Final answer:
Ego integrity vs. despair is a concept from Erikson's stages of development where in late adulthood, individuals reflect on their lives, leading to a sense of success (integrity) or failure (despair) based on their life's accomplishments and moral actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ego integrity vs. despair manifests as a life review to determine whether it was a success or a failure. Ego quality emerging from positive resolution is integrity. In the final stage of Erik Erikson's developmental stages of life, known as late adulthood, the challenge individuals face is to achieve a sense of integrity over feelings of despair. This comes through life reflection and reviewing contributions and actions throughout life. If the individual feels a sense of satisfaction with how they lived and what they contributed, they are said to achieve ego integrity. However, if they look back with regret and feel as if opportunities were missed or time was wasted, they may be left with feelings of despair.
During this period, the review of one's life is less about material possessions and more about relationships and moral actions. Those who can reflect and feel that they have lived according to their moral values tend to achieve a sense of integrity, which is a significant part of healthy aging. This state of mind allows for peace and acceptance, which can lead to a creative and fulfilling engagement with life until its end.