Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Selfless or Selfish? Generativity and Narcissism as Components of Legacy

  • Published:
Journal of Adult Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Erikson’s concept of generativity, or caring for the next generation, acknowledges the presence of narcissism or any type of self-preoccupation as potentially negative. However, other theories articulate generativity as including features of self-involvement, such as a drive for symbolic immortality (McAdams and de St. Aubin J Pers Soc Psychol 62(6):1003–1015. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.62.6.1003, 1992). Recent empirical research also supports this view by identifying generativity and narcissism as both incorporating the beneficial components of agency and communion (Frimer et al. J Pers Soc Psychol 101(1):149–163. doi:10.1037/a0023780, 2011; Gebauer et al. J Pers Soc Psychol 103(3):854–878. doi:10.1037/a0029629, 2012). Moreover, creating a legacy—something left behind when one dies—entails levels of both generativity and narcissism; thus, in the presence of generativity, narcissism may be seen as positive rather than negative. The current study examined generativity and narcissism, and their association with legacy, which was coded from midlife adults’ narratives concerning the future (age 55–58; N = 155). The findings indicated that a combination of high generativity and high narcissism was associated with the highest level of composite legacy, one in which both self and other are implicated. Results are discussed in light of the potentially positive outcomes of narcissism and its synergistic properties for legacy creation when combined with generativity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerman, R. A., Witt, E. A., Donnellan, M. B., Trzesniewski, K. H., Robins, R. W., & Kashy, D. A. (2011). What does the narcissistic personality inventory really measure? Assessment, 18(1), 67–87. doi:10.1177/1073191110382845.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman, S., Zuroff, D. C., & Moskowitz, D. C. (2000). Generativity in midlife and young adults: Links to agency, communion, and subjective well-being. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 50(1), 17–41. doi:10.2190/9F51-LR6T-JHRJ-2QW6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aikin, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, J. (1961). The Q-sort method in personality assessment and psychiatric research. Oxford: Charles C. Thomas.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bradlee, P. M., & Emmons, R. A. (1992). Locating narcissism within the interpersonal circumplex and the five-factor model. Personality and Individual Differences, 13(17), 821–830. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(92)90056-U.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cain, N. M., Pincus, A. L., & Ansell, E. B. (2008). Narcissism at the crossroads: Phenotypic description of pathological narcissism across clinical theory, social/personality psychology, and psychiatric diagnosis. Clinical Psychology Review, 28, 638–656. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2007.09.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M., & Arnold, J. (2008). The nature, prevalence and correlates of generativity among men in middle career. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 73, 473–484. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2008.09.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edelstein, R. S., Newton, N. J., & Stewart, A. J. (2012). Narcissism in midlife: Longitudinal changes in and correlates of women’s narcissistic personality traits. Journal of Personality, 80(5), 1179–1204. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2011.00755.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H. (1974). Dimensions of a new identity. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H., Erikson, J. M., & Kivnick, H. Q. (1986). Vital involvement in old age. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espin, O. M., Stewart, A. J., & Gomez, C. A. (1990). Letters from V: Adolescent personality development in sociohistorical context. Journal of Personality, 58(2), 347–364.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, J. D., Campbell, W. K., & Twenge, J. M. (2003). Individual differences in narcissism: Inflated self-views across the lifespan and around the world. Journal of Research in Personality, 37, 469–486. doi:10.1016/S0092-6566(03)00026-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frimer, J. A., Walker, L. J., Dunlop, W. L., Lee, B. H., & Riches, A. (2011). The integration of agency and communion in moral personality: Evidence of enlightened self-interest. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(1), 149–163. doi:10.1037/a0023780.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer, J. E., Sedikides, C., Verplanken, B., & Maio, G. R. (2012). Communal narcissism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(3), 854–878. doi:10.1037/a0029629.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, P. L., & Roberts, B. W. (2012). Narcissism, well-being, and observer-rated personality across the lifespan. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(2), 216–233. doi:10.1177/1948550611415867.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, E. G., & Rowles, G. D. (2005). Leaving a legacy: Toward a typology. Journal of Aging Studies, 19, 327–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. K., & McAdams, D. P. (2013). Becoming generative: Socializing influences recalled in life stories in late midlife. Journal of Adult Development. doi:10.1007/s10804-013-9168-4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kane, R. A. (1996). From generation to generation: Thoughts on legacy. Generations, 20(3), 5–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kernberg, O. F. (1975). Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivnick, H. Q. (1996). Remembering and being remembered: The reciprocity of psychosocial legacy. Generations, 20(3), 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotre, J. (1984). Outliving the self: How we live on in future generations. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levenson, M. R., Jennings, P. A., Aldwin, C. M., & Shiraishi, R. W. (2005). Self-transcendence: conceptualization and measurement. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 60(2), 127–143.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mansfield, E. D., & McAdams, D. P. (1996). Generativity and themes of agency and communion in adult autobiography. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22(7), 721–731. doi:10.1177/0146167296227006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAdams, D. P. (2008). The life story interview. School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (unpublished manuscript).

