The young adult experiences many stresses throughout the developmental pathway. Erikson theorized the developmental stages of growth into tasks. Among Eriksons' theoretical tasks, one task describes the theory of intimacy versus isolation. This task theory can be examined using the normative crisis model. Knowledge of young adult developmental tasks can be beneficial for the nurse, particularly in relation to their ability to establish relationships with the young adult. One of the stages of life is young adulthood, which suggests significant changes and increased responsibilities. This stage of development is described as between the ages of twenty and forty, where "...the potential for intellectual, emotional, and even physical development presents itself." (Gething, 1995, p. 377). As people age, the progression of developmental stages may differ, so they formulated to assess progression using two main crisis models. The first is the normative crisis model and the second includes the event chronological crisis model. The normative crisis model has played a powerful role in shaping the psychology of developmental stages because it has allowed theorists to suggest that developmental stages may follow an age-related temporal sequence ( Gething, 1995 ). The normative crisis model suggests that human development has an intrinsic basis. plan in which crises as described by Erikson are seen as a requirement that must be resolved by the person before successful progression from one developmental stage to another. Such completion of this crisis task should provide the young adult with the ability to challenge the adolescent's prior ideas about intimacy and isolation. This model is tailored so that task progression follows the adult's chronological age, while associated social and emotional changes progress through a sequence that Erikson characterizes as eight specific crisis tasks across the lifespan. (Kozier, Erb, Blais and Wilkinson, 1995.). The second crisis model depends on the timing of events and does not depend on the resolution of the crisis or a basic plan, but emphasizes the importance of each event that occurs in the lives of young adults. Life events that go as planned will promote development, while unexpected life events can lead to anxiety and slow developmental progress. (Gething, 1995). According to Erikson's personality theory, the young adult should progress through the psychosocial crisis of intimacy versus isolation. The tasks of this life stage include courting and selecting a "partner", marriage and associated choices e.g. children and monogamous relationships, career choices and lifestyle changes and developing the intellectual abilities to adapt to choices. (Turner and Helms, 1987.).