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Comparing Millennials to pre-1987 students and with one another
Abstract and Figures
The authors compared 2004-08 undergraduate and graduate students with one another, test norms, and pre-1987 or pre-1990 undergraduates on ascendancy/self-assuredness, impulse control, achievement assets, psychological health, and narcissism. The 2004-08 undergraduates scored substantially lower than pre-1987 undergraduates on psychological health, achievement assets, and impulse control, somewhat lower on ascendancy/self-assuredness, and higher than pre-1990 undergraduates on narcissism. The 2004-08 graduate students were more similar to pre-1987 and pre-1990 undergraduates than they were to 2004-08 undergraduates. Analysis of means for different personality types enabled more refined descriptions of the characteristics of 2004-08 university students. The authors argue that a decline in academic assets, increased externality and an over-emphasis on self-worth goals adversely affect current students' academic performance. They also suggest that the increased prevalence of externally oriented and low Fulfillment students exacerbates negative faculty perceptions of this college-attending generation.
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... Studies that explore differences between generations, personality traits or morals have been helpful in explaining differences in the giving behavior between younger and older donors. Common themes include how generational differences exist regarding 'concern for others and civic orientation' and levels of 'social concern' and 'selfishness' (Stewart & Bernhardt, 2010) between millennials and previous generations. The findings from these studies shed light on key aspects of generational culture that impact a donor's motivation to give. ...
... The findings from these studies shed light on key aspects of generational culture that impact a donor's motivation to give. For example, it has been shown that millennials score higher on scales testing levels of narcissism than previous generations, having a more inflated sense of self-importance and focusing more narrowly on extrinsic outcomes that enhance their social status (Stewart & Bernhardt, 2010). According to Gentile et al. (2012), millennials rate factors positively correlated with fame and narcissism higher than Boomers did, while considering factors such as community involvement and the environment less important than previous generations. ...
The importance of nonprofit organizations in offering, supporting and promoting solutions to the world’s greatest problems cannot be underscored. However, in order to
accomplish its goals and objectives and maintain a sustainable competitive position,
charitable organizations must focus on effective segmentation and marketing strategies
that create value for donors. This research draws from charitable giving theory, social
exchange theory and relationship marketing literature to examine the influence of a
social factor (social recognition), an emotional factor (attitude towards helping others)
and a functional factor (attitude towards the charitable organizations) on increasing
value for donors from their involvement with a charitable organization. Based on an
overall sample of 320 U.S. donors, all three factors have a significant influence on
driving donor’s value. However, there are significant differences found when the sample
is compared separately based on age, religiosity, donation type and the nature of a
donor’s personal involvement with the organization. Social recognition is significantly
more important among younger and religious donors and donors with a history of
family ties with the organization. However, a donor’s attitude towards the charitable
organizations is found to have a greater effect on perceived value among older donors
and those who benefit personally from the organization’s charitable work. Finally, for
donors who know someone who benefitted from the charitable organization and have
a religious affiliation, their attitude towards helping others is the greater driver of perceived value. The study offers practical insight for nonprofit organizations to create
value for donors by suggesting effective marketing communication strategies aimed at
different segments of the American donor market.
... This loss of 'positive' influences has also contributed to community breakdown, isolation, and despair ( Figure 1). The rise of social media has promoted a culture of superficial self-obsession, with a documented rise in collective narcissism and declining empathy [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]-with damaging consequences at scale [21]. Progressive degradation of physical environments, urban grey space (displacing greenspace), a more sedentary screen-based culture, and shifts towards more ultra-processed food and beverages have contributed to a slow-building global pandemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the past decades-including the exponential rise in mental health disorders. ...
... This loss of 'positive' influences has also contributed to community breakdown, isolation, and despair ( Figure 1). The rise of social media has promoted a culture of superficial self-obsession, with a documented rise in collective narcissism and declining empathy [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]-with damaging consequences at scale [21]. ...
