Which Erikson stage occurs in later life and questions whether one has led a satisfactory life?

• A. Generativity vs Stagnation (Maturity)
• B. Identity vs Role Confusion (Adolescence)
• C. Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (Toddler)
• D. Ego Integrity vs Despair (Late life)

Answer: (D)

In Erikson’s psychosocial theory, the late-life stage centers on looking back over one’s life and deciding whether it has been meaningful. The challenge is to achieve ego integrity—feeling satisfied, whole, and at peace with one’s experiences—or to fall into despair, harboring regret and fearing death. When someone reaches ego integrity, they can reconcile their life story and see it as meaningful, which brings a sense of fulfillment and wisdom. If they can’t do that, they may feel that life was wasted, leading to bitterness or despair. This is exactly what the question describes: a concern in later life about whether one has led a satisfactory life. The other stages correspond to earlier life periods with different focal concerns (such as autonomy and doubt in toddlerhood, identity questions in adolescence, or generativity versus stagnation in middle adulthood), not the final reflection on a life as a whole.