At the Identity Intimacy Research Lab (II Lab), we study the interplay between identity and intimacy development during adolescence and young adulthood. Building from Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory (1959/1980) that argues for a progression from identity to intimacy, we focus on the parallel between these processes and how they intertwine to influence adolescent and young adult development. We argue that these processes co-develop during these developmental periods rather than ordinally as originally theorized. Additionally, understanding how these processes work together allows us to understand the formation of romantic relationships during adolescence and young adulthood and the influence of involvement in romantic relationships on the well-being of these populations. Thus, at the II Lab, we examine how these processes work together to influence mental health, sexual risk-taking, and intimate partner violence during adolescence and young adulthood. Research in this area is conducted using various quantitative and qualitative methodologies and draws from original and secondary datasets.

The Identity Intimacy Research Lab (II Lab) is located in Chafee Hall, room 312 at the University of Rhode Island.

For more information about the Identity Intimacy Research Lab (II Lab), please contact Dr. Hans Saint-Eloi Cadely (hsainteloicadel@uri.edu).