Final answer:
In early adulthood, Erikson identified the challenge of 'intimacy versus isolation', where individuals focus on forming intimate relationships and overcoming feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erikson's Life Crisis of Early Adulthood
The life crisis of early adulthood according to Erik Erikson involves the challenge of intimacy versus isolation. Erikson theorized that during this stage, spanning from one's 20s to early 40s, the focus is on forming intimate relationships with others, which is foundational for the development of a healthy personality. If individuals fail to develop these relationships, the result can be feelings of loneliness and emotional isolation. This period is characterized by individuals tying their sense of self, refined during adolescence, to another person in intimate friendship or love. The success in this stage leads to the positive outcome of comfortable relationships and a sense of commitment, safety, and care within a relationship. Conversely, failure to overcome this challenge can result in social isolation and sometimes depression.
The ability to build and maintain healthy intimate relationships during this period of early adulthood is a critical step in Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. It is also a time where individuals are often completing their education, establishing careers, and considering long-term commitments such as marriage. A strong sense of self, developed during adolescence, is essential for the task of forming lasting bonds with others.