Editing Developmental psychology (section)

===Early adulthood===
{{Main|Young adult (psychology)}}
Early adulthood generally refers to the period between ages 18 to 39,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Arnett JJ, Žukauskienė R, Sugimura K | title = The new life stage of emerging adulthood at ages 18-29 years: implications for mental health | journal = The Lancet. Psychiatry | volume = 1 | issue = 7 | pages = 569–576 | date = December 2014 | pmid = 26361316 | doi = 10.1016/s2215-0366(14)00080-7 }}</ref> and according to theorists such as Erik Erikson, is a stage where development is mainly focused on [[Interpersonal relationship|maintaining relationships]].<ref>{{cite book| vauthors = Kastenbaum R |title=Encyclopedia of Adult Development|year=1993|publisher=Oryx Press|isbn=978-0-89774-669-4|page=14}}</ref> Erikson shows the importance of relationships by labeling this stage ''intimacy'' vs ''isolation''. Intimacy suggests a process of becoming part of something larger than oneself by sacrificing in romantic relationships and working for both life and career goals.<ref name="Žukauskienė">{{Cite book |last=Žukauskienė |first=Rita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYs0CwAAQBAJ&dq=%22early+adulthood%22+development&pg=PA17 |title=Emerging Adulthood in a European Context |date=2015-12-07 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-1-317-61271-1 |language=en}}</ref> Other examples include creating bonds of intimacy, sustaining friendships, and starting a family. Some theorists state that development of intimacy skills rely on the resolution of previous developmental stages. A sense of identity gained in the previous stages is also necessary for intimacy to develop. If this skill is not learned the alternative is alienation, isolation, a fear of commitment, and the inability to depend on others.

''Isolation,'' on the other hand, suggests something different than most might expect. Erikson defined it as a delay of commitment in order to maintain freedom. Yet, this decision does not come without consequences. Erikson explained that choosing isolation may affect one's chances of getting married, progressing in a career, and overall development.<ref name="Žukauskienė"/>

A related framework for studying this part of the lifespan is that of [[emerging adulthood]]. Scholars of emerging adulthood, such as Jeffrey Arnett, are not necessarily interested in relationship development. Instead, this concept suggests that people transition after their teenage years into a period, not characterized as relationship building and an overall sense of constancy with life, but with years of living with parents, phases of self-discovery, and experimentation.<ref name="Twenge">{{cite journal| vauthors = Twenge JM |title=Review of emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties|journal=American Journal of Psychology|year=2008|volume=121|issue=4|pages=682–687|doi=10.2307/20445494|jstor=20445494}}</ref>