Lecture 15: Generativity

Question 1

What is the definition of generativity?

Answer 1

An adult’s concern and commitment to the well being of the youth. This can be shown by teaching, mentoring and other activities aimed at passing a positive legacy to the next generation.

Question 2

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial stages, what stage is generativity on?

Answer 2

It is the 7th stage

Question 3

What is a keyword for generativity?

Answer 3

Care

Question 4

What is the age range for generativity?

Answer 4

30 - 70 years old

Question 5

What is the definition of fidelity?

Answer 5

Faithfulness to a person, cause or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.

Question 6

According to Erikson, what is generativity and why is it important in development?

Answer 6

“Erikson’s (1963) schema, […] mastered […] identity […] [then] intimacy […] [and then] develop a sense of caring responsibility towards the next generation. […] a dynamic tension exists between […] “care” against “rejectivity”.”

Question 7

What are some of the challenges regarding generativity?

Answer 7

• Generative adults are expected to:
  
  • have leadership
  • engage in multiple social spheres
  • provide guidance
  • support the next generation

Question 8

In the movie, Win win, what is the situation with the main character?

Answer 8

• He is a 45 year old lawyer
• He is struggling economically
• Regardless of all his personal problems:
  
  • he coaches a youth wrestling team
  • he helps a teenager

Question 9

What are the generativity statuses that Marcia established?

Answer 9

Question 10

How did Marcia measured generativity?

Answer 10

• With a semi-structured interview that assessed:
  
  • Level of deep involvement
  • Scope of care-giving concern

Question 11

What is McAdams model of generativity?

Answer 11

• It has 3 components:
  
  • Generativity concerns
  • Generativity Acts
  • Generativity strivings or commitments

Question 12

What are generative concerns?

Answer 12

• What is important for the generative person.

Question 13

What is generative acts?

Answer 13

• Actions that aim to help the youth.

Question 14

What is generative strivings or commitments?

Answer 14

• They are goals that a generative person might have.

Question 15

How are generative concerns and generative acts measured?

Answer 15

Through a questionnaire of 60 and 50 questions respectively.

Question 16

What does the image below tell you about generativity?

Answer 16

• There is an increase of generativity from young adulthood to middle life in all of the aspects of the model of generativity.

Question 17

Explain the study that looked into generativity strivings and well being over time. (Lekes et al. 2015)

Answer 17

• Longitudinal study
• Sample:
  
  • college students
  • teachers
• Noticed that
  
  • college students had identity strivings
    
    • if this was the case, their well-being improved
  • teachers focused on generativity
    
    • if this was the case, their well-being improved
• Conclusion:
  
  • what is best for us depends on the psychosocial stage.

Question 18

What is McAdams’ conclusion on development of generativity?

Answer 18

He concluded that Erikson might be correct in supposing that midlife is the prime time for generativity BUT he doesn’t believe that it is neatly situated within a discrete midlife stage.

Question 19

What is associated with generativity?

Answer 19

• From a study where the sample:
  
  • 50% white americans
  • 50% Africanamericans
• Generativity was associated with:
  
  • Extensive network of friends
  • Social support in community
  • Greater satisfaction with social relationships
  • Greater involvement in church activities

Question 20

What is the link between generativity and parenting?

Answer 20

• Having a child or not does not affect generativity
• Your level of generativity will determine how you parent
  
  • Autoritative parenting
    
    • High structure
    • High support of autonomy
      
      • More involved in schooling
      • Attend to schools functions
      • Knowledge about children’s friendships

Question 21

Besides from parenting, how does high generative parents affect their college age children?

Answer 21

• Peterson 2006
• College students will be likely to:
  
  • increase on A and C over university years
  • greater positive emotions in daily life
  • greater involvement in politics and religion
  • achieve an identity in university

Question 22

What is Successful Aging?

Answer 22

• To keep your cognitive, mental and physical functions well into old age.

Question 23

Can generativity predict outcomes?

Answer 23

• Yes
• Study by Peterson and Duncan, 2007
• Followed 100, 50-year old women over 10 years
• Measured generativity:
  
  • Predicted:
    
    • Satisfaction with life
      
      • general, maternal, marital
    • Successful aging
      
      • identity certainty, less concern about aging
    • Positive Personality development:
      
      • Increased A, O
      • Decreased N

Question 24

Does the evel of generativity can predict changes in the Big 5 traits?

Answer 24

Yes, it shows and increase of A and O and a decrease of N

Question 25

Does generativity affects health?

Answer 25

• Yes
• Study by Gruenwald et al. 2012
• 2000 participants in the 60s
• Followed 10 years later
• Results:
  
  • ¼ died
  • ¼ reduced activities
  • Signitifcant greater risk (doubles) of disability and death even after controlling for health and demographic factors.
• Conclusion:
  
  • Adults in their 60s who feel more generative are less likely to show increases in physical disability or to die as they age into their 70s

Question 26

True or False

To be benevolent, we benefit from it. The benevolence motivation does not matter.

Answer 26

False

benevolent acts do benefit us but it depends on the motivation.

Question 27

How do you measure generativity in midlife?

Answer 27

With an interview

Question 28

Why is generative important?

Answer 28

It is important for health and well-being