{{short description|Term originating in psychology to describe a concern for the next generation}}
thumb|Erik Erikson (1902–1994) was the first to use the term generativity.
The term '''generativity''' was coined by the psychoanalyst Erik Erikson in 1950 to denote "a concern for establishing and guiding the next generation."<ref>Slater, C. L. (2003). Generativity Versus Stagnation: An Elaboration of Erikson's Adult Stage of Human Development. Journal of Adult Development, 10(1), 53-65. Retrieved February 18, 2017.</ref> He first used the term while defining the Care stage in his theory of the stages of psychosocial development.
== History == In 1950 Erik Erikson created the term generativity to explain the 7th stage in his theory of the stages of psychosocial development. The 7th stage encompasses the middle ages of one's life, from 45 through 64. Generativity was defined as the “ability to transcend personal interests to provide care and concern for younger and older generations.”<ref>Hutchison, Elizabeth D. Dimensions of Human Behavior: The Changing Life Course. 4th ed., vol. 10, SAGE Publications Ltd, 2010.</ref> It took over 30 years for generativity to become a subject of empirical research. Modern psychoanalysts, starting in the early 1990s, have included a concern for one's legacy, referred to as an “inner desire for immortality”, in the definition of generativity.<ref name=mcadams>McAdams, D. P., & De St. Aubin, E. (1992). A Theory of Generativity and Its Assessment through Self-Report, Behavioral Acts, and Narrative Themes in Autobiography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62(6), 1003-1015. Retrieved February 15, 2017.</ref>
== Use in psychology == Psychologically, generativity is concern for the future, a need to nurture and guide younger people and contribute to the next generation.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dimensions of a new identity|last=Erikson|first=Erik H.|publisher=W.W. Norton and Co|isbn=9780393009231|oclc=732894649|date = 1979-05-17}}</ref> Erikson argued that this usually develops during middle age (which spans approximately ages 45 through 64) in keeping with his stage-model of psychosocial development.<ref name=stage>HQ, Psychology. "Erikson's Stages Of Development - Stages 7 And 8". Psychologynoteshq.com. N. p., 2017. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.</ref> After having experienced old age himself, Erikson believed that generativity maintains a more important role in later life than he initially had thought.
In Erikson's theory, Generativity is contrasted with Stagnation.<ref name=stage /> During this stage, people contribute to the next generation through caring, teaching and engaging in creative work which contributes to society. Generativity involves answering the question "Can I Make My Life Count?", and in this process, finding one’s life's work and contributing to the development of others through activities such as volunteering, mentoring, and contributing to future generations. It has also been described as a concern for one's legacy, accepting the independence lives of family and increasing philanthropic pursuits.<ref name=mcadams /> Generative concern leads to concrete goals and actions such as "providing a narrative schematic of the generative self to the next generation".<ref>Cheng, S.-T. "Generativity In Later Life: Perceived Respect From Younger Generations As A Determinant Of Goal Disengagement And Psychological Well-Being". The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 64B.1 (2009): 45-54. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.</ref>
McAdams and de St. Aubin developed a 20-item scale to assess generativity, and to help discover who it is that is nurturing and leading the next generation.<ref name="mcadams" /> This model is not restricted to stages, with generativity able to be a concern throughout adulthood, not just in middle adulthood, as Erikson suggested. Example items include "I try to pass along the knowledge that I have gained through my experiences", "I have a responsibility to improve the neighborhood in which I live", and (reversed) "In general, my actions do not have a positive effect on other people."
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * http://aging.wisc.edu/ * http://www.johnkotre.com/generativity.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829211059/http://www.johnkotre.com/generativity.htm |date=2010-08-29 }}
Category:Developmental psychology Category:Psychological concepts