Individuation during adolescence and emerging adulthood – five German studies

Abstract

Among theories describing human relationships and interactions, individuation theory has increasingly gained attention over the last three decades. After ideas of individuation were introduced to the USA by German emigrants, such as Erik Erikson and Peter Blos, a second generation of American researchers brought the issue to the fore during the 1980s. Since then, German research has taken up the topic. Current lines of German research resonate with contemporary American research (e.g., Allen, Smetana), but also explore possible extensions of the theory. Here we introduce five German studies that explore relations between individuation and attachment, interactions between transmissions and relationships, or try to extend individuation theory beyond adolescence and the family system.