Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1999
Publication Title
Journal of Adult Development
Abstract
The implications of psychosocial generativity (Erikson, 1950) for understanding contemporary politics were explored. Study 1 replicated, in two samples, previous findings that generativity concerns are related to a variety of political activities, including the expenditure of time and money in support of political organizations. Using path analyses, Study 2 extended these findings and demonstrated how midlife generativity concerns interacted with political orientation and interest in politics to produce stronger relationships with giving. These findings suggest that people view the political arena as one important way to improve society and thereby manifest cultural generativity. Although focusing on the domain of politics, these studies highlight the complexity of generativity as a construct; broad concerns with generativity operate within the context of ideological commitments to produce greater levels of generative activity.
Volume
6
First Page
105
Last Page
118
Recommended Citation
Peterson, Bill E. and Duncan, Lauren, "Generative Concern, Political Commitment, and Charitable Actions" (1999). Psychology: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/psy_facpubs/216
Comments
Archived as published. Access provided by NorthEast Research Libraries (NERL)