MaturityDescription: The most important event at this stage is coming to accept one's whole life and reflecting on that life in a positive manner. According to Erikson, achieving a sense of integrity means fully accepting oneself and coming to terms with the death. Accepting responsibility for your life and being able to undo the past and achieve satisfaction with self is essential. The inability to do this results in a feeling of despair.
Elements for a positive outcome: The adult feels a sense of fulfillment about life and accepts death as an unavoidable reality.
Elements for a negative outcome: Individuals who are unable to obtain a feeling of fulfillment and completeness will despair and fear death.
Examples: An aged person may find it necessary to reflect and analyze what they have accumulated throughout life and decide what offspring will receive from them upon death.
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