In Erikson's theory, which psychosocial task is associated with late adulthood?

• A. Identity vs role confusion
• B. Generativity vs stagnation
• C. Integrity vs despair
• D. Trust vs mistrust

Answer: (C)

Late adulthood centers on reflecting on life and finding meaning in one’s experiences. In Erikson’s model, the task for this period is integrity versus despair. When a person feels their life has been lived with purpose and they can accept both strengths and weaknesses, they reach integrity, experiencing a sense of wholeness, wisdom, and readiness to face death. If they view their life as squandered or filled with unrelieved regrets, despair can take hold, bringing bitterness, fear of death, and a sense that life has been wasted.

Other stages address different life periods: adolescence focuses on establishing identity and role, middle adulthood on generativity and guiding the next generation, and infancy on building basic trust through reliable care.