Erikson, the first to acknowledge the Psychosocial, categorized the process where the shape of a persons identity formulates from the community in which they live, consisting of a ‘conscious state of individual uniqueness with the unconscious striving for continuity reinforced by a solidarity with group ideals.’ Thus his ‘Ego Psychology’ differentiated from Heinz Hertman and Freud interpretations. It attempts to classify human development throughout a lifespan, focussing on alterations in ego development reflected through…
Berk (2014) describes the last stage of Erikson’s theory as ego integrity versus despair. In this stage, the older adult has accepted their current position and either is satisfied with how they lived their entire life until now or regretting that they did not fulfill their divine purpose in life. For those who have accepted life and maintain their involvement with life, whether through community services, relationships, or friendships, they are content with life and comfortable with their current situation. For this reason, change is not necessary. The older adult is satisfied and familiar with his or her surroundings and would want to spend the rest of their lives with what they are most accustomed to rather than moving to a different environment in which they are clueless about. These characteristics describe Erickson’s ego integrity. However, if the older adult is still searching for their…
Mr. Alan was born in the Malaya in 1933. On the year 1963, Malaya was known as the Malaysia today. Mr. Alan is a decent citizen of Malaysia. He was born on the 31 of December. He was the youngest and the only son in the family. Mr. Alan’s parents were originated from Guangzhou, China and came to Malaya to work in a better environment.…
Derek Parfit writes about the topic of what persons are and what their existence over time consists of. He is motivated to explore this subject because of his fascination with split-brain patients and their ability to see a different color with each eye and, after processing this information in separate hemispheres, their left and right hands write down the different ‘seen’ color simultaneously.1 There is no communication between the brain hemispheres about what color they’ve witnessed and therefore some philosophers have claimed that there are two streams of consciousness. Parfit attempts to prove that humans may in fact have none. His thesis involves refuting the Ego Theory, the idea that personal identity is a subject of experiences, in…
The psychosocial theory that Erikson established considers the influence of external factors, such as society and family. Erikson’s theory states that every person must go through a series of stages over their entire life; unlike Freud who believed development ended at the genital stage. I believe that in this aspect of the two theories Erikson is more accurate, because your mind is constantly developing till the day you die. For example, you’re a seventy-eight year old man and your wife has passed away. Would you lose your drive to live or would you reflect on the times you had throughout life. That is the barrier that needs to be resolved: Integrity vs. Despair. Either you struggle in finding the purpose of life or you gain that fulfillment by realizing you had a meaningful life.…
The first theory to explore is that of Erikson 1992 is the last stage in his lifespan development this stage is “Ego Integrity v Despair.” This is experienced according to Erikison is at the later stage of adulthood 60 and over when the older person “experiences an increasing awareness of their limits of time-a realization of inevitable, impending death.”() Which in turn creates a final life crisis where she reflects back on her life at what she has achieved and what she had failed to. Failure to achieve Ego Integrity causes the individual to experience feelings of anxiety hopelessness and despair. However it is said, “Those who use their growing capacity for philosophical reflection to achieve a degree of self satification are less fearful of death”(Bee,…
Erik Erikson, who took a special interest in this final stage of life, concluded that the primary psychosocial task of late adulthood (65 and beyond) is to maintain ego integrity (holding on to one's sense of wholeness), while avoiding despair (fearing there is too little time to begin a new life course). Those who succeed at this final task also develop wisdom, which includes accepting without major regrets the life that one has lived, as well as the inescapability of death. However, even older adults who achieve a high degree of integrity may feel some despair at this stage as they contemplate their past. No one makes it through life without wondering if another path may have been happier and more productive.…
Ego integrity versus despair is the last stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, which occurs around the age of 65. During this stage, the individual will look back over their life and come away with either a sense of fulfillment and integrity from a life well lived or a sense of regret and despair over a life misspent (Davis, 1995; McLeod, 2013; Potter, 2005; Townsend, 2009).…
The first stage of Erik Erikson's theory centers around the infant's basic needs being met by the parents. The…
Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial human development is one of the best known theories (Cherry, 2011). Erikson’s theory explains eight stages of human development, and in each stage an individual experiences a series of challenges and lessons. The eight stages of development includes infancy, early childhood, play age, school age, adolescence, early, middle, and late adulthood. A strong case can be made for each stage for why it is the most important stage in a person’s life but I believe early adulthood is the most important stage. In early adulthood, individuals develop into who they are and what they want to become. This paper will include the primary aspects of early adulthood, along with the cognitive, physical, and personality development. This paper will also include health, biological, and transition factors.…
Erikson just like Freud has distinct stages that a person goes through in life. Unlike Freud, Erikson’s stages do not end when someone turns eighteen but actually continue into adulthood. In fact, in adulthood you will experience three more stages. Erikson’s stages are broken down into 8 stages. The stages are:” Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, and Integrity vs. Despair.” Sharkey, W (2017). Erikson’s stages are aligned with Freud theory at the basis of human development. Erikson took Freud’s theory and improved the vision. Erikson first five stages parallel Freud’s but also was one of the first to…
As we grow older and become senior citizens we tend to slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person. It is during this time that we contemplate our accomplishments and are able to develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life. If we see our life as unproductive, or feel that we did not accomplish our life goals, we become dissatisfied with life and develop despair, often leading to depression and hopelessness.…
The final psychosocial staged proposed by Erikson is developed in late adulthood. Most people develop a sense of integrity versus despair.…
According to Erikson stages of human development, late adulthood stage is between the ages 65 to death (Erikson, 1982). This stage is ego integrity versus despair involves individual to look back over one’s life and feel a sense of contentment and satisfaction (Erikson, 1982). Success at this stage leads to feeling of wisdom and failure to achieve results in bitterness, regret, and despair. This negative resolution manifests itself as a fear of death, a sense that life is too- short, and depression (Erikson, 1982).…
Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial stages of development has been widely accepted as a matured and much sounder judgment of cognitive development of humans and his social interactions. According to the theory, a successful completion of each stages of development returns a handsomely healthy personality and how we view the world around us.…