Narrating the Generative Life
Abstract
Generativity is an adult's concern for and commitment to promoting the well-being of future generations. Analyzing lengthy life-narrative interviews of late-midlife adults, we examined the extent to which a particular kind of life story is empirically linked to self-report measures of generativity and other indices of psychosocial adaptation in midlife. The results showed that highly generative adults are significantly more likely than their less-generative counterparts to construe their lives as variations on a prototypical redemption narrative, wherein the story's protagonist (a) enjoys an early advantage in life, (b) exhibits sensitivity to the suffering of other people, (c) develops a clear moral framework, (d) repeatedly transforms negative scenes into positive outcomes, and (e) pursues prosocial goals for the future. The psychological and cultural features of redemptive life stories are considered, as are the problems and potentialities of life-narrative research in psychological science.
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Highly generative adults show a distinct pattern of life story narration characterized by the redemptive transformation of bad into good, concern for those less fortunate, and living a life guided by strong moral principles.
“Highly generative adults show a distinct pattern of life story narration that is characterized by the redemptive transformation of bad into good, concern for those less fortunate, and living a life guided by strong moral principles (McAdams & Guo, 2015).”
From Self and identity in personality psychology (2021) · cites this paper as McAdams & Guo, 2015
My psychobiographical explorations have examined narrative identity in the lives of four American presidents: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.
“My own psychobiographical explorations have examined narrative identity in the lives of four American presidents: George W. Bush (McAdams, 2011), Barack Obama (McAdams, 2015), Donald Trump (McAdams, 2017, 2020), and Joe Biden (McAdams, 2022).”
From Narrative Identity and the Redemptive Self: An Intellectual Autobiography, with Occasional Critique (2024) · cites this paper as McAdams, 2015
Life narratives that resemble the redemptive self can be a force for psychological and societal good.
“By featuring a gifted moral agent who aims to transform suffering into positive gain for self and others, life narratives that resemble what I call the redemptive self can be a force for psychological and societal good (McAdams & Guo, 2015).”
From Narrative Identity and the Redemptive Self: An Intellectual Autobiography, with Occasional Critique (2024) · cites this paper as McAdams & Guo, 2015
Redemptive stories may prove to be valuable psychological resources in motivating and justifying a caring, productive, and generative life, especially in midlife.
“Redemptive stories may prove to be valuable psychological resources in motivating and justifying a caring, productive, and generative life, especially in the midlife years.”
From Narrative Identity and the Redemptive Self: An Intellectual Autobiography, with Occasional Critique (2024) · cites this paper as McAdams & Guo, 2015
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References 33 · Cited by 230
- Authors
- McAdams, D. P., & Guo, J.
- Affiliations
- Northwestern University (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-03-05
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 475-483
- ISSN
- 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9280
- OpenAlex
- W2073081188
- Cited by
- 230
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 34.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- generativity, life stories, redemption narratives, middle-aged adults, psychosocial adjustment, prosocial goals, moral development, narrative psychology
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Female, Humans, Human Development, Male, Middle Aged, Self-Assessment, Intergenerational Relations, Personal Narratives as Topic
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