Life experiences typically demand people, especially older adults to deal with several existential world realities. Historically, many human beings have struggled to deal with the aging process and death. These existential realities are usually hard to accept. Human beings are unique creatures because of their ability to be aware of their impending mortality; this awareness burden often results in fear as well as anxiety about the afterlife and the meaning of life both in the present and in the past. Because the world is currently witnessing a shoot in the population of the elderly, continued focus and research on the psychosocial as well as the psychological experience of the elderly is essential. Also, there is increasing levels of anxiety and depression within this population. Therefore, a close examination of their psychosocial stage of development is imperative.
Integrity versus Despair is the final developmental stage in Erik Erikson’s theory of human development. In fact, it is the least researched psychosocial developmental stage. Nonetheless, with the escalating population of older adults and the rise in life expectancy, the psychological processes that occur in the process of accepting one’s life, self, as well as death calls for a renewed necessity (Parker, 2013) . Furthermore, as Parker (2013) cites, research shows that more than 0.2% of older adults suffer from depression and a further 0.6% experience anxiety. In integrity versus Despair, integrity is the primary focus during the post-retirement years of the older adult. This is essentially after sixty-five years. Erikson claims the proximity of death in old age forces the issue of integrity upon people (Hearn et al., 2011). Older people, consciously or unconsciously, often ask themselves questions about their life achievements and meaning. This stage is crucial as the elderly tend to examine both their present and past life critically. During this process of life examination, one arrives either at acceptance and reconciliation or despondence as well as a disappointment (Hearn et al., 2011). Erikson’s process of life review maintains that a person seeks to balance the successes in life together with regrets and to reach a philosophical understanding of the whole. This typically involves combining one’s history with stories of one’s cultural group as well as its integral institutions into a significant narrative. When a person achieves integrity, he or she experiences life fulfilment with less despair. As such, the individual approaches death with healthy interdependencies as well as self-possession. Erikson describes the tendency for the meaning of the ego as well as the human ego’s love as an experience which demonstrates some spiritual sense together with world order (Hearn et al., 2011). As a person thinks about his or her life, satisfaction is derived from knowing one’s ways and self in the world which prosperously integrates with an individual’s culture. The sense of blending is, therefore, interpersonal and intrapersonal (Parker, 2013). It is imperative to note that the integrated individual appreciates and accepts other personal histories. That is, the person views all life aspects as positively meaningful.
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Generally, integrated individuals are those who can certify life’s worth via their commitments. In addition to approving their life’s worth, they have insightful as well as realistic self-awareness, are reasonably optimistic, and can highlight that factors or events that created their characters (Hearn et al., 2011). Additionally, they do not hide from life regrets and, more importantly, they are not devastated by them. Also, they have strong relationships with others. In other words, they are connected to friends, family, and the community as a whole. They are also not self-critical or depressed. In this case, they are not burdened with grief, sadness, and loss over the inability to accomplish certain things (Westerhof, Bohlmeijer & McAdams, 2015). They are additionally ego-resilient. In this regard, they are curious, involved, and contented with their life achievements and experiences. Finally, because they are committed to life, they maintain their values while, at the same time, comprehending the perspective of cultural as well as ethnic backgrounds.
Despairing individuals, on the other hand, are depressed. This depression is often brought about by failures, disappointments and missed life chances. These emotions are dominant in this group of older adults. Further, despairing older adults have not achieved reasonable life satisfaction. This is because they have not been successful in accommodating their ways of understanding their situations or the world (Westerhof, Bohlmeijer & McAdams, 2015). They frequently use sarcasm to express regret, sadness, or even failure. Also, at times, they appear confused. They can also be reflective. However, they may also feel like life is unsatisfying in spite of some life satisfaction areas (Hearn et al., 2011). They lack an adequate sense of belonging and do not have time to attempt again to obtain fulfilment.
Therapeutic Assessment Interview Summary
John Parker is a 67-year-old man and recently retired from his career as a school teacher. During the interview, he finds that he has both feelings of satisfaction as well as a few minor regrets. Besides being a school teacher, he has three beautiful children and has a very close relationship with all of them. He is very proud of his children and seeing his grandchildren brings him delight and a sense of pride. He is also proud of his years as a school teacher. Educating young children was his passion. As such, it brought him great happiness. Parker, unfortunately, lost his wife to cancer ten years ago. However, he was able to successfully negotiate the loss by accepting that it was God’s will. The loss even brought him closer to his children, so he took it positively. He appears to be resilient and wise. He identifies physical exercise and spending time on his hobbies as his healthy coping skills. He likes to travel, but he has reduced it a bit because of his age. If he could advise his younger self, he says he could pursue a graduate degree and open his school because he loves working with children. Even though he has been aware of pollution all his life, he also feels that he could have done more to speak out against pollution as a young person. Overall, he feels a sense of accomplishment and pride in his life. He is confident that he has made outstanding contributions to society and prosperously raised and provided for his family.
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 representing a full state of despair and 10 representing full ego integrity, I would give him a 9. He offers an integrated assertion that life has been excellent and it is evident that he is still engaged in life. He has accepted his present, past, and future and has found meaning in life. He has also adopted healthy coping strategies and is contented with his life achievements and life experiences. Further, he does not hide from life regrets. Even though there are certain things that he wishes he could do when he was young, he seems content with those he has achieved so far. Thus, he is proud of his life.
Conclusion
Older adults who have attained ego integrity are contented with life and face death with no regrets and a sense of wisdom. They are proud of their accomplishments and are satisfied with their lives. Despairing persons, on the other hand, have many regrets and are not proud of their lives. Thus, they have feelings of despair and bitterness. From the assessment interview, it is evident that the older adult has attained ego integrity as he is proud of his life accomplishments and has built strong relationships with his family.
References
Hearn, S., Saulnier, G., Strayer, J., Glenham, M., Koopman, R., & Marcia, J. (2011). Between integrity and despair: toward construct validation of Erikson’s eighth stage. Journal of Adult Development , 19 (1), 1-20. Doi: 10.1007/s10804-011-9126-y
Parker, D. (2013). The relationship between ego integrity and death attitudes in older adults. American Journal of Applied Psychology , 2 (1), 7. Doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20130201.12
Westerhof, G., Bohlmeijer, E., & McAdams, D. (2015). The relation of ego integrity and despair to personality traits and mental health. The Journals Of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences , gbv062. Doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbv062
