INTERVIEW OF AN OLDER ADULT

Aim: To understand the psychological and physical challenges and also to know
the mental and physical wellness of an older adult.

Hypothesis: None

Introduction: Erikson was a developmental psychologist who specialized in

child psychoanalysis and was best known for his theory of psychosocial
development. He took Freud's controversial theory of psychosexual
development and modified it as a psychosocial theory. Erikson emphasized that
the ego makes positive contributions to development by mastering attitudes,
ideas, and skills at each stage of development. This mastery helps children grow
into successful.

During of Erikson's: right stages, that is a psychological conflict that must be

successfully overcome for a child to develop into a healthy, well-adjusted adult.

The eight stages are:

Stage 1: Trust vs. mistrust Birth to 12-18 months old

In this stage, infants must learn that adults can be trusted. This occurs when
adults meet a child's basic needs for survival.

Infants are dependent upon their caregivers, so caregivers who are responsive
and sensitive to their infant's needs help their baby to develop a sense of trust;
their baby will see the world as a safe, predictable place. Unresponsive
caregivers who do not meet their baby's needs can engender feelings of anxiety,
fear, and mistrust; their baby may see the world as unpredictable. If infants are
treated cruelly or their needs are not met appropriately, they will likely grow up
with a sense of mistrust for people in the world.

Stage 2: Autonomy vs. shame and doubt 18 months to 3 years old

As toddlers begin to explore their world, they learn that they can control their
actions and act on their environment to get results. They begin to show clear
preferences for certain elements of the environment, such as food, toys, and
clothing. A toddler's main task is to resolve the issue of autonomy vs. shame
and doubt by working to establish independence. This is the -I do it stage. For
example, we might observe a budding sense of autonomy in a 2-year-old child
who wants to choose her clothes and dress herself. Although her outfits might
not be approp1iate for the situation, her input in such basic decisions affects her
sense of independence. If denied the opportunity to act in her environment, she
may begin to doubt her abilities, which could lead to low self-esteem and
feelings of shame.

Stage 3: Initiative vs. guilt 3 to S years old

Once children reach the preschool stage, they are capable of initiating activities
and asserting control over their world through social interactions and play.
According to Erikson, preschool children must resolve the task of initiative vs.
guilt.

By learning to plan and achieve goals while interacting with others, preschool
children can master this task. The initiative, a sense of ambition and
responsibility, occurs when parents allow a child to explore within limits and
then support the child's choice. These children will develop self-confidence and
feel a sense of purpose. Those who are unsuccessful at this stage with their
initiative misfiring or stifled by over-controlling parents may develop feelings
of guilt.

Stage 4: industry. vs. inferiority)'. 5 to 12 years old

During the elementary school stage, children face the task of industry vs.
inferiority. Children begin to compare themselves with their peers to see how
they measure up. They either develop a sense of pride and accomplishment in
their schoolwork, sports, social activities, and family life, or they feel inferior
and inadequate because they feel that they don't measure up. If children do not
learn to get along with others or have negative experiences at home or with
peers, an inferiority complex might develop into adolescence and adulthood.

Stage 5: identity. Vs. Role Confusion 12 to 18 years old

In adolescence, children face the task of identity vs. role confusion. According
to Erikson, an adolescent's main task is developing a sense of self. Adolescents
struggle with questions such as -Who am I? and -What do I 1want to do with
my life? Along the way, most adolescents try on many different selves to see
which ones fit; they explore various roles and ideas, set goals, and attempt to
discover their -adult selves. Adolescents who are successful at this stage have a
strong sense of identity and can remain true to their beliefs and values in the
face of problems and other people's perspectives. When adolescents are
apathetic, do not make a conscious search for identity, or are pressured to
conform to their parents' ideas for the future, they may develop a weak sense of
self and experience role confusion. They will be unsure of their identity and
confused about the future.

Stage 6: intimacy- vs. Isolation 18 to 40 years old

People in early adulthood are concerned with intimacy vs. isolation. After we
have developed a sense of self in adolescence, we are ready to share our life
with others.