The unprecedented global rise in mental anguish is closely linked with the erosion of our social fabric, economic and political systems, and to our natural environments. We are facing multiple new large-scale threats to health, safety, and security, with a growing lack of trust in others and in authorities. Pervasive stress, anxiety, depression, and uncertainty are of a nature and scale we have never seen before—manifesting in surging violence, community breakdown, domestic abuse, opioid and other drug overdoses, social isolation, and suicides—with alarming new mental health trends in children and young people. This has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and amplified by an exponential increase in the amount and immediacy of information propagated through electronic media—often negative with manipulative intent aimed at dividing opinions through anger and fear. At the same time, there has been progressive erosion of kindness, civility, compassion, and social supports. Here, in this report from a “campfire” meeting held by the Nova Institute for Health, we discuss the importance of understanding the complexity of these interrelated threats which impact individual and collective mental health. Our dialog highlighted the need for efforts that build both individual and community resilience with more empowering, positive, and inspiring shared narratives that increase purpose and belonging. This includes placing greater value on positive assets that promote awareness and resilience, including creativity, spirituality, mindfulness, and nature connection—recognizing that ‘inner’ transitions contribute to shifts in mindsets for ‘outward’ transformation in communities and the world at large. Ultimately, these strategies also encourage and normalize mutualistic values that are essential for collectively improving the health of people, places, and the planet, by overcoming the destructive, exploitative worldviews which created so many of our current challenges in the first place.
... Студије показују да миленијалци остварују веће скорове на скалама које мере нарцистичке црте личности у поређењу са претходним генерацијама (Stewart & Bernhardt, 2010;Trzesniewski et al., 2008;Twenge & Foster, 2010). На основу истраживања које су спровели Твенг и сарадници (2012), популарно стајалиште да су миленијалци брижнији, оријентисани ка заједници и склонији политичком ангажману се није показало као тачно. ...
... These studies show that Millennials have greater scores on scales that measure narcissistic traits than other generations (Stewart & Bernhardt, 2010;Trzesniewski et al., 2008;Twenge & Foster, 2010). The popular view of Millennials as more caring, community-oriented and politically engaged than previous generations is incorrect according to the research conducted by . ...
Whistleblowing cases that shook intelligence community in the last decade have something in common. Edward Snowden, Bradley Manning, and Reality Winner are all members of a single generation - Millennials. We challenge the viewpoint that depicts this generation as a potential "insider threat." Millennials do have certain psychological traits and attitudes that can be related to tendencies towards whistleblowing, but these findings still do not approve the rhetoric that creates distrust towards the generation. This paper proposes a shift from the cultural to the socio-psychological level of analysis, with respect to both cultural and individual characteristics of whistleblowers, but puts more emphasis on the social dimension. In comprehending recent cases of leaking classified information, it is not enough to reduce explanation to some individual personality traits or hide behind an abstraction, such as the concept of generation. To shed more light on the issue, we introduce the concept of the imagined community, such as the open source community, promoting free Internet and transparency of information and knowledge. Therefore, mental membership in an imagined community might be more decisive for blowing the whistle than the global set of values related to the whole generation of Millennials.
... university library databases or study programmes offered on campus). Many scholars have noted that the expectations of millennial students particularly those pursuing degrees in business related disciplines, including operations management, differ from previous generations (Furbeck, Harding, Wohlgemuth and Bousquet, 2004;Chowning and Campbell, 2009;Luckett, Trocchia, Noel and Marlin, 2017;Singleton-Jackson, Jackson and Reinhardt, 2010;Stewart and Bernhardt, 2010). ...
... However, it is important that it represents a different and more effective structure for helpers (Courtois & Verdegem, 2016). Second, we expect help-seekers to be more sociable-that is, to tend more to "affiliate with others and to prefer being with others to remaining alone" (Cheek & Buss, 1981, p. 300)-and to be more amicable (i.e., to be more likely to perceive contact with others as worth and pleasurable; Stewart & Bernhardt, 2010). ...
Seeking help from others is one of the major strategies enabling online viewers to overcome their inability to access audiovisual content. Nevertheless, existing research on digital inequalities has given limited attention to help-seekers. Using a representative sample of Czech adults (N = 4,294), we examined how these viewers differed from successful self-reliants and those who remained on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide. The study rejects the assumption that help-seekers distinction can be attributed to socioeconomic differences. It concludes that the availability of helpers and attitudes toward social interactions are essential and that help-seekers are more likely women.
... Although narcissism is not unique to westernized culture [56], there are signals from population studies in the United States and elsewhere, that narcissism (and/or traits associated with narcissism) has risen over time since the 1980s [57][58][59][60][61][62]. There are also emerging indicators that narcissistic traits among the population ebb and flow in concert with periods of economic growth (higher narcissism) and recession [2]; these shifts might also be intertwined with evolving relationships with social media (Figure 2) [63,64]. ...
