Definition Of Ego Integrity Vs Despair

Integrity is defined in the merriam webster dictionary 2014 as the state of being complete or whole.

Definition of ego integrity vs despair. Ego integrity and despair form one of the fascinating conceptual pairs that erik erikson coined in his theory of human development across the life span. In contrast to identity versus role confusion kroger 2007 or generativity versus stagnation mcadams 2009 it has not been the subject of intensive empirical research. Despair erikson 1982 represents one of the few personality theorist to examine aging as a stage of development. Ego integrity appears to be related to fluctuating states of mental health whereas despair is more an expression of a general trait like disposition of neuroticism.

Older adults who do not feel like they lived well rounded lives may develop depression and distress. In moving through the process of mastering ego integrity versus despair there must be the acceptance and disdain of life experiences. Despair ego integrity versus despair is the eighth and final stage of erik erikson s stage theory of psychosocial development. Failure during the ego integrity stage of development can result in despair.

This stage begins at approximately age 65 and ends at death. According to erikson s theory personality development goes through a series of eight hierarchically ordered stages. Ego integrity versus despair is the eighth stage of erikson s psychosocial stages of development. Completeness soundness incorruptibility mother teresa lived her life helping others.

Throughout the lifespan the individual is faced with developmental tasks characterized by opposing personality features that must be mastered before successfully moving on to the next stage. The onset of this stage is often triggered by life events such as retirement the loss of a spouse the loss of friends and acquaintances facing a terminal illness and other changes to major roles in life. Others may lack the support they need to think about their lives as a result of living in isolation failing to reach out to friends and family or being rebuffed during attempts to remember their lives. Despair the integrity versus despair stage begins as the aging adult begins to tackle the problem of his or her mortality.

Therefore those who attain wisdom will inevitably experience both integrity and despair as altering states that need to be2015.