Final answer:
The central task of late adulthood as per Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is achieving integrity over despair, where individuals reflect on their lives and either feel a sense of satisfaction (integrity) or regret and failure (despair).
Step-by-step explanation:
The central task of late adulthood, as identified by K. Warner Schaie, is not specifically mentioned in the provided references. However, according to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the central task that people in late adulthood face is integrity versus despair. This stage involves reflecting on their lives and achieving a sense of satisfaction, known as integrity, or experiencing a regret leading to a sense of failure, identified as despair. Achieving integrity during late adulthood means feeling proud of one's accomplishments and being able to look back on life with few regrets. Those who do not achieve this may experience feelings of their life being wasted, focusing on what could have been, which leads to bitterness and depression.
Erik Erikson's work breaks life into eight phases, each with its own challenge. The final stage, old age, comes with the challenge of finding integrity over despair. Those who overcome this challenge may find a new potential for creativity, learning new skills, and preparing for the end of life with peace. In contrast, failure to do so may result in feelings of bitterness and depression, focusing on unfulfilled dreams and regrets.
Throughout the stages of adulthood—early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood—various tasks such as intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair define the growth and challenges faced by individuals at each stage.