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Caring for the earth: Environmental activism, identity and generativity in youth versus midlife adults Introduction Research Team: Erika Mohle, Elise Bisson, Sean Mackinnon, Susan Alisat, Dr. Joan Norris and Dr. Michael Pratt Department of Psychology Method Results • Hypothesis 1: As expected, exemplars in both age groups were significantly higher in generativity than non-exemplars (p < .05). See Table 1. •Hypothesis 2: As hypothesized, exemplar individuals scored significantly higher than their non- exemplar counterparts on Clayton’s environmental identity scale (p < .01) • Hypothesis 3: As expected, a significant interaction showed that non-exemplar youth were the least advanced in identity maturity (p < .05). See Table 2. Discussion • Erikson’s (1963) model of ego development states that the 7 th , midlife phase of the life cycle is characterized by stagnation vs. generativity • Individuals high on generativity are described as being more invested in the care of future generations as a legacy of the self • Currently, care for the environment of future generations is a vital societal domain for expressing generative concern • McAdams (2001), Lawford et al. (2005) and others have proposed that generativity may also be relevant to younger people • 2 (Exemplar vs. Non-exemplar) x 2 (Youth vs. Midlife) Factorial Design •Youth: age 18-27, Midlife: age 28- 60 •Exemplars showed sustained participation in environmental activities beyond everyday lifestyle choices. •Two-way Age Group X Activism ANOVAs •Young exemplars exceed non-exemplar youth on generative concern (LGS), and are at an equivalent level as their midlife exemplar counterparts •Exemplar youth demonstrate higher levels of identity maturity than their non-exemplar peers, equivalent to midlife adults •This indicates that environmental activism may be a catalyst for the expression of generativity among youth as well as for identity growth •Hypothesis 1: Main effect of exemplar status on generativity, but no age effect since exemplar youth will be equivalent to exemplar midlife on generativity •Hypothesis 2: Main effect of exemplar status on environmental identity, but no age effect •Hypothesis 3: An interaction on identity maturity (McLean & Pratt, 2006) since environmental exemplar youth will be accelerated in identity Hypotheses Variable Measure Generativi ty Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS) of McAdams and de St. Aubin (1992) Environmen tal Identity Standard questionnaire developed by Clayton (2003) Identity Maturity Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (OMEIS) of Adams and colleagues (1989) References Adams, G. R., Bennion, L., & Huh, K. (1989). Objective measure of ego identity status: A reference manual . Unpublished manual, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario. Clayton, S. (2003). Environmental identity: A conceptual and an operational definition. In S. Clayton & S. Opotow (Eds.), Identity and the natural environment. (pp. 45-65). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Erikson, E. (1963). Childhood and society. (2nd edition). New York: Norton. Lawford, Heather, Pratt, Michael W., Hunsberger, B. & Pancer, S. Mark. (2005). Adolescent Generativity: A longitudinal study of two possible contexts for learning concern for future generations. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 15, 261-273. McAdams, D. P. (2001). Generativity at midlife. In M. Lachman (Ed.), Handbook of midlife development. (pp. 395-443). New York: Wiley. McAdams, Dan P. & de St. Aubin, Ed (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, 1003-1015. Mclean, Kate C. & Pratt, Michael, W. (2006). Life's little (and big) lessons: Identity statuses and meaning-making in the turning point narratives of emerging adults.

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Caring for the earth: Environmental activism, identity and generativity in youth versus midlife adults. Research Team: Erika Mohle, Elise Bisson, Sean Mackinnon, Susan Alisat, Dr. Joan Norris and Dr. Michael Pratt Department of Psychology. Introduction. Discussion. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Caring for the earth: Environmental activism, identity and

Caring for the earth: Environmental activism, identity and generativity in youth versus midlife adults

Introduction

Research Team: Erika Mohle, Elise Bisson, Sean Mackinnon, Susan Alisat, Dr. Joan Norris and Dr. Michael Pratt

Department of Psychology

Method Results

• Hypothesis 1: As expected, exemplars in both

age groups were significantly higher in

generativity than non-exemplars (p < .05). See

Table 1.

•Hypothesis 2: As hypothesized, exemplar

individuals scored significantly higher than their

non-exemplar counterparts on Clayton’s

environmental identity scale (p < .01)

• Hypothesis 3: As expected, a significant

interaction showed that non-exemplar youth

were the least advanced in identity maturity (p

< .05). See Table 2.

Discussion

• Erikson’s (1963) model of ego development

states that the 7th, midlife phase of the life cycle is

characterized by stagnation vs. generativity

• Individuals high on generativity are described as

being more invested in the care of future

generations as a legacy of the self

• Currently, care for the environment of future

generations is a vital societal domain for

expressing generative concern

• McAdams (2001), Lawford et al. (2005) and

others have proposed that generativity may also

be relevant to younger people

• 2 (Exemplar vs. Non-exemplar) x 2 (Youth vs.

Midlife) Factorial Design

•Youth: age 18-27, Midlife: age 28-60

•Exemplars showed sustained participation in

environmental activities beyond everyday

lifestyle choices.

•Two-way Age Group X Activism ANOVAs

•Young exemplars exceed non-exemplar youth on

generative concern (LGS), and are at an

equivalent level as their midlife exemplar

counterparts

•Exemplar youth demonstrate higher levels of

identity maturity than their non-exemplar peers,

equivalent to midlife adults

•This indicates that environmental activism may

be a catalyst for the expression of generativity

among youth as well as for identity growth

•Hypothesis 1: Main effect of exemplar status on

generativity, but no age effect since exemplar

youth will be equivalent to exemplar midlife on

generativity

•Hypothesis 2: Main effect of exemplar status on

environmental identity, but no age effect

•Hypothesis 3: An interaction on identity maturity

(McLean & Pratt, 2006) since environmental

exemplar youth will be accelerated in identity

maturation compared to non-exemplar youth, but

midlife adults will be advanced regardless

Hypotheses

Variable MeasureGenerativity Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS)

of McAdams and de St. Aubin (1992)

Environmental Identity

Standard questionnaire developed by Clayton (2003)

Identity Maturity

Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (OMEIS) of Adams and colleagues (1989)

References

Adams, G. R., Bennion, L., & Huh, K. (1989). Objective measure of ego identity status: A reference manual. Unpublished manual, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.

Clayton, S. (2003). Environmental identity: A conceptual and an operational definition. In S. Clayton & S. Opotow (Eds.), Identity and the natural environment. (pp. 45-65). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Erikson, E. (1963). Childhood and society. (2nd edition). New York: Norton.

Lawford, Heather, Pratt, Michael W., Hunsberger, B. & Pancer, S. Mark. (2005). Adolescent Generativity: A longitudinal study of two possible contexts for learning concern for future generations. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 15, 261-273.

McAdams, D. P. (2001). Generativity at midlife. In M. Lachman (Ed.), Handbook of midlife development. (pp. 395-443). New York: Wiley.

McAdams, Dan P. & de St. Aubin, Ed (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, 1003-1015.

Mclean, Kate C. & Pratt, Michael, W. (2006). Life's little (and big) lessons: Identity statuses and meaning-making in the turning point narratives of emerging adults. Developmental Psychology, 42, 714-722.