Integrity Vs Despair Summary

“Erikson's work holds additional interest for theology because of his significant relating of psychiatric insights to religious growth through the biographical study of Luther” (McConnell). Erik Erikson; a psychologist proposed an idea about the eight stages of human development. His last stage talks about the later years where people look back at their life and reflect on it this is called a life review. Erikson called this stage “Integrity vs. Despair”, typically if an elder accomplished their life goals they would gain integrity on their life, as in the other hand, if one did nothing with their life they would feel in despair. Adding on to this idea, I interviewed Mrs. Brenda, a kind wonderful lady in her sixties who was gladly able to give
Into the interview I questioned her with, “How has aging affected you -- physically, psychologically, and socially?”. She says physically, my eyesight is not as good as it was 20 years ago so I wear glasses to help me see. Also I am in slower pace but I’m not rushing around on the hamster wheel to get things done. Psychologically, I am in a slower pace and downsizing has made life simpler, it just makes not having the material things, freeing. As for socially; I chose to be around positive people who has good energy”. (Brenda) Her insight in life now shows me she is positive with the life she has now, and it doesn’t occur to her how things affect her cause she is always happy. Her attitude towards life is confident which is always good in a
Has it been satisfactory? In what areas have I been most satisfied? Least satisfied?” Brenda says “Life is good, I am happy, healthy and feel fulfilled. It is satisfying to learn new things such as ceramics, but, it is least satisfying when you are in a social setting and all people are talking about is the things that they have not done in life (regrets) and their health issues which are the result of bad lifestyle choices” (Brenda). Mrs. Brenda likes to be around positive people that is why she is the way she is because she surrounds herself with that. That is also why me and her have become friends even tho there's different age gap, we connected because she is full of wisdom and adventure which I find quite