Assignment: Discussion-A Life in Review

In late adulthood, most people engage in a process of life review. They recall their life histories and recount them to others as well. As people review the important events from their lives, they create a picture of their lives as an integrated whole. The last stage of Erikson's theory is called ego integrity versus despair. As people complete their life reviews, they may feel a sense of integrity. This means they look back upon their lives with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Others may have a sense of despair. They often feel unfulfilled and have regret about choices they have made or events that have occurred.

Many people fear and dread the late adulthood stage of life because they believe what awaits them is ill health and cognitive decline. While that description fits some adults in later life, it certainly does not describe them all. Many older adults lead healthy, active lives and are closely connected to their families and communities.

Use your module readings and the Argosy University online library resources to research the process of life review.

Conduct your own life review and then respond to the following:

What do you look forward to about getting older?

What would you most like to look back on?

How do you view Erikson's stage of integrity versus despair as it relates to your own life?

Support your arguments with research, citing sources.