Erickson's stages of late-life development

Clinical significance

• the task in old age is ego integrity versus despair
  • contemplation of life accomplishments
• development of ego integrity is associated belief in having led a successful life
• development of dispair is associated with belief that life has been nonproductive or with goals unaccomplished

Notes

• Erickson's task in middle adulthood is generativity (process of contributing to oncoming generations) versus stagnation (remaining concerned only with self)