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Generativity
Future Think
.................................................................................................................................. GENERATIVITY Daniel J. Pesut, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN
F
or me, turning 50 years old last year was difficult. I struggled with a midlife crisis, so I revisited the developmental milestones of Erik Erickson. I considered differences between remedial and generative change. I asked the question most people ask at midlife: “What has not happened yet?” Such reflection has consequences for one’s personal and professional future as it brings the developmental task of generativity to the foreground. TASK, STRENGTH, VIRTUE
As you recall, Erickson’s1 developmental theory and stages of growth involve a task, a strength, and a virtue. Successful negotiation of trust versus mistrust provides the strength of drive and the virtue of hope. Resolution of autonomy versus doubt develops the strength of self-control and the virtue of willpower. Achieving resolution of initiative over guilt sets the stage for direction and purpose. Successfully managing industry in contrast to inferiority results in the strength of method and the virtue of competence. The consequence of resolving the issues of identity versus role confusion results in the strength of devotion and the virtue of fidelity. Working through intimacy versus isolation ensures the strength of affiliation and the virtue of love. Successful management of generativity juxtaposed with stagnation leads to creative effort and the virtue of care. Finally, the theory suggests as one negotiates integrity in contrast to despair, wisdom is achieved.
Daniel J. Pesut is a professor and department chairperson of Environments for Health at Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis.
Nurs Outlook 2002;50:49. © 2002 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. 0029-6554/2002/$35.00 ⫹ 0 35/1/123583 doi:10.1067/mno.2002.123583
NURSING OUTLOOK
MARCH/APRIL 2002
REMEDIAL VERSUS GENERATIVE CHANGE
Cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien2 observes that when you find the courage to change at midlife, a miracle happens. Courageous midlife change offers individuals opportunities to craft legacies and imprint the future of the world in a generative way. Arrien observes that midlife is a time for reparation, rectification, and deep forgiveness work. Midlife is a time for humility, mercy, and grace. In the second half of one’s life, issues such as competition give way to concerns about intimacy, and ambition transforms into creativity. Remedial change is an effort to fix something that happened in the past. Generative change is an effort to create something new for the present and the future. It is difficult to change the past. It is somewhat easier to influence the present and future. Generative changes are derived from one’s inner work and the unfulfilled promise of a legacy. The seeds of inner work support generativity and the growth of wisdom. Generativity brings future thinking to the foreground as one contemplates the question, “What hasn’t happened yet?,” and plans what legacy will live on after one is gone. GENERATIVE GOALS
Generative goals3 involve the following: (1) the creation of new things; (2) passing on something of value, something related to the past, or a specific tradition; (3) caring for or assisting other people; and (4) establishing relationships with younger people and the next generation. If you were challenged to develop 5 to 7 generative goals, what would they be? How does your current generativity influence the future? Consider the following questions to get a handle on your generativity quotient: ● Do you pass along knowledge gained from experience? ● Have you made or created things that have a significant impact on others?
Do you have important skills that you try to teach to others? ● Do you feel your contributions to the world will exist after you die? ● What hasn’t happened yet that you are in a position to influence for future generations? Psychologist Daniel McAdams3 notes that being generative is positively associated with psychologic health, mentoring, volunteerism, community involvement, and voting as well as greater levels of happiness, well-being, and spiritual understanding. McAdams writes, “Psychological health and happiness in the adult years depend on how we see the future and what we do to bring about the kind of future we wish to see.” McAdams and his colleagues note that generative adults tell life stories filled with a “redemptive sequence” (ie, a good outcome derived from a bad situation). To learn more about McAdams’ work and why he links being generative with being successful, check out the Web site3 in the reference list. If you are younger than 50 years, the notion of being generative may not seem so relevant. If you are older than 50 years and have not yet struggled with the developmental task of stagnation versus generativity, consider how becoming more generative supports growth, development, and the achievement of “wisdom.” Maybe wisdom is knowing that “what hasn’t happened” has, in fact, “happened.” 䡲 ●
.......................................... REFERENCES
1. Erickson EH. Childhood and society. New York: Norton; 1963. 2. Arrien A. The second half of life. Boulder (CO): Sounds True; 1998. 3. McAdams D. Generativity: the new definition of success. Spirituality and Health Magazine. 2001 Fall. Available from: http://www. spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/article/ item_3566.html.