Concepts of planetary health attempt to collectively address the biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors contributing to “Anthropocene Syndrome”, which encompasses the many wicked interrelated challenges of our time. It is increasingly evident that the wide array of causative factors is underpinned by attitudes, values, and worldviews. Emerging research suggests that certain dispositions or ‘traits’—observable along the continuum from individuals to large groups—may be central to the promotion of health of all systems, at all scales. Here in this viewpoint, we focus on the personality trait of narcissism in the collective context of planetary health. First described in 1852 by pioneering psychiatrist Joseph Guislain, the Mania of Narcissus refers to ‘the patient infatuated with his beauty, his charms, his wit, dress, talents, and birth’. We argue that Guislain’s observations are not restricted to the clinical setting, and that a larger-scale narcissism can interfere with the principles of planetary health. We propose that increasing narcissism, at scales ranging from the individual to the collective, is an important consideration in attitudes and behaviors that undermine health along the continuum of person, place, and planet. Despite a growing body of research directed at collective narcissism, and the role that empathy plays in healthy relationships between humans and nature, it is our contention that the role of narcissism and empathy are important but neglected aspects of the planetary health agenda.
Introduction
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that affects all age groups. The impact of AD on patients' lives could differ across generations. Understanding the differences in objective and subjective severity of AD between generations may support more personalized care for the AD patients. Thus, this study aimed to compare the clinical severity and subjective impact of AD between generation Z (GZ) and the millennial generation (MG).
Materials and methods
We carried out a cross‐sectional observational study in patients diagnosed with moderate to severe AD born between 1993–2001 (GZ) and 1978–1992 (MG) who attended an AD specialist care unit for the first time. We collected severity indices evaluated by the dermatologist, such as the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) or the Investigator Global Assessment (IGA), and severity scales that included patient assessment, such as the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) or the Patient‐Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM).
Results
A total of 73 patients were included, of which 56.2% (41/73) were women. 52.86% (37/73) of the patients belonged to the MG, and 43.8% (33/73) belonged to GZ. Patients belonging to GZ presented lower severity of their AD compared to the MG (EASI: 9.75 ± 11.68 vs. 16.63 ± 14.66; P < 0.05). However, their perception of disease severity was similar to the MG (SCORAD: 43.54 ± 28.99 vs. 32.98 ± 21.91; P = 0.96; POEM: 13.21 ± 8.98 vs. 15.48 ± 6.69; P = 0.14).
Conclusions
GZ presents a higher subjective perception of severity than millennials. Understanding these generational disparities contributes to creating more effective treatment strategies and provides a more targeted approach to care that addresses each generational group's unique needs and expectations.
Background. Against the background of increased attention to the category of generation in social psychology, the methodological possibility of studying generations and intergenerational differences is analyzed. The existing limitations of this kind of research are suggested and classified; methods for leveling these limitations are proposed. Objective is to propose and test an empirically correct scheme for the study of generations in social psychology. Sample. The material on which this scheme was tested was obtained in the course of an Internet survey (951 people). Methods. The survey included a modified author's Lifeline methodology to explore perceptions of cultural life scenarios. The method of analysis of the results involved the study of the possibility to apply APC (age-period-cohort) analysis to socio-psychological studies of intergenerational differences. Results. A scheme for the study of intergenerational differences has been proposed and substantiated, including, in particular, the use of theoretical meta-analyses, the methodology of APC analysis and the study of complex attitudes of the cultural life script (CLS). Conclusions. The conclusion is made on the need to abandon studies of traditional generations and the need to move to smaller units of analysis — quasi-generations in line with socio-psychological methodology.
Introduction
The objective of this study is to research personality trait differences across generations and the impact of age, gender and self-presentation on these traits.
Methods
A total of 82,147 applicants (aged 17–24) for aviation training (pilot, air traffic controller), born between 1965 and 2002, were divided into three cohorts (Generation X, Y, Z). We analysed data from the temperament structure scales (TSS) personality questionnaire, which was collected during selection procedures between 1987 and 2019. Generational differences were analysed by ANCOVAs with generation and gender as group factors, controlled by age and self-presentation (social desirability).
Results
Age had no significant impact, but we observed slight gender differences in emotional stability, vitality, empathy, and self-presentation across all generations. The generational differences found exhibited extremely small effect sizes, suggesting that applicants have become more extraverted, controlled (with lower aggression and higher rigidity), and inclined to present themselves in a more favourable manner.
Discussion
We discuss the implications of these findings for the aviation industry and the applicability of Generation theory in personality trait research.
