ego integrity versus despair

n. The task in Erik Erikson's eighth stage of epigenetic development in which a person over the age of about 60 must recommit to the order and meaning of his/her life as it has been led including all the failures and in the face of approaching death, which requires some detachment coupled with active caring for others. Failure to attain this wisdom of ego integrity results in despair, in which the person is preoccupied by the fear of death and regret for the limitations and failures of his/her life.