However, if other stages have not been successfully resolved, young adults may
have trouble developing and maintaining successful relationships with others.
Erikson said that we must have a strong sense of self before we can develop
successful intimate relationships. Adults who do not develop a positive self-
concept in adolescence may experience feelings of loneliness and emotional
isolation.

Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation 40 to 65 years old

In this stage, people enter the time known as middle adulthood, which extends
to the mid-60s. The social task of middle adulthood is generativity vs.
stagnation. Generativity involves finding your life's work and contributing to
the development of others through activities such as volunteering, mentoring,
and raising children. During this stage, middle-aged adults begin contributing to
the next generation, often through childbirth and caring for others; they also
engage in meaningful and productive work which contributes positively to
society. Those who do not master this task may experience stagnation and feel
as though they are not leaving a mark on the world in a meaningful way; they
may have little connection with others and little interest in productivity and self-
improvement.

Stage 8: Integrity vs. Destiny Over 65 years old

In this stage, we are in the period of development known as late adulthood.

Erikson's task at this stage is called integrity vs. despair. He said that people in
late adulthood reflect on their lives and feel either a sense of satisfaction or a
sense of failure. People who feel proud of their accomplishments feel a sense of
integrity, and they can look back on their lives with few regrets. However,
people who are not successful at this stage may feel as if their life has been
wasted. They focus on what –would have,-should have, and -could have been.
They face the end of their lives with feelings of bitterness, depression, and
despair. Description: It is a self-made questionnaire for interviewing an older
adult i.e., age above 60. It includes an open-ended question. This questionnaire
comprises 25 open-ended questions i.e., subjective questions. The main purpose
of this interview is to understand the aging process and its if their life has been
wasted. They focus on what –would have,-should have, and -could have been.
They face the end of their lives with feelings of bit1emess, depression, and
despair.

Description: It is a self-made questionnaire for conducting an interview of an

older adult i.e., age above 60. It includes open-ended questions. This
questionnaire comprises 25 open-ended questions i.e., subjective questions. The
main purpose of this interview is to understand the aging process and its
consequences on their life. There is no time limit for this interview.

Material Required: This is a face to face interview and responses of participant

along with self-made questionnaire is given in (Annexure- A).

Particinant' s Profile:

Name RS (personal information kept confidential)

Gender Male

Age 72

Educational Qualilica1ion Post Graduate

Presently working No

Procedure and Administration:

•Preparation: All the material required is kept ready and the schedule of the
interview is also informed.

•Rapport Formation: As it is a telephonic interview, rapport is formed with the

pa1ticipant before starting the interview. The interviewee was assured that the
resulting unit will be kept confidential.

•Instruction: The following instructions were given to the participant ;

1. Listen to each question carefully and answer the question that best
describes the way you are or you have been feeling.

2. She should answer all the questions frankly and truthfully.

•Precautions: Took a silent room. Proper ventilation was there. The lighting was
also good.

•Introspective report: Participant said that the questions are mostly related to
personal life and she enjoyed while giving the answers.

Scoring,;. There is no scoring.

Interpretation- It is a telephonic interview. It comprises 25 open-ended

questions which include the demographic data of the participant.

Discussion: According to the responses and reactions of the participant, he

seems excited after and before answering the questions. He seems to be an
introvert in nature. He is a very positive-minded and caring person and enjoying
his older adulthood very much. He is completely satisfied with his life and has
enjoyed his life to the fullest. He talked a lot as I made him comfortable. He
loves to read books and playing with his grandchildren is his favorite spare
time. He just wants to live happily and peacefully and advises other people the
same.

Conclusion: The Older adult refers to the period when an older person is frailer
and often dependent on other people for their daily needs. It is a period of life
around and after retirement age. Some people are taking it as an opportunity but
some live this in guilt. The experiences of their own and other people's aging
affect the ways we approach the topic of aging and later life.

References:

Amanda Bolderston, .(2012). Conducting a Research Interview. Bee, H. L.

(l992). The developing child. London: HarperCollins.

Erikson E. H . (1982). The life cycle is completed. New York:

W.W. Norton & Company. Erikson, E. H. ( 1959). Psychological issues. New

York, NY: International University Press Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id.
SE, 19: 1-66