Generativity Vs Stagnation Analysis

J.K Rowling: Generativity vs. Stagnation
Mikaela Andringa
Grand Canyon University: Psy 357
14 November 2014

J.K. Rowling is the best-selling author of the one of the most popular book/film franchises in history, Harry Potter. Joanne Rowling was born in July 1965 (Smith, 2014). Jo left her hometown of Chepstow for Exeter University. There she earned a French and Classics degree. After her graduation she moved to London and did a variety of jobs including one at Amnesty International (Smith, 2014). She came up with the idea for the Harry Potter series during a delayed King’s Cross train ride. Throughout the following five years Rowling outlined the plot for all of the seven novels and started writing the first novel. Around the same
time that her mother died, and she credits that experience to be influential to the theme of death that is seen in her books (Smith, 2014). Jo then moved to northern Portugal. She married for the first time in October of 1992 and had her first daughter in 1993. After her divorce due to a marriage filled with turmoil Rowling and her daughter returned to the UK to live in Edinburgh, where she could have more of an impact and follow her life long dream of becoming an author. She quit her job as a secretary to do something in which she found meaning in and decided to become an author full time. Bloomsbury Children’s Books published the first novel in June 1997, under the penname of J.K. Rowling (Smith, 2014).
I choose to compare the life of J.K Rowling to Erickson’s seventh stage generatively vs.
stagnation. Generativity versus stagnation “is the seventh stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development (Marushima, 48).” The generativity vs. stagnation phase is in “middle adulthood” between the ages of 40 and 65 (Slater, 2013, 5). The major question asked in this stage is how can I contribute to his world? In this stage, adults aim to generate or nurture things that will endure them. This is usually done, through parenting kids, or making positive changes to the world that benefits other people. An important need at the generativity versus stagnation stage of development is contributing to society and doing things to benefit future generations (Psychosocial processes, 2007, 2). Generativity is the "making of your mark" on the world, by creating things, caring for others, and accomplishing things that make the world a better place. Stagnation is the “inability to find a way to contribute in a positive way (Psychosocial processes, 2007, 2).” These individuals may feel disconnected or uninvolved with their community and with society as a whole. Those who consider themselves successful during this period will know that they are giving to the world by being active in their home and community. Those who fail to attain this skill will feel unproductive and uninvolved in the world. It’s common for the majority of people to produce generativity through the parenting of children;
however, there are other paths to achieving the same goal. Erikson considers “teaching, writing, invention, the arts and sciences, social activism, and generally contributing to the welfare of future generations to be generativity as well (Marushima, 48).” Generativity is whatever fills that old "need to be needed.
It is clear that J.K Rowling has left a mark on this world.
She created something beautiful that influenced an entire generation. If you think for a moment not about her characters being characters, but if you think about the characters and the lives they have within in the books you come to an understanding that in fact to a certain level because they exist in the collective consensus of a generation, they do exist. The “ Potter World” started as a literary thing and has shifted a generation with a of mentality for “geekiness” for things such as star wars and star trek to a generation with an appetite for reading and literature. J.K Rowling has generated a whole new world the world of magic that is real to many. She inspired a generation of children to rediscover where books could take them. J.K Rowling’s life supports Erickson theory of midlife. She desired to share an intimate personal part of herself, her soul and in turn to leave her legacy for the benefit of others. When asked about the best part of the potter phenomena she was quoted saying “This. Talking to people like you about the books definitely … I mean, I loved the writing. But aside of the writing-- it staggers me that so many people have loved them and what 's better than that (Smith)?” J.K Rowling wrote her books to impact lives, nothing is better than that.” It is clear that J.K Rowling feels connected to her community and with society as a whole. She should be considered as a success during
because she is and was contributing to the world. J.K Rowling

References
Marushima, R. (n.d). Relation of generativity to self-concept among middle-aged n adults. Japanese Journal Of Educational Psychology, 48(1), 52-62. Slater, C. L. (2003). Generativity Versus Stagnation: An Elaboration of Erikson 's n Adult Stage of Human Development. Journal Of Adult Development, 10(1), m 53. Smith, Suzanne. "J. K. Rowling." Famous Authors. Famous Authors, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. s 2014. Psychosocial processes at the end of life: The relationship between generativity and s fear of death. (2007).