Pesut
49
.................................................................................................................................. GENERATIVITY Daniel J. Pesut, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN
F
or me, turning 50 years old last year was difficult. I struggled with a midlife crisis, so I revisited the developmental milestones of Erik Erickson. I considered differences between remedial and generative change. I asked the question most people ask at midlife: “What has not happened yet?” Such reflection has consequences for one’s personal and professional future as it brings the developmental task of generativity to the foreground. TASK, STRENGTH, VIRTUE
As you recall, Erickson’s1 developmental theory and stages of growth involve a task, a strength, and a virtue. Successful negotiation of trust versus mistrust provides the strength of drive and the virtue of hope. Resolution of autonomy versus doubt develops the strength of self-control and the virtue of willpower. Achieving resolution of initiative over guilt sets the stage for direction and purpose. Successfully managing industry in contrast to inferiority results in the strength of method and the virtue of competence. The consequence of resolving the issues of identity versus role confusion results in the strength of devotion and the virtue of fidelity. Working through intimacy versus isolation ensures the strength of affiliation and the virtue of love. Successful management of generativity juxtaposed with stagnation leads to creative effort and the virtue of care. Finally, the theory suggests as one negotiates integrity in contrast to despair, wisdom is achieved.
Daniel J. Pesut is a professor and department chairperson of Environments for Health at Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis.
Nurs Outlook 2002;50:49. © 2002 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. 0029-6554/2002/$35.00 ⫹ 0 35/1/123583 doi:10.1067/mno.2002.123583
NURSING OUTLOOK
MARCH/APRIL 2002
REMEDIAL VERSUS GENERATIVE CHANGE
Cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien2 observes that when you find the courage to change at midlife, a miracle happens. Courageous midlife change offers individuals opportunities to craft legacies and imprint the future of the world in a generative way. Arrien observes that midlife is a time for reparation, rectification, and deep forgiveness work. Midlife is a time for humility, mercy, and grace. In the second half of one’s life, issues such as competition give way to concerns about intimacy, and ambition transforms into creativity. Remedial change is an effort to fix something that happened in the past. Generative change is an effort to create something new for the present and the future. It is difficult to change the past. It is somewhat easier to influence the present and future. Generative changes are derived from one’s inner work and the unfulfilled promise of a legacy. The seeds of inner work support generativity and the growth of wisdom. Generativity brings future thinking to the foreground as one contemplates the question, “What hasn’t happened yet?,” and plans what legacy will live on after one is gone. GENERATIVE GOALS
Generative goals3 involve the following: (1) the creation of new things; (2) passing on something of value, something related to the past, or a specific tradition; (3) caring for or assisting other people; and (4) establishing relationships with younger people and the next generation. If you were challenged to develop 5 to 7 generative goals, what would they be? How does your current generativity influence the future? Consider the following questions to get a handle on your generativity quotient: ● Do you pass along knowledge gained from experience? ● Have you made or created things that have a significant impact on others?
Do you have important skills that you try to teach to others? ● Do you feel your contributions to the world will exist after you die? ● What hasn’t happened yet that you are in a position to influence for future generations? Psychologist Daniel McAdams3 notes that being generative is positively associated with psychologic health, mentoring, volunteerism, community involvement, and voting as well as greater levels of happiness, well-being, and spiritual understanding. McAdams writes, “Psychological health and happiness in the adult years depend on how we see the future and what we do to bring about the kind of future we wish to see.” McAdams and his colleagues note that generative adults tell life stories filled with a “redemptive sequence” (ie, a good outcome derived from a bad situation). To learn more about McAdams’ work and why he links being generative with being successful, check out the Web site3 in the reference list. If you are younger than 50 years, the notion of being generative may not seem so relevant. If you are older than 50 years and have not yet struggled with the developmental task of stagnation versus generativity, consider how becoming more generative supports growth, development, and the achievement of “wisdom.” Maybe wisdom is knowing that “what hasn’t happened” has, in fact, “happened.” 䡲 ●
.......................................... REFERENCES
1. Erickson EH. Childhood and society. New York: Norton; 1963. 2. Arrien A. The second half of life. Boulder (CO): Sounds True; 1998. 3. McAdams D. Generativity: the new definition of success. Spirituality and Health Magazine. 2001 Fall. Available from: http://www. spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/article/ item_3566.html.
Pesut
49