We are all in search of answers to the mystery of human achievement. Why do some people excel while others do not? In answering that question, Generativity will take you on a journey from the ancient Zoroastrians and the secret gospels of Nag Hammadi to the most recent scientific insights on expertise and peak performance. Tracing the stories of outstanding individuals in the light of both traditional wisdom and modern science, Andrew Lynn examines the universal source of superior achievement in athletics, art, science, music, scholarship, politics, and business. Generativity is a uniquely accessible and wide-ranging account of what it is that makes us exceptional.

This volume brings together experts in generativity and related fields to provide a compelling overview of contemporary research and theory on this topic. Generativity refers to a concern for - or acting towards - the benefit of future generations as a legacy of the self; it has implications for outcomes at the individual, relational and social, and broader societal levels. Understanding the role and expressions of generativity at various stages of our lives is important to our sense of well-being and purpose, and it impacts our parenting, caregiving, and social relationships, as well as having implications for our activities and experiences in the workforce, and in voluntary activities in our communities and the wider society. The chapters in this volume explore the meaning and impact of generativity across development and across life contexts and roles. They address generativity within a particular area or life domain, or period of the lifespan, and outline key methods and findings, as well as theoretical issues and applied implications. The volume represents the first comprehensive exploration of generativity from early to late adulthood; it offers a broad international perspective and will inform research into generativity across multiple cultures.

Generativity is the adult's concern for and commitment to promoting the next generation through parenting, teaching, mentoring and generating products and outcomes that aim to benefit a world that will outlive the self. Almost fifty years ago, Erik Erikson introduced this concept in his famous eight-stage model of human development as the seventh stage of the life cycle, generation vs. stagnation. A new, interdisciplinary wave of scholarship has linked generativity in contemporary life. Thus, a new, interdisciplinary wave of scholarship has linked generativity to such ideas as creativity, leadership, altruism, social responsibility, citizenship and volunteerism.

Organized around time, the Third Edition of Dimensions of Human Behavior: The Changing Life Course helps students understand the relationship between time and human behavior. Using a life course perspective, author Elizabeth D. Hutchison shows how the multiple dimensions of person and environment work together with dimensions of time to produce patterns in unique life course journeys. The Third Edition is updated and revised to respond to the rapidity of changes in complex societies. New to the Third Edition Examines our increasing global interdependence: The human life course is placed in global context. Recognizes scientific advancements: Advances in neuroscience have been incorporated throughout the chapters. Emphasizes group-based diversity: More content has been added on the effects of gender, race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, and disability on life course trajectories. Reorganizes family dynamics: Greater attention has been given to the role of fathers. Reflects contemporary issues: New case studies, exhibits, and Web resources have been added to provide the most up-to-date information.

THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE ON MIDLIFE DEVELOPMENT Edited by Margie Lachman, a leader in the field, Handbook ofMidlife Development provides an up-to-date portrayal of humandevelopment during the middle years of the life span. Featuringcontributions from well-established, highly regarded experts, thisexhaustive reference fills the gap for a compilation of research onthis increasingly important topic. Divided into four comprehensive sections, the book addresses thetheoretical, biomedical, psychological, and social aspects ofmidlife development. Each chapter includes coverage of unifyingthemes such as gender differences, ethnic and cultural diversity,historical changes, and socioeconomic differences from a life-spandevelopmental perspective. Readers will discover what can belearned from individuals' subjective conceptions of midlife;explore various "cultural" fictions of middle age; examine theresources individuals have at their disposal to negotiate midlife;consider mechanisms for balancing work and family; and other topicsas presented in the latest research from the social, behavioral,and medical sciences. Handbook of Midlife Development is an indispensable resource forprofessionals and practitioners who work with adults and forresearchers and students who study adult development and relatedtopics. Some of the midlife topics discussed: * Cultural perspectives * Physical changes * Stress, coping, and health * Intellectual functioning * Memory * Personality and the self * Adaptation and resilience * Emotional development * Families and intergenerational relationships * Social relationships * The role of work * Planning for retirement

This volume represents a new name and a new focus for its predecessor, Current Perspectives on Aging and the Life Cycle (volumes 1-4). We begin our new series, now titled Advances in Life Course Research, with volume 5. Its statement of purpose is the publication of theoretical analyses, reviews, policy analyses and positions, and theory-based empirical papers on issues involving all aspects of the human life course. It adopts a broad conception of the life course, and invites and welcomes contributions from all disciplines and fields of study interested in understanding, describing, and predicting the antecedents of and consequences for the course that human lives take from birth to death, within and across time and cultures (construed in its broadest sense), regardless of methodology, theoretical orientation, or disciplinary affiliation.

Using dramatic personal narratives, Kotre expands upon Erik Erikson's concept of generativity. This concept means the variety of ways people find to be fertile in their lives, from the biological task of leaving a genetic legacy, to the emotional work of nurturing and guiding children, to teaching practical skills, transmitting values, and attempting to enrich their culture.