Who Cares? Generativity and the Moral Emotions, Part 1. Advancing the “Psychology of Ultimate Concerns”

Contemporary thinking in generativity theory and research (de St. Aubin, McAdams, & Kim, 2004) and in the “psychology of ultimate concerns” (Emmons, 1999) posits that Erik Erikson's notion of generativity is a multi-faceted construct concerned with the moral telos of positive psychological...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Leffel, G. Michael (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Sage Publishing 2008
In: Journal of psychology and theology
Year: 2008, Volume: 36, Issue: 3, Pages: 161-181
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Contemporary thinking in generativity theory and research (de St. Aubin, McAdams, & Kim, 2004) and in the “psychology of ultimate concerns” (Emmons, 1999) posits that Erik Erikson's notion of generativity is a multi-faceted construct concerned with the moral telos of positive psychological growth, but one that has yet to be satisfactorily explored. The current article draws on some of Erikson's (2000) less-cited descriptions of generativity to propose a new domain for generativity theory and research, termed relational generativity. Relational generativity is conceptualized as the motive and capacity to take care of the strengths-development of cared for others, and is delineated as (a) a moral telos (to be pursued), (b) a motive (to be activated), (c) a psychological capacity (to be developed), and (d) an investment (to be given). Christian ethicist Don Browning (2006) suggests that these features substantively outline Erikson's relational ethic of “generative mutuality” and provide a view of relational well-being that potentially enriches the Christian understanding of neighbor-love. Suggestions for continued theoretical and empirical development of relational generativity, and its relevance to the relational spirituality paradigm are offered. Collectively this three-article series extends the author's recent proposal for a moral motive approach to emotion and transformation (Leffel, 2007a, 2007b, 2007c).
ISSN:2328-1162
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of psychology and theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/009164710803600302