Generativity and moral development as predictors of value-socialization narratives for young persons across the adult life span: From lessons learned to stories shared.

TLDR

Little research has examined storytelling as a channel of value socialization, and the study also assessed generative concern and moral reasoning stage level. The study recruited 129 adults across three age groups who were asked to narrate two past value‑learning experiences for adolescents. Higher generative concern predicted greater perceived lessons learned, stronger value‑socialization investment, and more engaging narratives for adolescents, while higher moral reasoning correlated with generative concern and perceived lessons, underscoring generativity’s importance across the adult lifespan.

Abstract

Little research so far has examined storytelling as a channel of value socialization. In the present study, 129 adults from 3 age groups (18-26, 28-50, 60-75) were asked to tell stories for adolescents about 2 of their past value-learning experiences. Generative concern (D. P. McAdams & E. de St. Aubin, 1992) and moral reasoning stage level were also assessed. Stronger generative concern was predictive of a greater sense of having learned important lessons from these past events, of stronger adult value socialization investment, and of more engaging narratives for adolescents as judged by a panel of uninstructed raters. Higher levels of moral reasoning were positively related to generative concern and to a stronger sense of past lessons learned. Generativity appears important to the project of value socialization across the adult life span.