In discussing the primary task of young adulthood, Erikson says there are seriou

Question

In discussing the primary task of young adulthood, Erikson says there are serious consequences for development for those who do not choose a partner with whom to share their life, have children, and help those children achieve their own healthy development. Do you think that Erikson's view is correct? Why? What groups of people may feel excluded from Erikson's view of the purpose of young adulthood? Is his theory dated? Can a person be fulfilled without meeting these goals? How could you re-write Erikson's view of this stage to make it less exclusionary and more pertinent to today's society?

Explanation / Answer

Yes, I think that Erikson's view is correct. Humans are social beings. Young adulthood is that part of life when everybody starts looking for relationships, both romantic and otherwise. However it is quite rare that friendships last for life. Hence people resort to romantic relationship with a partner. A constructive relationship of this sort could be useful for both individual development and career development. Moreover, young adults who have partners, have someone to show their emotions on. They consider it as their strength. People who are excluded from this are people who don't like to make human relationships and who feel that no good could come out of such relationships. This theory is not dated as it holds true in all timelines. Yes, a person can be fulfilled without meeting these goals if he is happy being like that. Erikson's view can be rewritten as:"there could be serious consequences for development for those who do not choose a partner with whom to share their life, have children and help those children achieve their own helthy development, provided that is what they want."

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