According to Erikson, what is the developmental task of late adulthood?

According to Erikson, what is the developmental task of late adulthood?

• A. Integrity vs despair
• B. Generativity
• C. Identity formation
• D. Intimacy vs isolation

Answer: (A)

Late adulthood centers on achieving integrity about one's life. In this stage, people review their experiences, recognize the meaning of their contributions, and come to terms with both joys and disappointments. When that life review leads to a sense of fulfillment and acceptance, a person gains integrity, often described as a sense of wisdom about one’s life and a feeling that one’s life has been well lived. If the assessment is predominantly negative, with unaddressed regrets and fear about death, despair can take hold, leaving the person feeling unworthy or unfulfilled. This stage is distinct from others earlier in life: generativity, the goal of middle adulthood, involves guiding and mentoring others and leaving a lasting impact; identity formation is the focus of adolescence as the person develops a stable sense of self; intimacy vs isolation in young adulthood centers on forming close relationships. Therefore, the developmental task in late adulthood is integrity vs despair, with the accompanying sense of wisdom when life's experiences are reconciled in a meaningful way.