Extending the Framework of Generativity Theory Through Research: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The article addresses some new ways of thinking about generativity as a construct, which may be useful in understanding the cultural personhood of older Americans.

Redefining generativity: Through life course and pragmatist lenses

“…Indeed, assuming roles as parents (both biological and adoptive) and grandparents significantly and positively affect generativity (Erikson et al, ; Snarey, ). Interestingly, non‐parents are capable of expressing similar levels of generativity to kin and non‐kin in recent studies (Rothrauff & Cooney, ; Rubinstein et al, ), and these findings make us rethink biological and parental factors as major route to generativity as parenthood becomes less prominent. Technical generativity involves learning and teaching particular skills required for furthering career, and research on career development and mentoring is particularly concerned with this dimension of generativity.…”

“…Related to the principle of timing, notable is the finding that different motives predict generativity across the life course, including both agentic (growth, identity, power, developmental, and achievement) and communal (intimacy, social, generative, prosocial, and altruistic) motives for generativity (Ackerman et al, ; Hofer et al, ; McAdams & de St. Aubin, ; Peterson & Stewart, ; Peterson & Stewart, ; Rubinstein et al, ). It appears that, for younger adults, growth motives are strong (e.g., acquire skills, accumulate knowledge, and further careers; Frensch, Pratt, & Norris, ; Peterson & Stewart, ).…”

“…In spite of these developments, however, what remains unresolved concerns a cohesive conceptual boundary of generativity that encompasses various expressions across the life course. Several scholars, including Erikson (), pointed out that it may be problematic to consider generativity as synonymous to productivity (Clark & Arnold, ; MacDermid, Heilbrun, & DeHaan, ; Peterson & Stewart, ), social and interpersonal care (McAdams, ; Peterson & Stewart, ), or creativity (Rubinstein, Girling, de Medeiros, Brazda, & Hannum, ; Vaillant & Vaillant, ). We follow Erikson's () contention that generativity includes concepts such as productivity and creativity but is never meant to replace these terms (for empirical research, see Clark & Arnold, ; Peterson & Stewart, ).…”

Generativity and Political Participation in Old Age: A Mixed Method Study of Spanish Elders Involved in Political Organisations

“…Kotre (1984), for instance, identified four types of generativity: biological (related to begetting, bearing, and nursing children), parental (related to raising those children and initiating them in the family traditions), technical (related to passing on skills), and cultural (related to transmitting cultural instruments and ideas). More recently, Rubinstein et al (2014) proposed a framework of foci (people, groups, things, and activities) and spheres (historical, familial, individual, and relational) of generativity, which allows a deeper understanding of the many ways in which generativity could be expressed.…”

Aging, Spirituality, and Time: A Qualitative Study

“…The interviews with the women included three focal areas: life history (Britton, 2006; Rubin & Rubin, 2005; Rubinstein, 1995), generativity (Cole & Stewart, 1996; de St. Aubin et al, 2004; Erikson, 1982; Kotre, 1984; McAdams & de St. Aubin, 1998; McAdams, Diamond, de St. Aubin, & Mansfield, 1997; Rubinstein, Girling, de Medeiros, Brazda, & Hannum, 2014), and the experience and meaning of childlessness and future care needs. In particular, the final interview provided important details about each woman’s religious and spiritual belief system and her plans for future care needs (Ajrouch, Antonucci, & Janevic, 2001; Barker, 2002; Dye, 2005; Freedman, 1993; Koropeckyj-Cox, 2002; Pinquart & Sorensen, 2001).…”