Talkin' bout my generation (and others)

A review of “Generations” by Jean M. Twenge, PhD

“The era when you were born has a substantial influence on your behaviors, attitudes, values, and personality traits. In fact, when you were born has a larger effect on your personality and attitudes than the family who raised you does.” - Jean M. Twenge, PhD

I’ve always found polling fascinating. You can take a sample that is a tiny fraction of the larger population () and if you get the right mix of ages, ethnicities, education and other demographics, you can get a pretty accurate guess at what the larger population thinks and feels about a particular issue. Many would like to believe we are all unique, free-thinking individuals but our beliefs are, more than anything, the product of our environment.

That’s why I found Jean Twenge’s carefully researched book, “Generations,” fascinating. Twenge draws upon analyses of 24 datasets including 39 million people to learn more about the six living generations (Silents: born 1925-1945, Boomers: born 1946-1964, Generation X: born 1965-1979, Millennials: born 1980-1994, Generation Z: born 1995-2012, Polars: 2013-2029).

The central thesis of the book is that technology is the main driver of generational change, and I think Twenge makes a compelling case. Whether through advances in medical care, the creation of the internet or the ubiquity of smartphones, technology more than anything else radically changes the way people live their lives, and in turn, how each generation experiences the world.

Following are some takeaways about each of the generations (minus the polars, they are too young):

Silents (born 1925-1945)

I recently came across my grandpa’s college yearbook (class of 1959) and within the pages is evidence of a striking fact about the world Silents grew up in: the conformity. All the men have nearly identical, very short haircuts and the women similarly have only slight variations on rolls with long hair. This is not how my college yearbook looks as a millennial.

But the conformity that Silents grew up in is also something many of this generation pushed back against. While Boomers are often credited with the cultural changes of the 60s (when many were only toddlers or teenagers), it was the Silents who led the Civil Rights Movement, counterculture revolutions and protests against Vietnam. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bob Dylan, Mary Tyler Moore, Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem and Muhammad Ali are all Silents.

Compared to later generations, Silents married younger, had more kids, are more trusting of others, and tend to be more conservative. Despite growing up during enormous upheaval (The Great Depression, WWII) they have remarkably resilient levels of mental health, especially compared to the Greatest Generation before them and Boomers who came after (and certainly compared to later generations like Millennials and Gen Z).

Baby Boomers (1945-1964)

One of the most defining characteristics of the Baby Boomer generation (named after the boom of babies that occurred in the years after WWII) is the sheer size of it. In the years between 1945 and 1964, 76 million babies were born in the U.S., which is larger than the current population of France. Keep in mind that the total population of the US in 1964 was 190 million.

The sheer size of this generation is what led to their cultural dominance. Of the last five U.S. presidents, four have been Baby Boomers. From entertainment (Meryl Streep, Jerry Seinfeld, James Cameron) to sports (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson) to tech titans (Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos), Baby Boomers shaped the culture in ways few generations had before.

Baby Boomer’s more individualistic focus (compared to their collectivist Silent Generation parents) also had a profound influence on the culture. That individualism also led Boomers to continue the fight for Civil Rights that the Silent Generation began, and push for change in other areas such as gender equality.

Gen X (1965-1979)

If there is a middle child of the generations, it is Generation X. Sandwiched between two massive generations (Boomers and Millennials), this smaller generation is sometimes overlooked. They’re parents were more likely to be divorced than previous generations, and Gen X often tended to themselves as “latchkey kids” who spent more time alone and unsupervised.

Given the environment described above, along with a spike in violent crime in the 90s, it shouldn’t be a surprise that cynicism and distrust of authority were common traits among this generation. Of course, the poster child for 90s grunge, Kurt Cobain, was a Gen X’er. Unlike the generations before, Gen X also showed an apathy toward politics, but did show an interest in environmental causes, accepting differences and an openness to new ideas.

Millennials (1980-1994)

“Millennials were the most planned and wanted generation in American history to date.” Known for their sky-high self-esteem, individualism, entitlement and desire for fame, there was little this generation (my generation) felt it couldn’t do.

And then it all came crashing down with The Great Recession. Millennials were happy as teens, but are depressed as adults. They perceive themselves to have gotten screwed economically, unable to afford things like buying a home at the same age as previous generations. But is that true? Apparently not, according to Twenge. Millennials actually make more money than previous generations did at that same age and own homes at close to the same rates as previous generations.

There were many reasons given for this disconnect, but one really stuck out: Millennials were given sky-high expectations for life (from their mostly Boomer parents) and when reality didn’t meet those possibly unrealistic expectations, their happiness suffered.

Gen Z (1995-2012)

Gen Z is the most racially diverse generation in American history. While Silents were born into an America where 78% of the population was White, Gen Z is 53% White. This generation’s diversity isn’t just about race. Higher percentages of Gen Z identify as transgender or nonbinary and significantly higher percentages identify as bisexual (more than double the percentage of Millennials).

This generation is also known for its interest in physical and emotional safety. Once a beloved rite of passage, fewer Gen Z’ers are getting drivers licenses. Going out is less common as this generation opts more and more to stay in and socialize via the internet. While one might be tempted to blame these traits on the fact this generation spent part of high school or college in lockdown during COVID-19, the fact is these trends were forming long before 2020.

READ: “Boomers? Zoomers? Gen X’ers? Millennials? The Psychologist Who Wrote the Book on Generations Thinks We Could All Use Some Perspective,” Vanity Fair

LISTEN: “Jean Twenge On Gen Z's Social Crisis,” Andrew Sullivan

WATCH: “From Boomers to Zoomers with Jean Twenge,” Coleman Hughes