Final answer:
People who do not address their past hurts and disappointments may face Erikson's stage of late adulthood with a sense of despair, feeling regret and dissatisfaction. This can position them at the negative end of a well-being continuum. Acknowledging and dealing with these feelings is essential for achieving a state of integrity and enjoyment in life.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people do not process and deal with their past hurts and disappointments, they may be referring to the concept of Erikson's stages of development, particularly the stage of late adulthood which is characterized by the conflict between integrity versus despair. At this stage, individuals reflect on their life and can end up in one of two possible states: a state of integrity, where they feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction with their life's journey, or a state of despair, where they experience feelings of regret, bitterness, and depression.
If they have not worked through their past experiences, they might lean more towards the state of despair. This stage affects how individuals perceive their past and can influence their current reality, potentially leading to unresolved trauma or the inability to find contentment in the present.
Life's challenges, and how we respond to them, position us somewhere along a continuum of well-being, from distress to enjoyment. This continuum is based on our ability to balance the positive aspects of life (meliors) with the negative (stressors). The unresolved past, represented by memories of sorrow, loss, or pain, can be a significant stressor that tips the balance towards distress if these issues are not acknowledged and addressed.