Late adulthood

• Ego Integrity


  The crowning achievement of late adulthood, the need to evaluate and accept their lives so as to accept death
• Old Age (65-older)


  • Crisis: Ego Integrity vs. Despair
  • Developed Virtue: Wisdom
• Wisdom


  Informed and detached concern with life itself in the face of death itself
• Presumption


  Presumes ego integrity without actually facing the difficulties of old age
• Disdain


  Contempt of life, one's own or anyone's
• Personality changes in late adulthood

  • Increases in agreeableness, self-confidence, warmth, emotional stability, and conscientiousness
  • Declines in neuroticism, social vitality, and openness to experience
• Some researchers argue that personality changes in late adulthood are driven primarily by intrinsic genetic differences between people that unfold over time
• Personality traits influence behavior


  Behavior influences health
• In general, older adults have fewer mental disorders and are happier and more satisfied with life than younger adults
• Happiness tends to be high in early adulthood


  Declines until people reach 50 years of age
• Happiness tends to be high in early adulthood


  Then rises again until 85
• As people get older, they tend to seek out activities and people that give them emotional gratification
• Older adults are better at regulating emotions