oduction Depending on our hereditary, biological characteristics and our psychosocial perceptions, the way we perceive our own age varies between individuals. For some, ageing is a monotonous and lonely process. And although some people have never been depressed before, they may find themselves encountering depression in late adulthood. This relates to Erik Erikson’s eighth psychosocial stage, integrity versus despair. It involves reflecting on an individual’s past in late adulthood and determining whether it is of regrets or a satisfactory one. If an individual looks at ones life in regret, he or she is thought to be experiencing despair (Santrock, 2011). Late adults will juggle this crisis. Late adulthood is often seen as a time of decline in health, confusion, ineptitude, loss of sex, decline of intelligence and regression in mental age (Macnab, 1992, cited in Harms, 2010 pg. 360). Thus older adults find themselves battling these stereotypes. Those who struggle with the transition from middle adulthood to late adulthood can find themselves in perennial mood dips. Therefore this essay will address the key issue of depression in elderly, outline the causes and symptoms and link this to suicidal ideology, which can subsequently follow. This essay will look at inner world changes significant to late adulthood such as longevity and biological changes. Also outer world changes will be discussed such as the shrinking of social networks and the loss of a partner. Applications of these findings can be applied to human service workers to work in conjunction with relatives to ensure a better standard of living for older adults. Key Issue A major issue in late adulthood is depression, particularly in men. In... ... middle of paper ... .... “Old age in one’s eighties and nineties brings with it new demands, reevaluations, and daily difficulties that could only be adequately confronted by designating a ninth stage” The ninth stage was found by testing differences between a stage eight questionnaire and a stage nine questionnaire. Results found a difference between the two stages suggesting that there could be a stage applicable to people in their eighties and nineties but not in their sixties and seventies. Based on Tornstam’s (1989) theories, Erikson proposed that the ninth stage in life involved an increase in transcendence. It also argues that previously unresolved crisis are again confronted (Erikson, 1998). In the ninth stage, Joan Erikson suggests that there is conflict between integrity versus despair however despair is confronted daily and one may not have the luxury of retrospective despair.
The thought of aging is not void of hesitance given it produces questions deprived of answers in the absence of a crystal ball. Subsequently, aging parallels the unknown; thus, faced with uncertainty adopting a positive perspective remains elusive. Although, it’s preferred to view aging optimistically one cannot escape its negative connotations. Will I be an active agent or isolated burden remains a noteworthy unknown that enervates my optimism. Another consideration leading to my vacillating view on aging is, not knowing to what degree personal competencies and capacities will carry forward, thereby affording autonomy in the elder years. However, as research suggest, the aging process transforms healthy adults into frail ones; thus, dashing one’s hope that such traits will endure (Friis, 2010). Incidentally, at age 48, these lingering questions will soon be answered. In the interim, there is an inherent responsibility to prepare physically, psychologically, and financially for entry into the aging population. Ideally, the goal is to
Desjarlais, R., & Throop, C. J. (2011). Phenomenological approaches in anthropology. Annual Review of Anthropology, 40, 87-102. doi: 10.1146/annurev-anthro-092010-153345.
Adulthood is the time in life when a person has reached maturity and is aware of the responsibilities that they have to take on. People’s lives are centered on their careers and relationships, leaving less time for much of anything else. Adulthood has three different stages; there is young adulthood (18-40), middle adulthood (41-65), and late adulthood (65-to death), according to Levinson’s Seasons of Life (Levinson, 2010). Individuals experience so many changes to their physical body, cognitive abilities and social development throughout different stages of life. Looking at all the differences that are experienced during these stages of development in early, middle and late adulthood. As an individual we may experience many changes in the body and the mind but the changes in
The last stage of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, which I have no personal experience with, is the crisis between integrity and despair. Swartwood (2014, p. 86) states that at this stage individuals “struggle [with] the acceptance of impending death and the fact that our lives are primarily historical, rather than in the future.” When the elderly look back on their lives and realize that they lived their life with purpose, they are filled with a sense of integrity. On the other hand, individuals who fail to view their life in this positive light tend to fall into despair.
stage (age 40 - 65), the late adulthood stage (age 60 - 85) and the late late
Aging and old age for a long time presented as dominated by negative traits and states such as sickness, depression and isolation. The aging process is not simply senescence most people over the age of 65 are not Senile, bedridden, isolated, or suicidal (Aldwin & Levenson, 1994). This change in perspective led the investigation of the other side of the coin. Ageing is seen as health, maturity and personal Royal growth, self-acceptance, happiness, generatively, coping and acceptance of age-related constraints (Birren & Fisher, 1995). Psychological und...
Late adulthood should be a time in a person's life where they feel fulfilled. They can look back on their memories and be happy with the way they have lived their life. Now, too many elderly people are not satisfied and look at this stage as depressing. Most fear death of either a loved one or for themselves. This topic is interesting to me because elderly people should make the best of their last stage of life. This topic discusses about getting older, the life changes that they go through physically, emotionally, and mentally. We should know more about it so that we can help our family and friends get through one of the best, yet toughest part of our mortal life.
