Question

Elvin is 75 years old. he is rather sad because he regrets the wasted opportunities in life and feels he has made a lot of mistakes. from erikson's perspective, this reflects a sense of

Answer 1

Despair. According to Erikson, despair occurs in eighth and last stages of life (over 65 years), when a persons asks themselves a question " Did i live a good life?" At this stage, person faces the fact that the end of life is near and she re-examining she's decisions and how she lived in the past. In this way, those who thing that their life was meaningful develop a integrity of ego and wisdom, while those which not develop a integrity of ego, become a desperate and terrified of death, because on that point is to late to change a life style.