GENERATIVITY-STAGNATION - DEVELOPMENT OF A STATUS MODEL

Erikson's seminal writings on lifespan development describe specific p sychosocial developmental tasks to be accomplished in adulthood, embod ied in the construct of generativity-stagnation. The primary challenge of this seventh stage of Erikson's theory is to establish and guide t he next generation through one's acts of care. Theoretical and empiric al developments of Erikson's construct are reviewed. A new, five-categ ory model that describes styles of resolving the issues of this stage is proposed using combinations of (a) an individual's level of involve ment, or active concern for the growth of the self and others, and (b) an individual's level of inclusivity, or scope of caregiving concern. The new model is discussed in the context of theoretical and empirica l investigations into generativity. (C) 1997 Academic Press.