Erikson Research Paper

Introduction
Human development is a progression of next steps in our lives. There is always something to be done or to improve, and this does not change until we die. There is a common misconception that there is nothing to be learned or to progress to once one has reached old age; in reality, there are many tasks and changes being made in this stage of life that may require counseling and assistance to progress through. Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development show the transition into this stage of life where one may manifest integrity or despair; it is through well-informed consideration that counselors may help clients find joy in integrity as seniors enter and progress through their final stage of life.
Characteristics and Developmental Tasks of Life Stage
There are many ideas about what it means to be a senior adult based on both fact and assumption. Entering the older adult stage of life affects individuals in ways that cover every aspect of life psycho-socially, emotionally, and physiologically, and it is valuable to be aware of these effects before entering into a group counseling setting.
Psycho-social

As adults age, society tends to stratify them based on various characteristics outside of their control.

This is especially true for seniors who are often limited in what they are and are not permitted to do or be based exclusively on their age. There are traditionally two theories pertaining to old-age stratification: disengagement theory and activity theory. The first, disengagement theory, suggests that aging adults naturally and mutually remove themselves socially from their friends, family, and society as a whole. The second, activity theory, in opposition to disengagement theory, asserts that older adults desire connection and find joy in it (Berger, 2014). There is precedence for both theories, and there are many factors in the lives of individuals that may lead to one end or the other such as health, education, and emotional

wellbeing.
Certain developmental tasks lead to the drastic psycho-social changes for senior adults. Retirement pulls seniors outside of the work they may have found identity in for much of their lives, and thus they are required to choose how they will spend their retirement and re-establish their identity independently from their work. Many senior adults choose to invest this time in grandparenthood if they have the opportunity, motivated by filial responsibility, they spend as much time as they can in the lives of their grandchildren. Others choose to make the next developmental step a pursuit of social and civic tasks. They may volunteer more generously, enter the political scene, or more actively support a cause that aligns with their values.
Living arrangements are also a large factor in senior social development. If the senior is able to live on their own, there may be issues of loneliness; if they are unable to live on their own, there may be issues of loss of independence and depression. There are senior living communities for all levels of need in care, and with each of these communities come different challenges for social development and growth. Successfully developing adults will tend towards activity and investment, where the disengaging senior adult may be stunted in these social developmental milestones.