Generality versus Stagnation in middle Adulthood Development
Adults in their middle years of development often have cultivated a comprehensive understanding of self-related to their societal and cultural settings (e.g., family, work, and culture). This mature view of self includes an understanding of strengths, abilities, skills, and interests that help them to cope with their many responsibilities. Because of this, many report interest in guiding members of the younger generation to help them to gain a better understand of themselves. This is a key goal of adults in this developmental period.
Discuss how Erikson’s stage of psychosocial development of generativity versus stagnation motivates the decisions made by adults during middle adulthood.
How do the additional responsibilities of the middle adulthood affect adults’ self-concept (e.g., physical, social, psychological, and vocational)?
Propose strategies for helping clients who are members of the sandwich generation to protect them from physical and psychological problems because of increased responsibilities.
Sample Solution
Generativity versus stagnation is delimited as the seventh of eight stages of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development (Karuru, 2018). It represents middle adulthood, from 40 and 65 years. This period is characterized by adult pursuit of legacy-defining achievements of things that will outlast them. It is typically evidenced by parenting children or contributing to programs that benefit common folk. Further, this stage is actuated through contributions to society and posterity. From social psychological perspective, generativity refers to the act of impacting the world by caring for others as well as creating and accomplishing things that make the world a
