RESEARCH PROJECTS

Generative Leadership of Seniors

Current demographic data clearly suggests that the seniors (people over 60) segment of the population is increasing proportionally faster in the West, and that both China and India are beginning to experience a proportionally younger population structure.

The psychologist, Erik H. Erickson, was one of the first to suggest that a large proportion of the senior population can achieve a "generative" stage of development. In this stage, people are motivated to contribute to their communities in a positive fashion. (See the URL: http://www.ilcusa.org/_lib/pdf/hva200308.pdf for more information on this notion.)

This research project attempts to define concretely the potential ethical leadership contributions that seniors might be able to make to our organizations.

The project will more clearly define the interests and specific abilities of this important segment of the population, in an attempt to identify strategies for better integrating seniors into our society and in particular, into our organizations.

Researchers : Valerie Benz (project manager), Pauline J. Albert, Suzanne Baer, Thierry C. Pauchant

Creativity and aging
Baer, Suzanne. (2004). Re-Creating selves: Older women in academic degree programs (pp. 32-42). Unpublished doctoral dissertation, UMI Number 3120893. The Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA.

Fundraising campaign for this project

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