Physical and Cultural Inheritance Enhance Agency, but What are the Origins of this Concern to Establish a Legacy? A Nationally-Representative Twin Study of Erikson’s Concept of Generativity

Abstract

Generativity—showing concern to establish and guide future generations—has been argued to be a biological adaptation central to cumulative culture and survival, but also, in turn, to be a cultural adaptation dependent on norms. From the perspective of human agency, concern for the future has played a key role in raising agency for generations that follow by creating infrastructure and cultural inheritance. Here, in a population-representative sample of 756 twin-pairs, we present the first test of the genetic and environmental structure of generativity using the Loyola Generativity Scale (short). Genetic analysis of scale sum-scores revealed that shared environmental effects were comparable in magnitude or exceeded effects estimated for genetic differences (A = 0.30 CI95 [− 0.01, 0.61], C = 0.41 [0.25, 0.56], E = 0.86 [0.79, 0.93]). At the item level, a well-fitting genetically-informed model suggested 3 factors influencing generativity via a common-pathway structure. The first was tentatively characterized as reflecting a heritable general concern for the future. The second reflected being a valued source of advice and assistance. The third factor showed only unique environment effects and had as its strongest indicator having had a good influence on the lives of others. Replicability of this structure should be tested in the full version of the scale. Work is needed also to validate influences of generativity on vocations such as teaching and on philanthropic activity improving life for subsequent generations.

Who Believes in the Species? Three-Factor Structure and Heritability of Generativity

“…In Study 2, we replicate this structural model in an independent dataset, assuring ourselves that this structure is replicable. In Study 3, we apply this new three-factor structure to a representative twin sample, modeling the genetic and environmental influences on each factor to resolve the questions of genetic and environmental causation left open in Fassbender et al (2019).…”

“…Einolf (2014) himself predicted that desire to form a legacy would likely form a separate factor if the full LGS was used. Surprisingly, in a twin study capable of revealing differential transmission of the items, Fassbender et al (2019) found that three distinct factors were required to account for the patterns of family transmission in the short scale: (1) a general factor of concern for the future, (2) a factor of feeling oneself to be a valued source of advice and assistance for others and (3) a factor involving being a good influence on the lives of others. This multifactorial structure suggested to us that, in the full LGS scale, the multicomponential descriptions of generativity described by Kotre and Kotre (1984), and Erikson (1963) would emerge.…”

“…Based on Erikson (1963) and on the results of the genetic study conducted by Fassbender et al (2019), we hypothesized the full LGS would be multifactorial, conforming to a three-factor phenotypic structure. Following Kotre and Kotre (1984) and McAdams and de St. Aubin (1992), we predicted that the content of these factors would be (1) a factor of maintaining society, (2) a factor tapping establishing and aiding the next generation and (3) a factor involving seeking symbolic immortality and leaving a legacy.…”

“…Despite this important role, no study has yet produced a well-fitting measure of generativity. The sole existing twin study indicated that the construct confounds distinct factors and was unable to resolve genetic and family environmental modes of transmission (Fassbender et al, 2019). Here, we address these needs, answering three questions: (1) Is generativity unitary or multifactorial?…”

Recalled Positive Influences within Life-Story Interviews and Self-Reported Generative Concern in German Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Extraversion

“…Apart from a genetic component (Faßbender et al, 2019), research has identified family factors that contribute to an individual's generativity development. For example, parents' authoritative parenting style is positively associated with their adult offspring's generativity (Peterson et al, 1997).…”