N212: Health Differences Across the Life Span 2

Health Differences Across the Lifespan 2 Study Guide

©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 32 of 140 1.7 Other Significant Theories and Therapies Topographical Theory Topographical theory explains three regions of mental functioning, or systems of the mind, exist as defined by their relationship to conscious thought: the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. • Conscious level of mind refers to the portion of mental activity and content that is directly available to immediateperception. • Preconscious level of mind refers to mental content and processes that are not conscious but can be readily accessed by the direction of attention. • Unconscious level of mind refers to a set of mental processes and content that operates outside conscious awareness. Intimacy versus Isolation (21 to 40 Years) • Young adulthood, at the stage of genitality, is marked by the crisis of intimacy versus isolation, out of which may derive the achievement of a capacity for love. Generativity versus Stagnation (40 to 60 years) • Care is the virtue that corresponds to this stage. • This failure of generativity can lead to profound personal stagnation, masked by a variety of escapisms, such as alcohol and drug abuse, and sexual infidelities. Mid-life crisis may occur. Integrity versus Despair (60 years to death) • The individual in possession of the virtue of wisdom and a sense of integrity has room to tolerate the proximity of death. • When the attempt to attain integrity has failed, the individual may become deeply disgusted with the external world and contemptuous of persons as well as institutions. Nursing Implications Application of Erikson's stages of psychosocial development helps in analyzing the patient's symptomatic behavior in the context of traumatic past experiences and struggles with current developmental tasks. When patients' resolutions of previous psychosocial stages have been so faulty as to seriously compromise their adult development, they have the opportunity to rework early development through the relationship with the therapist.