Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

4-25-2025

Keywords

cultural demand, Erik Erickson, development, generativity, middle adulthood, stagnation

Disciplines

Developmental Psychology | Health Psychology

Abstract

In psychology, the term generativity refers to concern for the future and the need to offer positive contributions to future generations. The term first appeared in stage seven of Erik Erikson’s model of psychosocial development (generativity vs. stagnation). Erikson’s model postulates that generativity occurs explicitly in middle adulthood, but a more recent model of generativity created by Dan McAdams proposes that generativity occurs as a function of increasing cultural demand and concern for future generations, rather than a function of personality change (McAdams, 2001).

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