Generativity and the Deep Caring of Professional Coaching

The Stage of Generativity

As we have noted, one specific set of developmental issues are likely to take “center stage” in mid-life. It is during this time when professional coaching is most likely to be engaged. These issues concern what Erik Erikson identifies as the matter of Generativity—caring deeply for that about which we care—as it contrasts with Stagnation—a failure to care deeply about anything at this specific period in life. Erikson offers the following summary description regarding the deep caring that is central to Generativity: “Caring is the widening concern for what has been generated by love, necessity, or accident; it overcomes the ambivalence adhering to irreversible obligation.”

While this definition of deep caring seems to be of importance at all stages of life, Erikson considers it (and Generativity) to be of greatest importance during the middle of our life (generally our 30s to 60s). At center stage during our mid-life is the choice between Generativity and Stagnation. This choice, in turn, helps to determine our successful (or unsuccessful) transition to late life (and the final development stage concerning Ego-Integrity vs. Despair).

This Eriksonian stage has not received as much attention by psychologists as his earlier stages. However, there was a flurry of studies on Generativity done during the turn of the century decades (1990s and 2000s). These studies tended to focus on such Generativity-related issues as Mentoring of younger or less experienced members of one’s organization or community, the nurturing of special projects about which one deeply cares, and the creation of a Generative Society.  Led by Dan McAdams and Ed de St. Aubin, these studies substantially enriched and expanded our understanding of the rich texture of Generative perspectives, values and practices as they are engaged in mid-life.

Expanding and Extending Generativity

Several other studies conducted during the first two decades of the 21^st Century have further enriched and expanded our concept of Generativity. George Vaillant had been leading one of the longest lasting studies of adult development (the Grant Studies) for many years and published a book (Triumphs of Experience) in 2012 that focused on development during the senior years of life. In his description of guardianship during these later years, Vaillant seems to have identified a form of generativity that is engaged much later than during our mid-life years.

Another study conducted by Gary Quehl and myself further enriches our notions about Generativity. Based on interviews with both emerging and established senior community leaders in two Northern California towns (Grass Valley and Nevada City), Gary and I identified four ways in which Generativity is potentially engaged during one’s lifetime. As we noted in The Sages Among Us, each of these four ways tends to be engaged at specific times during our life. Apparently, Generativity is not confined to a specific set of activities or specific time in life. Generativity is Big and of Lifelong Concern!