The undertaking is based on the Stage-Crisis View which is an adult development theory established by psychologist, Daniel Levinson. He proposed that late adulthood is characterized by evolving physiological, psychological and role-oriented life changes which can affect major life transitions (Agronin, 2014). The late adulthood transition happens when middle adulthood ends which causes an individual to experience tremendous crises particularly changes and challenges such as deterioration of physical and mental functioning, illness or death of family members or friends, reduction of power and loss of authority and respect which can be traumatic and serve as reminder of their weakness and impending death (Stage Crisis View: Stages of Adult Development,
In today’s society, what was once said to be true and taken as fact regarding older people is no longer the whole story. As Laslett states, “At all times before the middle of the twentieth century and all over the globe the greater part of human life potential has been wasted, by people dying before their allotted time was up.” (1989a), and to a great extent a lot
Aging and being old was dominated by negative characteristics and conditions such as illness, depression, and isolation for a long time (Eibach, Mock, & Courtney, 2010). At first glance the terms “success” and “aging” seem to be in conflict to each other. When asking people about aging, their answers have many facets that are also found in psychological definitions: successful aging is seen as health, maturity and personal growth, self-acceptance, happiness, generativity, coping, and acceptance of age-related limitations. In the psychological sense successful aging is also often seen as the absence of age-associated characteristics (Strawbridge, Wallhagen, & Cohen, 2002). It seems that successful aging means is not aging.
Later life: physical changes can result in difficulties with strength, stamina, sensory abilities, health, and brain, can be avoided by continuing exercise to mitigate loss of function. Cognitive Development: Early adulthood is an individual’s best time for learning and memory because of enjoyment of freedom as well as many “firsts” in terms of new experiences (Myers 152). Later life developments can induce declines in memory and other sensory abilities (Myers 152). Older adults can still remember meaningful facts/events, but it may take them longer during last 3-4 years of life. Social Development: Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. Hypothetically, intimacy issues within young adulthood might arise in times of social discomfort or disinterest, which could lead to gradual isolation depending on the afflicted individual (Myers 154). Generativity within middle adulthood can be an issue in an individual’s self-image and their perception of their accomplishments or failures (Myers 154). Late adulthood often brings up questions regarding an individual’s own integrity, in which they might value themselves based off of their perception of cherishing and regretting certain opportunities throughout life (Myers 156). A generation and location often have their own social clock in which life stages are triggered by social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement. I feel that myself and other individuals on the cusp of adulthood (in terms of my generation) are turning our social clock forwards. There is a conflict of interests here in this mindset. Ideally, someone of my generation must progress through certain education, employment, and social opportunities efficiently. To do so might entail compromising your full effort or attendance of all three of these components simultaneously and wholeheartedly. The end goal
Erik Erikson developed the eight stages of life theory. Erikson’s theory focuses on the development from birth to death, social context, and interpersonal relations during each stage of life (McAdams, 2009). In the same manner, each stage of life is comprehendible in three levels, such as the body, ego, and family and culture. The eight stages of life are infancy (trust vs. mistrust), early childhood (autonomy vs. shame and doubt), childhood (initiative vs. guilt), childhood (industry vs. inferiority), adolescence and young adulthood (identity vs. role confusion), young adulthood (intimacy vs. isolation), mature adulthood (generativity vs. stagnation (or self-absorption)), and old age (ego integrity vs. despair).
Late adulthood is known as the period of life after middle adulthood, usually from around 65 years old to death (Santrock, 2013, p. 485). There are many varying stages of development and health in late adulthood, along with steady changing of life expectancy. Aging is a part of life, and with it comes changes in every area of living. Many diseases find late adulthood as an opportune time to affect people. Eventually, whether caused by disease or another reason, every individual dies. Death is unique to every person, and healthcare in America is changing to reflect that. This stage of life is a time when bodily processes and functions may be decreasing, but depending on lifestyle choices, death can come at different times.
“You are only as old as you feel”. Everyone at some time in life has heard this saying. People are more and more resisting the idea of aging. In Betty Friedan’s book, The Fountain of Age (1993), she suggests that a new stage in life is emerging from this trendy resistance of growing old. Many people have tried to put a label on the trend. It has been called the “third-age”, “encore years”, and even referred to as the “second missionary journey”. This time of life that is being referenced is the period of late adulthood. Psychologists, such as Erik Erikson, have referred to this stage in life as a period of new identity. Throughout life, each new experience, each gain or loss, requires a reassessment of one’s identity. The idea of who am I, is often challenged in old age. (Berger, 2008). The days of being able to socially define who we are, by what we do have passed and now it is time to begin that “second missionary journey”. Different from the psychological perspective of aging and this life course, sociologists focus in on ideas of how changes in culture and times have brought about this new “third age”. Their explanations are based mainly on the concepts of generations, such as the “baby boomers” of the twentieth century. Through this distinct concept, the new stage of late adulthood can be better explored and further explained. The areas of who these people are, what they do, and what drives them to do it are of most interest to those not experiencing the same changes. Late adulthood is no longer a site of poverty in the cycle of life, but instead is a chance to redefine oneself as an agent of social change.
In Erik Erikson’s theory he explains that in every stage, a positive or a negative attitude is developed within an individual. During our developing stages we are either successful or we fail. Each stage will come to us whether or not we’re ready for them or not. You can think of the stages as learning stages where crisis occur .Only if we have learned from the previous crisis we are successful. You cannot avoid 1 stage and move to a next stage because of the developing process. The outcome of our lives depends on the way we chose to progress throughout each stage in life. Erikson had his own way in describing each stage in life that we all must go through.