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JournalofResearchinPersonality
Volume23,Issue4,December1989,Pages435449

GenerativityandErikson'sbeliefinthespecies
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DonnaA.VanDeWater

,DanP.McAdams

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doi:10.1016/00926566(89)900135

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Abstract
Generativityistheconcernforguidingandpromotingthenextgenerationthroughsuch
creativebehaviorasparenting,teaching,mentoring,leading,andgeneratingproducts
andoutcomesthatbenefitothers.Erikson(1963)hasarguedthatinordertobe
generativeinadulthood,peoplemusthaveafundamentalbeliefinthespeciesorafaith
thathumanprogressispossibleandworthworkingtoward.Thepresentstudyfocuseson
hopeandtrustconcerningtheselfandothers(Erikson'sbeliefinthespecies).In
addition,however,thestudyexaminestherelationbetweengenerativityandpersonality
traits,inthiscase,dominance,leadership,selfabsorption,andnurturance.Asampleof
70adultswasadministered(1)aseriesofselfreportquestionnairesconvergingon
Erikson'sideaofbeliefinthespecies,(2)aselfreportscaleassessinggenerativity,(3)
measuresofpersonalitytraits,and(4)twoopenendedmeasuresofgenerativity
requiringsubjectstodescribelifecommitmentsandcreativeendeavors.Theresults
providemodestsupportforErikson'sclaimofalinkbetweenbeliefinthespeciesand
generativity,withsignificantpositivecorrelationsobtained(1)betweenselfreport
generativityandtwomeasuresofbeliefinspeciesand(2)betweengenerativity
assessedthroughlifecommitmentsandonemeasureofbeliefinthespecies.Inaddition,
thepersonalitytraitofnurturancewaspositivelyrelatedtoallthreegenerativity
measures.Problemsandissuesintheassessmentofgenerativityarediscussed.
CorrespondenceandrequestsforreprintsshouldbesenttoDr.DonnaA.VanDeWater,NCM
International,3000MalmoDrive,ArlingtonHeights,IL60005.
Copyright1989PublishedbyElsevierInc.
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