LATE ADULTHOOD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

LATE ADULTHOOD - Essay Example However, evidence suggests that married persons tend to be happier in late adulthood than single persons, though those who have never married often cope the best with feelings of loneliness in late life. Erik Erikson (1902-1994) proposed a lifespan theory of development. He described the late adult stage of our life as coming to accept one's whole life and reflecting on that life in a positive manner. He calls this stage of development Integrity versus Despair. According to Erikson, achieving a sense of integrity means fully accepting oneself, one's accomplishments, and coming to terms with mortality. Accepting responsibility for your life and being able to undo the past and achieve satisfaction with self is essential. On the other hand, some may look back at their lives with a sense of doubt or gloom over their life's worth. This results in feelings of despair. For Erikson, successful resolution of this stage results in the virtue wisdom. Overweight can contribute to many an illness. The term overweight is generally used to indicate that a human has more body fat than is considered useful for the optimal functioning of the body. Being overweight is a fairly common condition for many people, especially those in developed nations where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles often do not involve a lot of activities that generate caloric expenditure.