The field of lifespan development examines the patterns of growth, change, and stability in one’s behavior, personality, cognitive abilities, and physicality over the course of their life (Feldman, p. 3). For individuals, as Erikson suggests, evolve and progress through a number of distinct, age-related stages, each of which present a newer conflict for the individual to address or resolve and plays a crucial part in the development of one’s psychosocial identity (Feldman, p. 4). Upon addressing or satisfying the stage, the individual will then be able to move onto the next developmental stage, however, failure to do so may result in the individual’s acquiring of unhealthy fixations or personality flaws (Feldman, p. 12). The presence of external factors within one’s environmental systems further complicates the process of identity development, as they result in variances in the expression or reaction range of one’s genotypic and phenotypic traits (Feldman, p. 44). All of these elements, in other words, then, contribute to the individual’s perception of the world, how they choose to make decisions, and how their identity ultimately develops. By interviewing a senior citizen and analyzing the way in which their identity developed as a result of their life experiences, external environments, and confrontations with conflict through the lens of Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development, it became evident that Erikson’s depiction of human development accurately describes one’s psychosocial progression. For in analyzing my grandmother’s value system, current lifestyle, attitude towards life, and finally the way in which she was able to maneuver through life’s many conflicts and crises, especially upon reaching late adulthood, it became clear that Erikson’s ideas of psychosocial development and his depiction of one’s progression towards death mirrored that of reality.
Erik Erikson proposed the universal Theory of Psychosocial Development in 1959, which suggested that individuals follow a fixed pattern made up of eight distinct stages in the development of their identity: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame/doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and integrity vs. despair (Feldman, p. 12). Each stage takes place at an approximate age and presents a crisis or conflict that the individual must address or resolve in order to move on to and meet the demands of the next phase in development (Feldman, p. 12). Upon reaching late adulthood, or from the ages of 65 years and up, the individual experiences the ego-integrity-versus-despair stage (Feldman, p. ). This stage presents the individual with a number of physical, cognitive, and social challenges as the individual gradually transitions from peak health towards becoming increasingly concerned about illness, pain, disease, and ultimately death (Feldman, p. ). Due to major life events such as retirement, facing terminal illnesses, the loss of a spouse, the loss of friends and acquittances, and other crises leading to changes among one’s life roles becoming increasingly prevalent during this stage, it is common for the individual to become conflicted and reflect upon their life (Feldman, p. ). In looking back on their life, the individual can then determine if they are happy with their life choices or if they regret the actions or the decisions they made. Those who look back on their life and find they are happy with their life choices feel satisfied and ready to face the end of their lives with a sense of peace, or in other words, experience ego-integrity (Feldman, p. ). Those who look back and feel regret over their life choices will instead become overcome with a sense of despair or bitterness and fear that their lives will end prior to them accomplishing the things they feel they should have (Feldman, p. ).
In order to better understand how one maneuvers through Erik Erikson’s late adulthood stage, I chose to interview a senior citizen, more specifically, my grandmother. I asked her a number of questions concerning her current lifestyle, her perceptions of life’s greatest challenges and rewards, her thoughts in reflecting on her life choices, and finally what advice she would give to younger people today. Her typical day consists of waking up early, straightening up her apartment, doing chores, going to the YMCA, and then going to church. She also takes her husband to dialysis three times a week and helps drive her grandchildren, my younger cousins, to their various responsibilities. Thought she is officially retired, she continues to go into work and hand out paychecks to employees to provide continuity and a sense of fulfillment. She said that she tries to have something scheduled everyday, as she wants to keep herself busy and believes that in doing so, she will be able to stay mentally sharp and in good physical shape. When asked what she was most grateful for, she stated that she feels most thankful for meeting and marrying the right husband, who has given her six healthy children and more than 60 happy years of marriage. Additionally, that she has enjoyed both good physical and mental health. Though she has been blessed in many respects, she has additionally been challenged in staying well and mentally active. Additionally, in keeping her friends and children close, despite issues of moving away or deaths. In reflecting on her life, my grandmother believes that she has done a great job as a mother, grandmother, and wife, and that she has been able to gracefully accept and adapt to the challenges that have come her way. She overall feels good about where she is at in this stage of life. In giving advice to younger generations, she said that she would say to not lose faith in the future, to practice good healthy habits, and to accept a religious faith as it gives you optimism for the future and something to lean back on in trying times. Finally, to not give up and always manipulate your perspective so as to have a positive outlook on both present and future situations.
Developmentalists have long theorized how the individual comes to develop their identity and the role in which external factors has on this process. Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development, for instance, suggests that individuals evolve and progress through a number of age-related stages, each of which presents a newer conflict or crisis for the individual to address. Upon addressing or satisfying the developmental stage they are at, the individual is then able to move onto the next one, allowing them to develop a more complex, mature development. In interviewing my grandmother, who is currently in Erikson’s late adulthood stage, it was possible to better understand the accuracy of Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development. Through asking and establishing the behaviors and thought processes she has as she is nearing the end of her life, it is clear that he was able to accurately describe the way in which she was. In this way, it explains how she was able to react to her life and why she was able to experience ego-integrity. By taking a more in-depth look at my development, however, I was able to gain greater insight into why I reacted as such in certain situations and why I think the way I do. In a way, this paper has helped me to make sense of my identity confusion and to understand that this is a universal occurrence, not just due to an inadequacy that I have.