Social-Emotional Development in Late

Adulthood

Erikson’s Theory

• Ego integrity vs. despair involves coming to terms with one’s life.

• Ego integrity– Feel whole, complete, and satisfied

with their achievements– Adapted skills to deal with triumphs

and disappointments– Capacity to view one’s life in the

larger context

Erikson’s Theory

• Despair– feelings that one made many

wrong decisions, but time is too short to change

– Difficult to accept death is near• Overwhelmed by bitterness,

defeat, hopelessness

– Feelings expressed as anger and contempt disguised as contempt for self

Reminiscence and Life Review

• Reminiscence- telling stories about past people and events & associated thoughts and feelings

• Why? Does it matter?– Promotes positive emotionality and is

adaptive

• Life Review- Form of reminiscence but contemplates meaning of events in order to achieve a greater self understanding

Relationships in Late Adulthood

Marriage

• 1 in 4 (or 5) in N. America survives for 50 years.

• Perceptions of fairness increase as men participate more in household tasks

• Engage in more joint leisure activities

• Greater emotional understanding leads to more positive interactions

• Video

Divorce and Remarriage

• Divorce in late adulthood is rare• Though, the divorce rate is rising

– New generations accept marital breakup

– rates are rising for second and subsequent marriages

• More personal failure- difficult to separate from identity of spouse

• Self-criticism heightens guilt and depression– Self-worth is based on past rather than

future accomplishments

Never Married, Childless, Older Adults

• Only about 5%• Most develop alternative

meaningful relationships (friends and family members)

• Women in this category report life sat. equal to married elders and greater than divorcees and widowed– Inconsistent for men