Generativity in the INTJ world

[rika]

Erik Erikson defined psychosocial stages of development. He believed that the dominant task of the adult years is generativity. Others have developed a scale to measure differences in concern with generativity. Here are the activities:

volunteering to work for a charity
trying to be creative in one's actions
assuming responsibility for others who are less fortunate
having children or adopting them
teaching important skills to others
having a positive impact on others
being committed to other people, groups, and activites
providing advice to other people
believing the one's contributions will survive after death
feeling needed by other people

(from Personality Theories by Barbara Engler)


How does this fit into the INTJ world?
Where do you see yourself?

[Night Runner]

Looks like something better suited to feelers/sensors - and even then, it depends on a person. It makes a rather sweeping presumption that an "advanced," developed person is the one that puts emphasis on socializing and feelings. In a way, this reminds me of the scam known as Emotional IQ (and its bastard offspring, EIQ-2, -3, etc...): if you're not a touchy-feely treehugger, you won't get a high score. :irked:

As for the list itself:
Most charities are overburdened by high administrative costs and/or poor management, so to hell with that.
Creativity is good.
Some are less fortunate for a reason (compare the concepts of fortuna and personal responsibility)
I dislike children
Teaching only works when people want to be taught - otherwise, it's just a waste of oxygen.
An impact for the sake of impact?
Commitment for the sake of commitment?
I stopped giving out advice after ~100th person blatantly ignored it and did the exact opposite.
The contributions issue reeks of midlife crisis and unresolved death issues.
Some personality types "feel needed" a lot more than others...

[True Rune]

So we get less selfish as we get older?

Good.

[Autumnleaf]

As an INTJ I don't put much stock into models other people make. Especially when it pertains to their opinions of how I should live my life, unless they have guns and the ability/authority to lock me up that is.

[GouldFan]

How does this fit into the INTJ world?
Where do you see yourself?

I am not sure if I would be fond of using such list as a checklist to measure my own generativity, but most of what's on the list seem to be somewhat aligned with what I considered important in life (something I thought about doing eventually). I would tweak the list to suit my inclinations though.

It is hard to state where I am with respect to that list, since I am not really settled in my life yet. I volunteer for selfish reasons (applying to post-grad programs), I help others for similar reasons, and lot of what I do right now are geared towards my needs at the moment. I hope this will eventually shift and be of some benefit to society (well... I did not used to care much, but after watching Solid State Society, I have been thinking about it more).

[rika]

So we get less selfish as we get older?

Good.

That is indeed the whole point.

As an INTJ I don't put much stock into models other people make.

Sure, it is of great importance to make up one's own mind about how to live one's life.
It may be worth looking at different models though and then assemble one's own sloution from those.

I volunteer for selfish reasons (applying to post-grad programs), I help others for similar reasons, and lot of what I do right now are geared towards my needs at the moment.

Volunteering for selfish reasons is ok. It sort of creates a win-win situation. So why not.

[BuShinJu]

volunteering to work for a charity
trying to be creative in one's actions
assuming responsibility for others who are less fortunate
having children or adopting them
teaching important skills to others
having a positive impact on others
being committed to other people, groups, and activites
providing advice to other people
believing the one's contributions will survive after death
feeling needed by other people



For most of these I would only do them if the person or organisation approached me or if some event/accident happened right in front of me, then I would help. I actually think it is quite intrusive when someone forces their help upon you, even if it is well meaning and for the best, it is still intrusive.

I am trying to be creative and want to leave things behind when I am dead. But more importantly I just want to do my time and then get out of here, and hopefully along to way I will have accumulated some wisdom.

[rika]

For most of these I would only do them if the person or organisation approached me or if some event/accident happened right in front of me, then I would help. I actually think it is quite intrusive when someone forces their help upon you, even if it is well meaning and for the best, it is still intrusive.

I am trying to be creative and want to leave things behind when I am dead. But more importantly I just want to do my time and then get out of here, and hopefully along to way I will have accumulated some wisdom.

Actually, wisdom is the outcome of Erikson's final psychosocial stage - the old age.
So, as expected from an INTJ, you seem to have the 'right' target in mind!

[Vagrant]

Consider that everything put into the list above is a form of altruism, in one way or another. Anybody who engages in altruism without at least expecting something in return is a fool, as you will just get used and abused.

[Gamgee]

That I help the human race survive as long as possible, and thrive for as long as possible. So we can see that better day in the far future. That we may know and learn so much more about ourselves and the universe.

Try and stick that on a scale.

[Paul Siraisi]

We old should help the young.

[DrEvil]

I think there is plenty here for INTJ's:


providing advice to other people - correcting their grammar, pointing out their spurious logic. It helps them better themselves.
being committed to other people, groups, and activites - very committed to the small number of friends we have - lifers. Passionately committed to groups and activities that we feel are of value.
believing the one's contributions will survive after death - I think a lot of us want to make a positive mark on the world. Some suceed, and for all the right reasons.
having a positive impact on others - by showing them the magnificent power of clear thinking we are enhancing their lives in a way they probably don't quite understand - yet.
teaching important skills to others - see above.
volunteering to work for a charity - plenty of us do millions of hours of work for things we believe are valuable. Maybe not soup kitchens, but websites, journals, etc..
trying to be creative in one's actions - our thoughts are creative and original. While others might not necessarily see the creativity in our actions they are there. We ration our actions and words.

assuming responsibility for others who are less fortunate - not really INTJ stuff??
having children or adopting them - I have kids and love them dearly, but many others have no interest - power to them for making that decision! Maybe more of the no's than the yes' in this group, probably overwhelmingly so.

feeling needed by other people - in a simplistic sense of needing emotional support, I would say no.