Which stage involves looking back on life and evaluating whether it has been meaningful?

Which stage involves looking back on life and evaluating whether it has been meaningful?

• A. Integrity vs. Despair
• B. Generativity vs. Stagnation
• C. Identity vs. Role Confusion
• D. Industry vs. Inferiority

Answer: (A)

In the final stage of Erikson’s psychosocial development, the focus is looking back on life and evaluating whether it has been meaningful. At this point, people review their memories, choices, and accomplishments, seeking a sense of coherence and wholeness. Successfully processing this reflection leads to integrity, a feeling of completeness and wisdom, and a peaceful acceptance of one’s life. If the reflection centers on regrets and unfulfilled possibilities, despair can take hold, bringing a sense that life was wasted or worthless. Other stages address different life tasks. For example, in middle adulthood the central challenge is generativity versus stagnation, which concerns contributing to others and guiding the next generation rather than evaluating one’s life as a whole. In adolescence, identity versus role confusion focuses on forming a stable sense of self. In school-age years, industry versus inferiority centers on developing competence and achievement relative to peers.

In the final stage of Erikson’s psychosocial development, the focus is looking back on life and evaluating whether it has been meaningful. At this point, people review their memories, choices, and accomplishments, seeking a sense of coherence and wholeness. Successfully processing this reflection leads to integrity, a feeling of completeness and wisdom, and a peaceful acceptance of one’s life. If the reflection centers on regrets and unfulfilled possibilities, despair can take hold, bringing a sense that life was wasted or worthless.

Other stages address different life tasks. For example, in middle adulthood the central challenge is generativity versus stagnation, which concerns contributing to others and guiding the next generation rather than evaluating one’s life as a whole. In adolescence, identity versus role confusion focuses on forming a stable sense of self. In school-age years, industry versus inferiority centers on developing competence and achievement relative to peers.