According to Erikson, what is the primary psychosocial crisis of late adulthood?

Question

Accepted Answer

Integrity vs. despair. Integrity versus despair is Erikson's eighth and final stage of psychosocial development, occurring in late adulthood (approximately age 65 and beyond). During this stage, individuals reflect on their lives and evaluate whether they lived meaningfully, fulfilled their potential, and achieved a sense of completeness. Those who resolve this crisis positively develop ego integrity - a sense of wholeness, satisfaction, and acceptance of their life as it was lived, including its imperfections. Those who resolve it negatively experience despair - regret over missed opportunities, bitterness about unfulfilled goals, and fear of death. The virtue that emerges from successful resolution is wisdom.

Generativity versus stagnation is the crisis of middle adulthood (approximately ages 40-65), focused on contributing to future generations through productive work, parenting, and mentoring. While generativity concerns may continue into late adulthood, Erikson proposed that the primary challenge shifts to life review and acceptance. Intimacy versus isolation is the crisis of young adulthood (approximately ages 18-40), centered on forming deep, committed relationships, which is a much earlier developmental challenge. Trust versus mistrust is the very first stage of Erikson's theory, occurring in infancy (birth to approximately 18 months), when the fundamental question is whether the world is a safe, reliable place based on the responsiveness of caregivers.

The integrity versus despair stage is important on the DSST exam because it completes Erikson's lifespan framework and addresses the psychological tasks of the final stage of life. Research on life review, reminiscence therapy, and the psychology of death and dying connects to this stage. Understanding integrity versus despair helps students appreciate that development is a lifelong process with meaningful psychological tasks at every stage, including the very end of life.

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