Despair Usually Disappears With Time

The passage of time leaves a deep impression on all of us. Getting older every year makes people sad. A recent study analyzed how four dimensions of personality evolve over time and how, for many people, things actually improve. Surprisingly, researchers found that despair disappears with time.

The four dimensions of personality the researchers focused on were generativity, stagnation, ego integrity, and despair.

These come from Erik Erickson’s theory of personality and they refer to the extreme extremes of two of the eight psychosocial stages he proposed. The two psychosocial states in question correspond to the final stages of life.

A series of conflicts that you must face for your own personal development characterize each stage of life. Between the ages of forty and sixty, the conflict between stagnation and generativity takes place. Ego integrity and despair, on the other hand, correspond to the age of sixty and older.

In this article, we look at the characteristics of each personality dimension in question. We’ll also look at the conclusions of this fascinating study from a group of researchers led by psychologists Nicky J. Newton and Elisabeth A. Vanderwater, published in the Journal of Research in Personality .

Generativity and Stagnation

Generativity is the personality dimension related to the degree of active participation in building a healthy future. This dimension develops understanding and consideration for others.

It’s what allows you to look beyond the surface to get to the heart of the problem and offer advice from the wisdom you’ve gained over time.

Stagnation, on the other hand, refers to the lack of personal growth or development of these generative abilities. It is characterized by a low tolerance for frustration and uncertainty. If you’re stagnant, you’re not good at handling things that require complex analysis.

Ego Integrity and Despair

Ego integrity is the ability to come back from difficult situations. In other words, it refers to resilience. Ego integrity is characterized by feelings of satisfaction with one’s life, which is the basis for good self-control.

Despair, on the other hand, has to do with a lack of this integrity. It is associated with feelings of despair, a feeling that your life has no meaning. Despair makes you hostile to others and to situations you don’t understand.

The research

166 women aged 43 to 72 participated in the study. The study had four phases over the course of 28 years (1986-2014). During that time, researchers monitored the four personality dimensions we mentioned above.

The data showed a consistent increase in generativity and ego integrity between ages 43-70. However, stagnation peaked around the age of sixty and then began to decline.

Finally, despair was the first dimension to reach its peak. The highest levels manifest around the age of fifty, but then drop drastically between the ages of sixty and seventy.

Despair disappears

The research showed that despair fades with age, while positive emotions become stronger. During the final stages of the participants’ lives, feelings of despair due to increased ego integrity disappeared.

Stagnation also clearly decreased, while generativity and integrity remained constant or increased over time. Researchers believe that this reduction in stagnation is also related to a new sense of personal development generated by ego integrity.

In conclusion, we can say that these results are very hopeful. It seems that a good resolution of conflicts in later life stages could cause a significant reduction in despair and a significant increase in positive personality dimensions.

Therefore, it may be wise to face middle age with enthusiasm and an open mind. If this research proves to be true, you will be more active and resilient in your later years.