Group Activities for Promoting Ego Integrity
Eight stages of the Psychosexual development theory suggested by Erik Erikson exist. The eighth stage is integrity versus despair (Gilleard, 2020). It lasts from about sixty-five years of age till death (Gilleard, 2020). Counselors, nurses, and psychologists use the psychosexual development stage concepts by Erikson when caring for aging patients.
The theory holds that people undergo eight distinct stages of development when growing up (Gilleard, 2020). Unlike other developmental theories, which give attention only to events during childhood, the theory by Erikson looks at the entire life of a person.
During this eighth and last psychosexual development stage, the basic conflict is where individual questions whether or not they have led a satisfying and meaningful life (Gilleard, 2020). The success or failure of the stage is tied to the answer to this question.
The benefits of achieving the feeling of integrity include Ego integrity (Gilleard, 2020). It is a feeling of satisfaction and success.
Successfully resolving the crisis at this phase leads to the development of satisfaction, which Erikson would call ego integrity.
Individuals excited about their achievements tend to gain some integrity. Successful completion of the eighth stage implies reflecting on life with more sense of satisfaction and less sense of regret (Gilleard, 2020). Those successful in completing the phase tend to attain not only integrity and satisfaction but also wisdom at the end of their lives.
Below are two images – the first shows ego integrity, an acceptance of one’s experience of life (Study.com, n.d). The second shows despair after a failed ego versus integrity stage (Study.com, n.d).
Group Activities among the older residents to help promote ego integrity include reaching out to others. Talking to others helps one be relieved of personal burdens like stress and anxiety (Lim & Chang, 2017). Relieving stress and anxiety promotes satisfaction.
They need to focus on building social support. Engaging their families and friends in discussions regarding their feelings or even making more links through community and societal organization participation helps (Lim & Chang, 2017). These discussions need to be geared toward promoting satisfaction and positive feelings.
Seeking meaningful relationships has also proven to help. Deep relationships between the individual and the people who matter to them are critical (Lim & Chang, 2017). People in this last phase need to pay attention to such kinds of relationships and focus on strengthening the weak relationships in their lives.
Individual Activities for Promoting Ego Integrity
Individual activities among elderly residents which promote ego integrity include starting early. The things one does during middle age will play a role in their feelings about life as one ages (Lim & Chang, 2017). One needs to be careful to engage in positive things which they will reflect on with pride and no regrets.
Focusing on the positive is helpful. One needs to think about the memories and events during their earlier life that bring them feelings of pride and happiness (Lim & Chang, 2017). Ignoring negatives can provide relief and a sense of satisfaction.
Reframing one’s thinking is also beneficial. Rather than ruminating over regrets or wishing they could change the past, one should focus on reframing how they think about those events (Lim & Chang, 2017). For instance, one may choose to pay attention to lessons learned from the adverse experiences and not think about what they wish they could have changed.
One also needs to explore new experiences. They should seek out activities that bring them pleasure and joy in their current life (Lim & Chang, 2017). That is rather than thinking about the past.
Seeking peace could additionally help. Ego integrity entails a sense of peace and satisfaction with one’s life (Lim & Chang, 2017). Instead of dwelling in chaos, seeking peace can help one achieve satisfaction in life. This helps them think positively about their lives.
Keeping a diary is essential. To remember the contributions one makes to society and the world at large, one may need an aid to memory (Lim & Chang, 2017). At the end of one’s life, one needs to look back, with an aid to memory, and realize that one made an impact in the world to achieve satisfaction.
Talking to professionals can also help. When a sense of despair consistently clouds one’s mind, one could talk to a psychologist or a doctor (Lim & Chang, 2017). They could be facing mental health issues such as anxiety or even depression.
Involving oneself in spiritual matters could additionally help. Individuals in the last phase should find manners to engage in spirituality because it assists them in attaining well-being and peace (Lim & Chang, 2017). Spirituality has been proven to increase levels of satisfaction.
Lastly, accepting oneself as they are is essential in attaining ego integrity. One must make peace with the life they have lived, reconciling the bad experiences and appreciating the good ones (Lim & Chang, 2017). They need to understand that perfection is not easy to attain and that everyone has flaws.
References
Gilleard, C. (2020). The final stage of human development? Erikson’s view of integrity and old age. International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 1–24. Web.
Lim, S.-Y., & Chang, S.-O. (2017). Nursing Home staff members’ subjective frames of reference on residents’ achievement of ego integrity: A Q-methodology study. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 15(1), 17–30. Web.
Study.com. (n.d.). Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. Web.