In Erikson's integrity versus despair stage, looking back on life with few regrets represents which outcome?

In Erikson's integrity versus despair stage, looking back on life with few regrets represents which outcome?

• A. Despair
• B. Ego-integrity
• C. Hope
• D. Autonomy

Answer: (B)

In this stage, the idea is that late adulthood revolves around whether a person can reflect on their life with a sense of wholeness and acceptance. When someone looks back with few regrets, they’ve achieved ego-integrity—a coherent, accepting view of their life in which they recognize both their successes and their limitations and feel satisfied with the choices they made. This brings a sense of inner peace and wisdom about aging and dying. Despair would be the opposing reaction, marked by regret, bitterness, and a fear of death. Autonomy and hope relate to earlier stages and different outcomes, not the late-life resolution described here.

In this stage, the idea is that late adulthood revolves around whether a person can reflect on their life with a sense of wholeness and acceptance. When someone looks back with few regrets, they’ve achieved ego-integrity—a coherent, accepting view of their life in which they recognize both their successes and their limitations and feel satisfied with the choices they made. This brings a sense of inner peace and wisdom about aging and dying. Despair would be the opposing reaction, marked by regret, bitterness, and a fear of death. Autonomy and hope relate to earlier stages and different outcomes, not the late-life resolution described here.