This stage begins at approximately age 65 and ends at death.
Psychologists, counselors, and nurses today use the concepts of Erikson’s stages when caring for aging patients.
For those who dwell on mistakes or missed opportunities, this time is often filled with bitterness and resentment.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Eriksons theory suggests that people pass through eight distinct developmental stages as they grow and change throughout life.
He was also one of the first to view the aging process itself as part of human development.
At each stage of psychosocial development, people face a crisis that acts as a turning point.
Successfully resolving the crisis leads to developing a psychological virtue that contributes to overall psychological well-being.
What to Know
What Is Integrity vs.
Integrity and despair represent two opposing outcomes in Erikson’s final stage of development.
To understand this stage, it is essential to learn more about what Erikson meant by integrity and despair.
There are many benefits to successfully achieving feelings of integrity at this stage of life.
These benefits include:
Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity.
Completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and a general feeling of satisfaction.
These individuals will attain wisdom, even when confronting death.
When this feeling takes hold, it can lead to feelings of anger, bitterness, and hopelessness.
It makes it harder for people to find satisfaction and peace during their later years.
Some of the consequences of despair include:
Older adults face many challenges during this time of their lives.
They often experience periods of bereavement, including the loss of spouses and long-time friends.
The individual will be left with feelings of bitterness and despair.
What Causes Integrity vs.
Integrity and despair are shaped by a lifetime of experiences and personal reflections.
Several different factors can influence the integrity versus despair stage of psychosocial development.
Instead, most healthy individuals experience a balance between each as they begin to make sense of their lives.
2021;18(18):9490. doi:10.3390/ijerph18189490
Erikson EH.
The Life Cycle Completed; 1982.
