According to Erikson, failure to resolve the tasks of middle adulthood leads to a sense of __________ involving a concern for one's own needs and comforts only.

According to Erikson's theory, middle adulthood faces the crisis of generativity vs. stagnation. Generativity involves contributing to society and guiding the next generation. Failure leads to stagnation: self-absorption and concern only for one's own comfort, not despair (which is the crisis of late adulthood integrity vs. despair).