Abstract:

This study aims to construct localized generativity of Taiwan. Generativity is an inner desire of an individual to assist others or to contribute to the society. In the progress of ageing, adults wished they could continue nurturing, guiding and mentoring their offspring, and to pass on their experience and wisdom to the next generation. Therefore, generativity was considered to be an important way to successful ageing in maturation and old ages. In short, generativity is an endless inner power, which is possessed by all, to help one’s descendants and others, and to fulfill one’s life.

According to the monthly bulletin of population statistic, given by Ministry of Interior (2018), the population aged over 65 is 3,284,353, accounting for 13.93% of the total population as of January 2018. How to assist older adults to meet the challenges, to realize the significance and value of their old age life, is the priority task of older educators. Accordingly, generativity is highly important in education for older adults because learning will support older adults to perform better in new roles which they have regained from voluntary contribution or social services (Villar, 2012).

Erikson (1997) pointed out in his Psychosocial Developmental Theory that if an individual was lack of active participation while progressing from stage 7 to stage 8, the individual will tend to be in despair, getting pessimistic. This will eventually cause the individual fail to achieve self-identity. Moreover, Schoklitsch and Baumann (2011) emphasized that generativity is an essential factor to maintain psychological health in old ages. This theory had been approved by Baltes and Baltes (1990) that they regarded generativity and wisdom as the best portrayal of the old age life. It can be seen that generativity is indeed an important study issue in the field of gerontology.

In addition, older adults have contributive needs, according to McClusky’s (1971) Margin Theory of Needs. Older adults wanted to give a helping hand to the society. They hoped that both their contribution and themselves will be valued and appreciated. Through their devotion, they wished they could change public’s stereotype of older adults. To be concrete, the purpose of this study is as follows:
1. To explore and to study the role of generativity played in old age life.
2. To describe features of generativity and its influences to old age life.
3. To construct localized generativity model of Taiwan to expand older adults’ social participation.

In order to achieve the study goal, this study was based on literature review and interview method to depict older adults making self-contribution by social participation, giving meanings to contribution services throughout the process, and then to build localized generativity model. The main discovery of the research was that the development process of older adults generativity model of Taiwan included 8 features: motivation source, concern, belief, commitment, preparation, action, narration, and future. This result echoed to the generativity model proposed by McAdams and de St. Aubin(1992). After attending this session, participants will be able to understand the contribution of generativity to social participant of older adults and generativity model of Taiwan.

Keywords:

Generativity, older adult learning, social participation, model constructing.