Early on, we decided that there was no better framework for looking at elderhood than Erik Erikson’s model of psychosocial development. Erikson delineated eight stages of human development, each of which is determined by the complex interaction of genetic inheritance and emotional-relational experience. The historic debate about Nature versus Nurture has been decisively resolved as a ‘both and’ rather than an ‘either or.’ The important questions then become how these two domains interactively influence each other across the unfolding developmental stages of the life cycle.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
Erikson proposed that there are a series of developmental tasks that, in sequence, become dominant during particular stages, from the acquisition of Basic Trust in infancy to the consolidation of Identity in adolescence, and concluding with Self Integrity of elderhood. It is noteworthy that previous developmental models had neglected to identify any distinct stages or developmental tasks within the broad span of adulthood, prior to senescence. If Erikson’s assertions seem somewhat speculative, based as they were on his personal life and his clinical experiences with a small number of distinctly non-random patients.
The work of George Vaillant, among others, provided more rigorous and systematic validation. Vaillant’s monumental book, Aging Well, summarized 60+ years of painstakingly-assembled case material that documented in impressive detail the lives of over 1,400 diverse individuals. His conclusion? It was Erikson’s psychosocial model that proved most helpful, and most insightful, in making sense of this voluminous data.
However, when Erikson published his iconic book, Childhood and Society, in 1950, the world was a very different place. People didn’t live nearly as long, generally worked until they couldn’t anymore, and then were forced to retire. At which point they generally succumbed fairly rapidly to one fatal disease or another. Relatively few made it much beyond 80, and those that did mostly lived lives severely restricted by disability and enfeeblement. Now, 75 years later, many individuals in first-world nations enjoy not only a longer lifespan but also an extended healthspan that has opened up possibilities and choices as never before. Even those with severe progressive diseases can, due to advances in medical care, anticipate additional years, or even decades, of existence.
Based on our own personal experiences and the lives of the 52 elders that we interviewed, we came to the conclusion that a ninth stage should be added to Erikson’s model. We have called this stage ‘Elder Identity Revision,’ or EIR. During this final stage, we will be challenged to continuously reconsider and revise our personal identities as we are forced to cope with changes in our bodies and minds, the loss of friends and partners, and changes in where and how we live our daily lives. With “adaptation” as the key issue, we have identified five critical dimensions to EIR – the 5 C’s – Control, Competence, Continuity, Connection, and Consciousness.
To work successfully on the tasks of Generativity, Self Integrity, and EIR, elders critically need five specific Tools, which we call Health Habits:
- Gratitude
- Resilience
- Active practices
- Self-integrity
- Purpose
While these attributes are helpful at any stage of life, they become especially important in elderhood. The acronym, GRASP, is a reminder that intentionality and effort are critically important. It’s not grasping at straws, it’s grasping for the brass ring of extended good health, happiness, and fulfillment at the end of our lives.
While we expect our book to be published in late 2023 or early 2024, we invite you to join us on this website and soon-to-be blog as we fill in the details of Elder Identity Revision and the GRASP elements that can help us succeed in old age.
We envision building a community of people interested and committed to spreading the ideas of The Aging Wisely Project.
Thank you and welcome.
Primary Sources
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