Assignment 5
According to Erickson, despair in old age results from not being able to adapt to situations that arose in previous stages. Subsequently, in old age these people would remain remorseful until they die. Integrity is the opposite. Both gender and the ways of being religious are influential on Integrity because it is an important part of "integrating and accepting one's unique life lived, thereby contributing to their implicit religion and spirituality." The main achievement according to Erickson is "to accept one's life as something that had to be- even with its limitations and failure"
Gender may influence "Integrity" by being able to look back at one's life and having a sense of accomplishment. If a woman felt secure in her position of motherhood or having a career or having both, she may look at her children and grandchildren with satisfaction knowing that she did the best she could and be pleased. A man may look back at his life and reflect similarly. He may feel that he was a good provider, or he may feel that he lived well and did the best he could to become the person he has become. To indicate how gender has an influence on "Integrity" is complex because there are many views regarding gender roles. This view may be constricted. It may be based on culture, education, and opportunity. It may also be based on exposure to experience. But what is important for "Integrity" is that whatever role each gender had, he or she was adaptive and ultimately satisfying.
Ways of being religious may change throughout the stages of life. One may always believe, or one may spiral throughout their lives when it comes to God. One may be very active in the church and accepting in all that is said. One may argue and spend very little time in church but be very devout. Ultimately being able to reflect back on one's life and seeing a spiral and eventual growth in their religion in whatever form it takes, allows one to feel comfort in that relationship. The beauty of being religious in old age is the closeness to God one feels. It is an overwhelming sense of peace in knowing that you have had a good life regardless of the bumps and sadness one must experience in it. It is knowing that God is with you and that you have been blessed with grace and faith and that this faith in God has brought one to a plateau of serenity and peace in old age. In old age, after obtaining the wisdom in life to accept limitations and knowing that one has done the best for him and others, one may lay content with God. Religion has a strong influence on "Integrity". It helps one not to fear death as an end but consider it more as a beginning. Religion helps one rise to their closest stage with God – feeling the presence of God. Religion helps us welcome God and Death as another stage as is contentment with our gender.
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