A 72-year-old client recently diagnosed with breast cancer expresses depression and asks, 'Why me?' According to Erikson, which developmental stage is the client experiencing?

• A. Identity vs role confusion
• B. Intimacy vs isolation
• C. Ego integrity vs despair
• D. Generativity vs stagnation

Answer: (C)

In Erikson’s theory, the final life stage focuses on ego integrity versus despair. A 72-year-old facing serious illness and asking, “Why me?” is often reflecting on life, mortality, and the meaning of their experiences. This questioning tendency and potential feelings of regret or hopelessness fit despair, whereas finding a sense of fulfillment and acceptance would reflect ego integrity. The other stages occur earlier in life—identity in adolescence, intimacy in young adulthood, and generativity in middle adulthood—so the described situation aligns with ego integrity vs despair.