As personality variables, authoritarianism and generativity, respectively, seem to parallel Lakoff's(1996) strict father and nurturant parent orientations toward the world. Lakoff proposed that these two primary value systems are important for adults in the United States. Strict father morality is characterized by seeing the world as a dangerous place and valuing moral strength, authority, and retribution (like authoritarianism). Nurturant parent morality, in contrast, is characterized by compassion, empathy, and fair distribution of opportunities and responsibilities (like generativity).