Psychologist Erik Erikson placed a crisis at the center of middle adulthood, roughly 40 to 65: generativity vs. stagnation. Generativity is the drive to guide and give to the next generation; stagnation is turning inward on the self. Sort each scenario to see which side it lands on — and how the balance tips toward the virtue of care.
Which way does the balance tip?
Stage7 of 8
Life stage~40–65
VirtueCare
Sort the scenarioscenario 1 of 8
Scenario 1 of 8
Generativity isn't just having kids. Erikson meant any real investment in the future — parenting, mentoring, creating, volunteering, building. Its opposite, stagnation, is self-absorption and a stalled, disconnected feeling. Resolve the crisis well and you gain the strength of care.