The Association between Identity Development and Intimacy during Adolescence: A Theoretical Treatise

Abstract

An analysis of the personal (individuation) and social (integration) aspects of both identity and intimacy is undertaken. An argument is advanced on the role both social and personal dimensions play in our construction of the identity and the intimacy constructs, with the primary goal of encouraging a new and broader look at how identity and intimacy can be examined as intertwining aspects of personality and social development during adolescence. The basic functions of identity and intimacy are discussed and the inter-linkage that exists between the two constructs is analyzed. Speculations on future research directions regarding developmental and behavioral research questions are provided.