Why is language so important to the ways that we make sense of anxiety? This book uses corpus assisted discourse analysis to examine twenty-three million words of text posted to a forum for people with anxiety. It shows how linguistic techniques like catastrophisation and anthropomorphisation can result in very different conceptualisations of anxiety, as well as how aspects of identity like age, sex and cultural background can impact on understandings of anxiety and how it ought to be managed. It tracks the changing identities of posters, from their first posts to their last, and incorporates a range of corpus-based techniques to examine the language data, enabling consideration of interaction between participants and features associated with online forms of communication like emoji. It ultimately provides a step towards a better understanding of different responses to anxiety and aims to promote further engagement with this topic in the field of applied linguistics.
Social commentators have argued that changes over the last decades have coalesced to create a relatively unique generation of young people. However, using large samples of U.S. high-school seniors from 1976 to 2006 (Total N = 477,380), we found little evidence of meaningful change in egotism, self-enhancement, individualism, self-esteem, locus of control, hopelessness, happiness, life satisfaction, loneliness, antisocial behavior, time spent working or watching television, political activity, the importance of religion, and the importance of social status over the last 30 years. Today's youth are less fearful of social problems than previous generations and they are also more cynical and less trusting. In addition, today's youth have higher educational expectations than previous generations. However, an inspection of effect sizes provided little evidence for strong or widespread cohort-linked changes.
© The Author(s) 2010.
In this commentary on the article by Trzesniewski and Donnellan (2010, this issue), I focus on the question of why young people today are viewed so negatively, despite the lack of evidence that they are worse (or worse off) now than they were in decades past. I propose that an important reason is the rise of emerging adulthood as a new life stage in between adolescence and young adulthood. Emerging adulthood developed in part because young people enter adult roles of stable work, marriage, and parenthood later now than they did in the past, leading many older people to view them as "late" or selfish, and the new features of this new life stage are frequently misunderstood and misinterpreted. I emphasize that the rise emerging adulthood is not merely generational but is likely to be a permanent addition to the life course.
© The Author(s) 2010.
A substantial majority of published studies have reported increases of individualism and materialism and declines in mental health and interpersonal trust over generations. The data Trzesniewski and Donnellan (2010, this issue) present from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey of high-school students is almost entirely consistent with these previous findings, showing decreases in civic interest and trust and increases in high expectations, materialism, and self-satisfaction. Problems with measurement and variable labeling explain the few seeming discrepancies. They analyze only 15% of the variables in MTF, ignoring many others that also demonstrate increases in individualistic traits. Ecological correlations are not an issue in previous studies as the individual-level standard deviation is used to compute effect sizes. Increases in narcissism are clear when important moderator variables (e.g., campus) are controlled. The real puzzle is why these authors' conclusions fall so far from the data.
© The Author(s) 2010.
This case study describes recent experiences with two classes of "Generation Me" psychology majors. The teacher compares the self-descriptions and behaviors of current college students with those of students from three earlier decades. Through self-critical reflections, he evaluates his instructional decisions with the two classes. He concludes that meaningful learning is best served by maintaining academic standards—even when there is some lessening of student and teacher comfort levels.
According to cross-temporal meta-analyses (Twenge, 2000, 2001), social trends over the last decades have powerfully influenced the personality profiles of children and students, with effects accounting for 20% of the variance of Neuroticism and Extraversion. However, Trzesniewski and Donnellan (2010, this issue), who examined a large and representative U.S. high-school student sample, found little evidence of secular trends. In this commentary, I emphasize the distinction between cohort and period effects and review findings from longitudinal and cross-cultural studies on the role of social trends and other cultural influences on personality traits. Analyses of adult personality scores from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging provide little support for powerful secular effects on Neuroticism and Extraversion; evidence supports a secular trend of declining trust, along with additional small effects on other facets of personality. Analyses of personality scores from around the world suggest that social and cultural differences account for about 5% of the variance on major dimensions of personality. The integration of findings from multiple perspectives provides useful insights into the role of the environment on personality traits.
© The Author(s) 2010.
Many children are now on the Internet receiving almost instant responses to queries. Groups can form instant "chat rooms," creating rapid virtual social gatherings. A recent cartoon by Mike Twohy in the Washington Post (1/11/00) depicted a young boy leaving the family dinner table in anger while shouting "Fine- I'll go talk to my chat room family!" This indeed captures the sense that he no longer has to tolerate whatever discomfort and frustration he experienced with his family. The instant solution is available through the capability of technology to readily substitute a new social entity and gratify his perceived needs. This document discusses the issues arising in children, due to technology today.