Old age (65+) Erikson stage?

Old age (65+) Erikson stage?

• A. Generativity vs Stagnation
• B. Integrity vs Despair
• C. Trust vs Mistrust
• D. Identity vs Confusion

Answer: (B)

In Erikson's model, late adulthood centers on how a person looks back on a life lived. If the individual can embrace their experiences, recognize both successes and meaning, and feel a sense of completion, they develop integrity—a peaceful, wise acceptance of their life. If the retrospective view is filled with regret, unachieved goals, or unresolved conflicts, despair can take hold, often accompanied by a fear of death or a sense that life was wasted. This stage is distinct from earlier ones: midlife focuses on generativity, the drive to contribute to others and the next generation; trust versus mistrust belongs to infancy, shaping basic feelings of safety and trust; and identity versus role confusion is the adolescent quest to understand who they are. Therefore, for someone aged 65 and up, the relevant Erikson stage is integrity versus despair.

In Erikson's model, late adulthood centers on how a person looks back on a life lived. If the individual can embrace their experiences, recognize both successes and meaning, and feel a sense of completion, they develop integrity—a peaceful, wise acceptance of their life. If the retrospective view is filled with regret, unachieved goals, or unresolved conflicts, despair can take hold, often accompanied by a fear of death or a sense that life was wasted. This stage is distinct from earlier ones: midlife focuses on generativity, the drive to contribute to others and the next generation; trust versus mistrust belongs to infancy, shaping basic feelings of safety and trust; and identity versus role confusion is the adolescent quest to understand who they are. Therefore, for someone aged 65 and up, the relevant Erikson stage is integrity versus despair.