6. Intimacy vs Isolation (18-40 Years/Young Adulthood)

• Key Activity: Forming romantic relationships, deep friendships, emotional intimacy.
• Virtue: Love.
• Negative Outcome: Chronic isolation may lead to alienation and difficulty maintaining relationships.

Young adults seek close bonds and relationships that involve mutual care and trust. Successful formation of these intimate connections leads to intimacy (the willingness to be open, vulnerable, and committed). Struggling to form meaningful relationships can cause isolation, characterized by loneliness and sometimes depression.