Integrity Versus Despair

Integrity Versus Despair

An adolescent goes through a period of change biologically, cognitively, and psychosocially from childhood to adulthood (Berger,2005). Adolescents need to learn major skills, decision making, responsibility, respect, and individualism before entering young adulthood (Floether,2006). When someone is in the late stages of adulthood and loses a spouse, they must search again for their identity. Searching for an identity is a lifelong process. Integrating life experiences helps people reassess and reassert their identity (Berger,2005). Failing to integrate life experiences could lead to despair.

One subject of the documentary was Anne. Anne is eighty-two years old and is a widow. Her husband died unexpectedly. Anne's identity as a member of a partnership was lost. She had to take over the responsibilities and duties that her husband once handled. Anne had to learn how to manage finances, to pay bills, and maintain her household. She had to become more self-reliant. Losing her husband was not only a loss of a close friend but created a change in the structure of her life. The changes could have caused substantial physiological stress, but she learned to overcome the stress.

Anne had a good support system. She had help from friends and family members. She never felt neglected or alone. Anne had no regrets in dealing with the death of her husband. She thinks about the present - not the past. With Anne's support system, she is happy living her life.

I did not experience Anne's loss of a spouse, but I experienced a life change while moving away to college. While living on my own for the first time, I had to become more self-reliant. I had to pay bills, rent housing accommodations, buy food, maintain my vehicle, and create new study habits. This was very difficult since I could not rely on my family to solve all of life's problems. I never felt alone, however, because of friends and teachers who supported me.

Erikson's theory of integrity verses despair states many people develop pride and contentment by integrating their unique experiences with their vision of community while others experience despair about attempting to start another life (Berger,2005). Anne and I had to change our lifestyles. Erikson states the best way to maintain integrity may be to take pride in being mentally alert or being able to care for one's self