Other Theories and Theorists to Consider
Carl Rogers' Actualizing (Actualising) Tendency - outlined as the innate desire to develop one's potential to the highest degree in all capacities that enrich the individual. Roger's asserts that each individual works to live life to one's fullest potential. He believed people were innately good and had the potential to achieve all life goals. Rogers asserted that the Actualizing Tendency could never be eliminated unless the individual no longer existed.
Rollo May's Stages of Development outlined that there is no clear-cut age ranges of development, rather there is a sequence of significant issues where some issues are more prevalent at certain ages. May was a major contributor to the notion of Existential Theory, where one ultimately wants to feel a sense of connectedness to others and they desire to believe they have meaning in the lives of others. According to May, people eventually realize that they are fundamentally alone and that they must validate themselves and not depend on validation from others.
John Kotre - believes that generativity can be expressed in different ways: communal - which relates to the desire to care for others and agentic - which is the expansion and development of oneself. Kotre model also differs from Erikson because Kotre asserts that generative impulses may be used not only for good, but also for evil.
"Generativity is a concept that invites us to see the entire range of
ways human beings leave their stamp on the future." -John Kotre
"Generativity is a concept that invites us to see the entire range of
ways human beings leave their stamp on the future." -John Kotre