  • McAdams, D. P., & de St. Aubin, E. (1992). A theory of generativity and its assessment through self-report, behavioral acts, and narrative themes in autobiography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62(6), 1003–1015. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.62.6.1003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAdams, D. P., de St. Aubin, E., & Logan, R. L. (1993). Generativity among young, midlife, and older adults. Journal of Psychology and Aging, 8(2), 221–230. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.8.2.221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newton, N. J., & Stewart, A. J. (2010). The middle ages: Change in women’s personalities and social roles. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34, 75–84. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2009.01543.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newton, N. J, & Stewart, A. J. (2011). Coding manual for legacy themes. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (unpublished manuscript).

  • Peterson, B. E. (2002). Longitudinal analysis of midlife generativity, intergenerational roles, and caregiving. Psychology and Aging, 17(1), 161–168. doi:10.1037//0882-7974.17.1.161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, B. E., & Stewart, A. J. (1993). Generativity and social motives in young adults. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(1), 186–198. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.65.1.186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R. D. (2005). 1996: The civic enigma. The American Prospect, 16(6), 33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raskin, R. N., & Hall, C. S. (1979). A narcissistic personality inventory. Psychological Reports, 45, 590.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raskin, R. N., & Terry, H. (1988). A principal-components analysis of the narcissistic personality inventory and further evidence of its construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(5), 890–902. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.5.890.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B. W., Edmonds, G., & Grijalva, E. (2010). It is developmental me, not generation me: Developmental changes are more important that generational changes in narcissism—commentary on Trzesniewski & Donnellan. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5, 97–102. doi:10.1177/1745691609357019.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B. W., Smith, J., Jackson, J. J., & Edmonds, G. (2009). Compensatory conscientiousness and health in older couples. Psychological Science, 20(5), 553–559. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02339.x.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubinstein, R. L. (1996). Childlessness, legacy, and generativity. Generations, 20(3), 21–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C. P., Feld, S. C., & Franz, C. E. (1992). Methodological considerations: Steps in research employing content analysis systems. In C. P. Smith (Ed.), Motivation and personality: Handbook of thematic content analysis (pp. 515–536). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, A. J., Ostrove, J. M., & Helson, R. (2001). Middle aging in women: Personality change from the 30s to the 50s. Journal of Adult Development, 8(1), 23–37. doi:10.1023/A:1026445704288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, A. J., & Vandewater, E. A. (1998). The course of generativity. In McAdams, D. P., & de St. Aubin, E. (Eds.), Generativity and adult development: How and why we care for the next generation (pp. 75–100). doi: 10.1037/10288-003.

  • Twenge, J. M., & Foster, J. D. (2010). Birth cohort increases in narcissistic personality traits among American college students, 1982–2009. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1(1), 99–106. doi:10.1177/1948550609355719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Versey, H. S., & Newton, N. J. (2013). Generativity and productive pursuits: Pathways to successful aging in late-midlife African American and White Women. Journal of Adult Development. doi:10.1007/s10804-013-9170-x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wade-Benzoni, K. A., Tost, L. P., Hernandez, M., & Larrick, R. P. (2012). It’s only a matter of time: Death, legacies, and intergenerational decisions. Psychological Science, 23, 704–709. doi:10.1177/0956797612443967.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wink, P. (1991). Self-and object-directedness in adult women. Journal of Personality, 59(4), 769–791.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wink, P. (1992). Three narcissism scales for the California q-set. Journal of Personality Assessment, 58(1), 51–66. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa5801_5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winter, D. G. (1973). The power motive (p. 146). New York: Free Press.

  • Zacher, H., Rosing, K., & Frese, M. (2011). Age and leadership: The moderating role of legacy beliefs. The Leadership Quarterly, 22(1), 43–50. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2010.12.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research reported in this manuscript was supported by a grant from the Foley Family Foundation to establish the Foley Center for the Study of Lives at Northwestern University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foley Center for the Study of Lives, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, 2120 Campus Drive, Room 216, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA

    Nicky J. Newton, Jennifer M. Herr, Jessica I. Pollack & Dan P. McAdams

Authors
  1. Nicky J. Newton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jennifer M. Herr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jessica I. Pollack
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dan P. McAdams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicky J. Newton.

Appendix: Coding Scheme for Lasting Impression (Legacy)

Appendix: Coding Scheme for Lasting Impression (Legacy)

Script

Definition

Examples

Self

Respondent expresses concerns about making a lasting impression that is related to his or herself or is solely meaningful in a personal way

“I took it under my wing to start working on the family history.”

“…to turn my dissertation into a book”

Other

Respondent expresses concerns about making a lasting impression for people or places outside of her immediate circle of care, or for the greater good

“I am really big with the League of Women voters. I do a lot for that and that is all volunteer”

“I might go do the Peace Corps.”

“…help the homeless and help abused women”

Composite

Respondent expresses concerns for making a lasting impression that is both self- and other-focused, can be in a single statement (1) or with respect to one particular situation (2)

(1) “Publish another book that would help young women”

(2) “I do, aside from monetary donations, si—signing up voters and doing rallies and mailings and I’ve taken my daughter to Washington more than once. And we’ve—I like to think that makes a difference, and I have said to her, this is what—this is how we work here”

  1. NB: Overall response can contain multiple examples of self, other, or composite scripts

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Newton, N.J., Herr, J.M., Pollack, J.I. et al. Selfless or Selfish? Generativity and Narcissism as Components of Legacy. J Adult Dev 21, 59–68 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-013-9179-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-013-9179-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation