complete their task of intimacy vs. isolation. Intimacy greatly influences romantic relationships, and is a concept that many young adults preoccupy themselves with during their development.
In addition to romantic partners, other age peers such as friends and family have the potential to become dominant attachment figures for adults. Throughout adolescence and early adulthood, friends and romantic partners gradually replace parents as the preferred source of emotional support and proximity seeking (Freeman & Brown, 2001; Hazan & Zeifman, 1994). Shifts in attachment tend to be a function of the relationship length, and only longer lasting friendships are likely to create close attachment bonds (Fraley & Davis, 1997). Enduring close friendships have the potential to
Intimate relationships give meaning to life, a sense of identity, of well-being, of security, and of being needed. These relationships allow us to love and be loved. They bring a sense of security and lessen loneliness. Without intimacy there is emotional isolation, and emotional isolation increases the risk of physical and emotional disord...
Nancy Sherman summarizes that we need friendships at different points in our lives to serve different purposes whether it be for guidance or stimulation (Sherman, 208). Another way of putting it is by saying that friends are ways for us to practice our virtuous activities. Friends are also valuable because they belong absolutely to happiness. Happiness without friendship will be unfulfilling and the good life won’t be as meaningful. What Aristotle holds generally about friendship is that without friends, the good life will be harder for us to obtain because we are limited in what we are able to do
Buote et al. (2007). The Importance of Friends: Friendship and Adjustment Among 1st-Year University Students. Journal of Adolescent Research. DOI: 10.1177/0743558407306344.
This paper will discuss developing and maintaining relationships in relation to my own relationships with my family, friends, and boyfriend.
During our lifetime, many relationships are formed with family, friends, and significant others. These relationships are key to forming friends, work bonds and intimate connections with others. Family, friends and intimate relationships are necessary for everyday life, below I am going to discuss interpersonal relationships with each and challenges that may come.
...Everyone needs a friend in their lifetime. It greatly increases in ways many do not think about, and reduces dangerous risks. Friends improve links to family, helping to increase the ability to socialize. Connections to people are definitely essential in life, because it is impossible to live comfortably with no friends or family connections. In short, friends are required for better health, greater relationships, and more connections to other people.
Throughout most of my life I have gained friendships and relationships with others that have turned into long term, but others which only lasted a short while. The friendship that has greatly impacted my life significantly over the last eight years is someone who means so much to me. This meaningful friendship all started back when I was in middle school, which has grown stronger over the years. I met Brooke in middle school because we had some of the same classes and were in homeroom together. Our friendship developed quickly and lasted throughout our high school years. We became really close our Junior and Senior year of high school. But, maintaining our friendship hasn’t always been so easy. Today, we text and call each other on our free time, but I know I can count and rely on her when I need someone to talk too. I call her my second sister and vice versa. And when we go home on breaks we see one another as much as we can. The best part of our relationship is that if one is in need of advice or in need of a shoulder to cry on, we are always there for one another. Keeping in contact is very important in our relationship and communication has played a key role in our relationship.
Relationships are intricately complex. Made up of several interactions that are full of verbal and non-verbal communication, a relationship between any two people is completely and utterly unique. There are so many dynamics that are at play in relationships and several opportunities for both good and bad communication. In my life, I have experienced all kinds of people and relationships: friends, acquaintances, brothers, parents, teammates, lab-partners, peers, teachers, mentors. The list goes on and on. Three examples of my personal relationships are my relationship with my brother Caleb, my friend Kennedy, and my high school teacher Mrs. Antwine. In all three relationships, we communicate verbally and non-verbally. However, because of different circumstances, atmospheres, and backgrounds, each relationship differs from the others.