Study Guide Generatively PDF

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Generativity: McAdams Reading Study Guide 

How did Erikson define generativity?

The central psychosocial challenge of middle adulthood; an adult’s concern for and commitment to promoting the growth and well-being of future generations through parenting, teaching, mentoring, institutional involvement, and a range of other social behaviors; make positive contribution to the next generation 

How did Erikson define stagnation?

Men and women who repeatedly fail to be generative, or for whom generative inclinations never rise to the psychological fore are likely to experience stagnation, self-preoccupation, and relatively poor psychosocial adjustment in the midlife years 

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

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What are the 5 components of the redemption narrative identified by McAdams & Guo as being indicative of psychosocial adaptation and self-reported generativity in middle aged adults? Early advantage: the protagonist is singled out for positive distinction Sensitivity to suffering: the protagonist is moved by the suffering of other people or by oppression, inequality, or some other social ill Moral steadfastness: a strong moral framework guides the protagonist’s actions Redemption sequences: negative events turn positive Prosocial goals: the protagonist expressly aims to improve the lives of other people or society more generally With what psychological state are contamination sequences associated?

Contamination sequences, or the movement from a demonstrably positive situation to a negative outcome, tend to be associated with depression and low life satisfaction 

What did the category of meaning making tell the researchers about the participants?

During meaning making, the coders examined each scene for whether or not the participant derived a general meaning about the self or about life from the specific scene described; the narrator draws a concrete lesson or a more abstract insight from an autobiographical memory 

What are the basic demographics of the participants of this study?

157 individuals (63.6% female, 36.4% male) ranging from age 55 to 57; roughly equal split between White and African American individuals; annual household incomes ranging from under $25,000 to over $300,000 (median of $75,000 to $100,000); majority of sample was college educated  Does what you know about the above demographics inform your interpretation of the results? E.g.: are there generalizability concerns?

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How might you apply this study to your own plan for healthy aging?

In relation to healthy aging, aiming for generativity correlates with increased levels of public service, volunteerism, prosocial approach to life, psychological well-being, trying to make a positive difference in the world will ultimately bring positive outcomes, today’s defeats will turn into tomorrow’s victories Prosocial goals showed the strongest association with self-reported generativity...