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On...
Generativity
Psychologist Erik Erikson coined the term, generativity. It means
selfless giving to others or nurturing others so that they can be more
self-sustaining, loving and able to manifest their own gifts of love. It
often refers to doing this for future generations. Generativity can
occur through simple one-time acts of generosity or a continuous effort
over a long period of time like taking care of someone or raising a
child.
A great
deal of research has been conducted regarding generativity, and the
results show significant effects such as the following:
1. It
protects our mental and physical health across an entire life span.
2. Boys show significant improvements in self-esteem and happiness when
they are giving.
3. If girls are low in giving, they suffer low self-esteem, depression
and anxiety.
4. In underprivileged families girls don’t get the spike in well-being
from helping unless they have supportive, appreciative fathers who value
their help.
5. Girls benefit most from the connectedness they feel when helping,
while boys benefit from task-oriented helping.
6. In older adults generativity protects and improves psychological
well-being, and delays mortality.
7. It is linked to leadership and high self-esteem.
8. It gives a feeling of power along with love.
9. Generativity in high school predicts good physical and mental health
in late adulthood, a time interval of over 50 years.
10. It predicts that we will be successful in life. Teens who are highly
generative tend to end up in a higher social class.
11. Generativity is linked to spirituality, increasing the likelihood of
a spiritual or religious way of life.
12. Teens who are generative tend to have warm family relations.
13. Generative youth will have better health habits in middle age.
14. Generativity is linked to social competence, demonstrating social
skill, empathy and self-esteem.
15. When we are generative we create meaning in others’ lives.
16. It brings meaning to our own lives.
17. It helps us cope with our own stress by shifting focus toward
others.
18. We feel more competent and effective.
19. It often leads to a more active and involved lifestyle.
20. Volunteering lengthens life and improves the quality of life.
21. For health and well-being volunteering has a greater positive effect
than physical exercise.
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Exercises:
Suggestions for Ways of Implementing Generativity
1. Giving meaning to the lives of others.
a.) Identify some skills that you have which you could use to
help or empower others.
b.) Look to the people closest to you and think of ways that you
could compliment them about something essential to their nature.
Show appreciation for how they are or what they do or the way
that they are.
2. Volunteering
a.) Invite someone who needs help to assist you in helping
someone else. Since it is in giving oneself that we find we
receive what we need, this is a way of helping more than one
person at the same time.
b.) Since giving is receiving, identify what you most need and
give it to others. If you need help coping with some illness,
for example, help someone else with that same illness cope with
theirs.
c.) Since giving is receiving, give what you wish for. Identify
what that is.
d.) Be a mentor to someone who needs help with something you can
give. It might simply be friendship or adult support for a
younger person. It might be tutoring someone to help them be
more successful.
e.) Show leadership in your community or neighbourhood,
coordinating activities that bring a sense of connection or
accomplishment.
3. Support Boys and Girls Differently
a.) Nurture girls by praising, appreciating and encouraging
their innate kindness.
b.) Encourage boys to engage in concrete giving behaviour.
c.) Do things to inspire youth to adopt habits of giving through
books, movies, discussions and example. |
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This is one of 150 Soul Perspective articles.
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