Identity Formation and Intimacy

“The strength acquired at any stage is tested by the necessity to transcend it in such a way that the individual can take chances in the next stage with what was most vulnerably precious in the previous one. Thus the young adult, emerging from the search for identity, is eager and willing to fuse his identity with that of others. He is ready for intimacy…” (Erikson, Eight Stages of Man, pg 8)
Erikson believed that people cannot achieve true Intimacy without first having formed a solid identity as an individual.
NUMBER THE QUESTIONS IN YOUR POST. You do NOT have to repeat the actual question, just number your answers to the questions. It will help you to organize your writing.
1. First, do you agree with Erikson’s position on identity formation and intimacy?
2. Do you see intimacy leading to identity formation in well-functioning individuals, or identity formation leading to intimacy?
3. Can they be separated?
Always provide at least ONE citation from the reading to 'support' your discussion.
Course reading: Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French (2017). Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective.
Your total response should be at least 150-250 words and include at least one in-text citation.
Show evidence of thoroughly reading and listening to the course resources. This is preferable to outside research. But if you provide additional resources, they will be graded on their scholarly credibility; that means sources of questionable truth may result in a lower grade on the post and sources of good credibility may result in a higher grade.
Bold/Underline Concepts (-5)
**(Numbering the questions and bolding the concepts helps you to organize your writing and helps me to identify your answers clearly so you get credit for them!)