Integrity Versus Despair Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Integrity Versus Despair?

Integrity Versus Despair is a concept that examines the meaning and purpose of life. It was developed by the philosopher Erik Erikson in his book, Childhood and Society, as part of his eight stages of psychosocial development. Each stage involves a conflict between two opposing forces which must be resolved to move on to the next stage. The life stage of Integrity Versus Despair is one such conflict it involves an individual grappling with their mortality, questioning the worth of their life and striving for meaning in their existence.This stage occurs during late adulthood when individuals are faced with growing old and realizing that death is inevitable. They are often forced to face questions about what they have accomplished in life, whether or not it was meaningful, how they can make sense out of their experiences and if they still have time to change course if needed. Those who are able to develop a sense of integrity will view this period as an opportunity for reflection and growth as opposed to merely despairing over what cannot be changed. They will strive to discover personal meaning in all aspects of their lives, including career accomplishments, relationships with others, spiritual beliefs and more.Those who succumb to despair may feel overwhelmed by thoughts that they have failed or wasted time throughout their lives they might also become pessimistic or bitter about the future due to fear or uncertainty about what lies ahead. Those who suffer from this state might experience loneliness or depression because they feel disconnected from those around them as well as helplessness due to a feeling that nothing can be done about past mistakes or regrets. The resolution for this crisis comes from within – individuals must come up with creative solutions for making sense out of their lives while also accepting mortality without succumbing to despair over it. This requires embracing aspects from both sides so that one can accept death but also find value in living through exploring new opportunities for further growth and understanding throughout late adulthood.