Generativity through the lens of the Light Triad
Generativity through the lens of the Light Triad

Summary/Abstract: Generativity (Erikson. 1980) is a prosocial and future-oriented quality of identity, defined in terms of one’s own role in intergenerational continuity, and focused on care for the next generations and the world they inherit. If “passing the torch” (Vaillant, 2014) is a metaphor for the generative developmental mission, it is worth understanding the personality features that ensure the torch is bright. Our study is dedicated to exploring whether generativity can be predicted based on the model of The Light Triad Traits of personality with its facets: Kantianism, Humanism, and Faith in humanity (Kaufman, Yaden, Hyde, Tsukayama, 2019). Study comprised 232 Bulgarian participants (70% women) aged 16-74 (M = 34.90; SD = 14.46). They filled out two self-report measures – the 12-item Light Triad Scale (LTS; Kaufman, & al., ibid, 2019) and the 20-item Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS; McAdams, & de St. Aubin, 1992), then answered questions about their socio-demographics. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were used to create predictions for generativity by the socio-demographics and the LTS traits. Socio-demographics entered the first model (F (4,226) = 10.344, p < .001; R2 = .155) where educational level (β = .220, p = .001) and marital status (β = .206, p < .01) were identified as significant predictors. LTS traits were added to the second model (F (7,223) = 10.382, p < .001; R2 = .246). The trait of Humanism (β = .249; p < .001) proved to be a significant predictor of the outcome. Findings suggest that higher educational attainment and marital status, combined with a disposition to value human dignity are predictive for generativity.

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