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Assisted Suicide Theory Essay

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2. Assisted Suicide in Late Adulthood:
2.1 Erik Erikson’s Theory:
There are certain factors of development that would lead an elderly person to consider assisted suicide. Theories of development, such as Erik Erikson’s theory of development, have attempted to explain these factors. This section of the essay discusses Erikson’s theory, making specific reference to the final stage in his theory, integrity versus despair, as well as life review within this stage.
Erikson proposed his theory in line with the lifespan approach to development. This means that he believes that identity formation and development is a lifelong process (Friedman and Schustack, 2014). Erikson states that development occurs up until death and that it occurs in eight …show more content…

The issue of what is considered dead must first be discussed. According to Santrock, “brain dead is when all electrical activity of the brain has eased for a specified time period and a has a flat EEG. Higher portions of the brain die sooner than the lower portions of the brain, thus breathing will continue” (2009, p. 619).
The attitudes towards death in late adulthood include the age of the person and how that influences the way they experience and think about death. Individuals in late adulthood understand that death is final and irreversible (Santrock, 2009, p. 623). Older adults think more and talk more about death. They also have more direct experience with death, as more friends and family pass on before them. This increased thinking and talking of death, as well as increased integrity through a positive life review, may help them to accept death. Older adults are less likely to have unfinished business than younger adults. They usually do not have children depending on them, their spouse has more than likely passed and they have no projects to complete. Death then is less emotionally painful to them (Santrock, 2009, p. 625). However, physical losses and other problems may diminish their pleasure in living (Papalia, Sterns, Feldman & Camp, 2002, p.

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