According to Erikson, the positive resolution of which developmental stage culminates in existential identity in old age?

Select one:

A. generativity vs. stagnation

B. industry vs. inferiority

C. integrity vs. despair

D. intimacy vs. isolation

C. integrity vs. despair

Explanation:

Erik Erikson was a psychologist who developed a theory of psychosocial development. According to this theory, people go through a series of different stages, in form of crisis, along their whole lifespan.

The eight stage in this theory is called "Ego integrity vs. despair" and it takes place after the 65 years of age and ends at the moment of death. During this stage, people contemplate their accomplishments and look back at the life they lived. When people do this and see their lives as unproductive or feel that they didn't achieve their goals, they become dissatisfied and develop despair. On the other hand, if they feel happy with the life they lived, they feel at peace and achieve a sense of integrity in which they feel like their life had some value.

This feeling of integrity and feeling like their life had value can be seen as an existential identity in which they see that they reached their mission in life.

Therefore, the positive resolution of the stage of integrity vs. despair culminates in existential identity in old age.