Peer Review

Debra Brown

PSY/230

April 18, 2014

Generativity vs. Stagnation (40-64), Generativity is the concern of guiding the next generation. Socially-valued work and disciplines are expressions of generativity. The adult stage of generativity has clear relevance to family, relationships, work and society. Generativities, primary interest is to guide and set foundations for the next generation…the concept is meant to include inspiration and creativeness.
During middle age the primary goal is one of contributing to society and helping to guide future generations. When a person makes a contribution during this time in their lives, perhaps by raising a family or working toward the betterment of society, a sense of productivity and accomplishment-results. People who are self-centered and do feel a sense of setting foundations for the next generation is found to be unproductive and show lack of progress. I am at the generativities stage, because I am in my 40’s, and it tells of, when you are at that age your primary interest is to set guides and to prepare the next generation to be inspired and prepared for their future. Being able to leave the world in good hands, so to speak, for generations to come. Showing our children what is right, and how to live a productive life, one well lived and to continue on for generations to come. Setting morals, learning accomplishments, and how to over-come obstacles. To be productive in life, without selfishness and greed. We want a better society for our children and grandchildren, and for the future of mankind. The central question is, have we prepared the future generation for what is to come? Have we laid a good foundation for them? I can answer the question from my own circle, but it is the nation as a whole that concerns me the most. To provide specific examples would be things such as, the healthcare takeover, the racial climate, the pitting Americans against one another, cutting our military down, while Russia and China build theirs up, shutting down coal minds, (needed for electric), closing 50 more of our missile defense silos, and the continuation of printing more and more money, while we are trillions in debt, and the price of food and gas keeps on rising. These are my examples of what we are leaving our future generation. This is not what I thought this generation would end up leaving for our future children. I worry for them. A person at another stage of life would be my daughter, she is in her mid-twenties and would be considered the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage. She has shared herself with her mate and had married and started her own family. She feels comforted in her relationship with her husband and feels a commitment and safety there. She has started her family and has given us a grandbaby with another on the way. My daughter has been quite successful in her life, she has gone to college and received her associates degree and has gone back to school to become a teacher. The question posed here is that someone in this stage forms a loving intimate relationship, which she (my daughter) has done. Erikson believed that having a fully formed sense of self (established during the identity versus confusion stage) is essential to being able to form intimate relationships. I believe that each stage contributes to the next, and it seems as though she has followed these steps.

References

Chapter 9 – Developmental stages and tasks
Psychology.about.com>…>Psychosocial Theories

References: Chapter 9 – Developmental stages and tasks Psychology.about.com>…>Psychosocial Theories