fei75766_ch07_206-241.indd 225  02/06/20 11:52 AM
Chapter 7    Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory225
Theantipathy ofcareisrejectivity, thecorepathol -
ogyofadulthood. Rejectivity istheunwillingness totake
careofcertain persons orgroups (Erikson, 1982). Rejec -
tivity ismanifested asself-centeredness, provincialism, 
orpseudospeciation: thatis,thebelief thatother groups 
ofpeople areinferior toone’s own. Itisresponsible for
much ofhuman hatred, destruction, atrocities, andwars. 
AsErikson said,rejectivity “hasfar-reaching implica -
tions forthesurvival ofthespecies aswellasforevery 
individual’s psychosocial development” (p.70).
Old Age
Theeighth andfinalstage ofdevelopment isold 
age.Erikson wasinhisearly 40swhen hefirstcon-
ceptualized thisstage andarbitrarily defined itas
theperiod from about age60totheendoflife.Oldage
need notmean thatpeople arenolonger generative. 
Procreation, inthenarrow sense ofproducing children, 
maybeabsent, yetoldpeople canremain productive and
creative inother ways. They canbecaring grandparents 
totheirowngrandchildren aswellastoother younger 
members ofsociety. Oldagecanbeatimeofjoy,playful -
ness, andwonder; butitisalsoatimeofsenility, depres -
sion, anddespair. Thepsychosexual mode ofoldageis
generalized sensuality; thepsychosocial crisis isintegrity 
versus despair, andthebasic strength iswisdom.
Generalized Sensuality
Thefinalpsychosexual stage isgeneralized sensuality .Erikson hadlittletosayabout 
thismode ofpsychosexual life,butonemayinferthatitmeans totakepleasure ina
variety ofdifferent physical sensations—sights, sounds, tastes, odors, embraces, and
perhaps genital stimulation. Generalized sensuality mayalsoinclude agreater appre -
ciation forthetraditional lifestyle oftheopposite sex.Menbecome more nurturant 
andmore acceptant ofthepleasures ofnonsexual relationships, including those with
theirgrandchildren andgreat-grandchildren. Women become more interested and
involved inpolitics, finance, andworld affairs (Erikson, Erikson, &Kivnick, 1986). 
Ageneralized sensual attitude, however, isdependent onone’s ability toholdthings 
together, thatis,tomaintain integrity inthefaceofdespair.
Integrity versus Despair
Aperson’s finalidentity crisis isintegrity versus despair. Attheendoflife,thedys-
tonic quality ofdespair mayprevail, butforpeople withastrong egoidentity who
havelearned intimacy andwhohavetaken careofbothpeople andthings, thesyn-
tonic quality ofintegrity willpredominate. Integrity means afeeling ofwholeness 
andcoherence, anability toholdtogether one’s sense of“I-ness” despite diminishing 
physical andintellectual powers.
Erikson’s stages ofdevelopment extend intooldage.
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