Ego integrity
Ego integrity is a critical concept within the framework of personality development, particularly in the later stages of life, typically around age sixty and beyond. It represents the culmination of a person's reflections on their life, where they assess whether their experiences have been meaningful and purposeful. According to the theory, achieving ego integrity occurs when individuals feel their lives have been successful, while those who perceive their lives as unfulfilled may experience despair. This concept is part of Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory, which proposes a series of stages, each characterized by a central conflict that influences personality growth.
In the final stage, ego integrity versus despair, individuals often confront significant life events such as retirement or the loss of loved ones, prompting them to evaluate their life choices and achievements. The outcome of this introspection can vary greatly, as different people may define success and purpose in diverse ways, ranging from financial accomplishments to personal resilience against challenges. Erikson suggests that a balance of positive and negative feelings is essential for overall well-being, indicating that even moments of despair can contribute to a deeper appreciation of life. Understanding ego integrity provides valuable insights into the aging process and the psychological factors that influence individuals' assessments of their lives.
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Ego integrity
Ego integrity is part of the final stage of a theory of personality development. It deals with the stage of personality growth in late adulthood, around age sixty and later. The stage comes as people begin to face the end of life and come to terms with whether or not they feel their lives have had purpose. Ego integrity results when a person feels that their life has been successful and purposeful. According to the theory, people who do not feel this way about life enter a stage of despair.
Background
Ego integrity is part of the final stage of personality growth, as presented by German psychologist Erik Erikson. Erikson agreed with many of the theories held by other psychologists about how personality is formed in childhood. However, unlike many of the other researchers, Erikson believed that personality growth continues beyond early childhood.
Around 1959, Erikson proposed a multistage cycle of psychosocial development in which each stage had a trigger Erikson called a crisis that initiated personality growth. Each stage had a positive and a negative result. The resources an individual has to deal with this crisis and/or the resolution they can find for it based on life experience determines whether the outcome is positive or negative. This ultimately determines the health of their personality at that stage. It is from this theory that the concept of an identity crisis developed. Unlike many other psychologists, Erikson also believed it was possible for a person who had problems coping with a crisis in one stage to overcome it successfully in later stages.
Overview
According to Erikson, the five stages of personality growth are trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, identity versus confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and ego integrity versus despair.
The trust versus mistrust stage occurs between birth and about eighteen months, as a child copes with increased awareness of the uncertainties of life. Consistent, loving care from the primary caregiver helps the child learn to trust and feel secure. A child who lacks these things will develop mistrust and lack a sense of security and hope in life.
The autonomy versus shame and doubt stage occurs between eighteen months and three years of age, as a child develops new skills and acquires some independence. Children who receive support for these new developments will achieve autonomy, or a sense of confidence in the ability to make choices and form free will. A child whose choices are tightly controlled or who is criticized for choices will develop feelings of inadequacy, shame, and doubt that will negatively affect self-confidence and self-image.
The initiative versus guilt stage occurs during the years between ages three and five. In this stage, a child’s world begins to expand to include more people outside the family, especially other children. Those children who are given opportunities to freely interact with their peers begin to develop a sense of ability to start activities and lead others. They also begin to ask a lot of questions as they try to understand the world. Children who are supported in these activities develop a sense of initiative, while those who are made to feel bad about them develop feelings of guilt and inadequacy.
The industry versus inferiority stage occurs between the ages of five and twelve when the child’s peers have increasing influence. When children meet the approval of their peers, they gain confidence and self-esteem and a sense of industriousness and competency. When they receive disapproval from peers or from adults, the child begins to feel inferior to others.
The identity versus confusion stage occurs as children go through their teen years, and they begin the search for their personal identity and the fulfillment of future goals. The child will try to find a place in the world both in an occupation and in their personal and sexual roles. Just as the adolescent considers various options for future jobs, they may be mentally processing different sexual identities and roles. The adolescent who is able to find a stable identity during this stage will have better psychological health than one who remains confused about identity.
The intimacy versus isolation stage occurs between the ages of eighteen and forty. Erikson stated that people focus more on developing close, steady relationships with others in this stage. Those who are unable to achieve satisfying and solid relationships with others will develop feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The generativity versus stagnation stage occurs between the ages of forty and around sixty when people are most focused on making their mark in the world. Those who feel they have created a legacy through their work, through raising children, or giving back to society in some way will feel useful and accomplished, while those who do not will feel like their lives are meaningless and stagnant.
Ego integrity versus despair is Erikson’s final stage, from age sixty to the end of life. It is a time when people look back on life and determine whether it had meaning and purpose.
People can define purpose and a successful, meaningful life in various ways. For some, being financially successful and achieving wealth and/or power defines purpose and success. For others, just managing to survive despite great challenges defines success. As people reach their later life, they begin to consider how successful their lives have been. This can be triggered by a milestone birthday, retirement, the loss of a close loved one, or a serious illness. Erikson states that the person who believes that life has been successful and had meaning and purpose will achieve ego integrity. On the other hand, those who feel life has fallen short in some significant way could develop feelings of despair and depression.
Erikson believed that the opposing feelings need to be in balance. Some negative feelings are, in many cases, necessary to help drive the success. For example, a person may feel despair about some aspects of his life, such as feeling bad that he might not live long enough to see his grandchildren grow up. However, as long as the overall feeling is that he has been successful in life, the despair over what might be missed will encourage him to spend more time with the grandchildren, increasing the overall feeling of satisfaction.
Bibliography
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