Definition
Generativity is defined as “the concern in establishing and guiding the next generation” (Erikson 1963, p. 240). It thus subsumes all goals and actions that intend to have a positive impact on future generations (McAdams and de St. Aubin 1992), such as parenting, teaching, and mentoring. As this impact is ego-transcending in nature, Kotre (1996, p. 10) defines generativity as “a desire to invest one’s substance in forms of life and work that will outlive the self.”
Overview
The concept of generativity originates from Erik Erikson’s (1963) theory of psychosocial development. This theory postulates eight developmental tasks, each of which characterizes a specific period in the life span. After having run through four childhood stages, in adolescence, people figure out who they are and want to be (i.e., develop an identity), then form lasting interpersonal commitments to a romantic partner (i.e., develop intimacy) in young adulthood, subsequently widen their radius of care to...
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Busch, H., Hofer, J. (2021). Generativity and Adult Development. In: Gu, D., Dupre, M.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22009-9_97
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