Joe is nearing the end of his life. he reflects on his past, focusing on how he spent his whole life working long hours at his job. as a result, he is struggling with whether his life has been well lived. joe is most likely experiencing the stage of erikson's theory of psychosocial development.

Ego integrity VS despair.

As we grow older (65+ yrs) and become senior citizens, we tend to slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person. It is during this time that we contemplate our accomplishments and can develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life. Erik Erikson believed if we see our lives as unproductive, feel guilt about our past, or feel that we did not accomplish our life goals, we become dissatisfied with life and develop despair, often leading to depression and hopelessness.