Human Growth and Development / Unit 14 HGD 1952 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Generativity Versus Stagnation
The idea
Erikson's seventh crisis, generativity versus stagnation, centres on giving back: mentoring, caring for others, and productive and creative work that benefits future generations. Its virtue is care, in Erikson's sense both "the care to do" something and "caring for" someone. Adults who rise to generative roles gain role enhancement; those who refuse them risk stagnation, a plateau or a retreat into self-absorption.
In practice
A childless engineer who spends Saturdays teaching teenagers to code, and a parent who coaches a youth team: both generative.
Where people slip
The misconception is that generativity means having children. Mentoring, teaching, creative work and community service all count, and parenthood alone does not guarantee generativity. Midlife adults report more generative concern than younger adults. Exam items describe an activity that benefits the next generation and ask for Erikson's stage: generativity versus stagnation, the seventh.
Your place on the trail
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