Lesson 23: Erikson: Developing Identity and Intimacy

Attention

When did you start dating? How serious are these early relationships?

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

• Outline an understanding as to how early dating experiences shape the identity.

Teaching

If you study the work of Erikson you will come across a very important concept, in my mind, regarding the formulation of Identity and the challenges of Intimacy.

According to Erikson...Intimacy comes AFTER Identity.

Yet, in our society, dating and sometimes much more, comes DURING adolescence...so, it can be said that BOTH Identity and Intimacy are developing and influencing one another.

Developmental Perspective

How old should one be before they start to data?

The real question here is, how much of the identity should be in place before dating can influence it? Why is this important?

Consider aspects of the identity that we might want to have in place prior to dating:

• life goals
• perceptions of importance of self
• gender roles and expectations
• responsibility
• sexuality

If these are NOT in place, can they be INFLUENCED by early dating experiences? I think so!

Assessment

There is no assessment for this Lesson