{"id":11977,"date":"2024-02-07T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/holistic.news\/en\/?p=11977"},"modified":"2024-02-06T15:54:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T14:54:25","slug":"generation-z-a-calm-cohort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/holistic.news\/en\/generation-z-a-calm-cohort\/","title":{"rendered":"Generation Z: A \u201cCalm\u201d Cohort?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It is commonly assumed that Generation Z includes people born between 1995\u20132012 (some move the first date back by several years). It is called the internet generation as they have matured with the development of the worldwide web and do not know any other reality. Another term for this group is Generation C (connect, communicate, change).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sociologists \u2013 with the reservation that this generation is still poorly recognized \u2013 are looking for its distinguishing features. Aside from gaining knowledge, entertainment and making friends online, they describe this group as relatively open-minded, direct, curious about the world, fond of traveling, and susceptible to change. At the same time, they are demanding \u2013 they expect a lot not only from parents or relatives but also from the authorities or employers. As for social skills, opinions are divided. Many researchers claim that the \u201cZs\u201d are difficult to work with, which is the result of \u201cliving in a digital world,\u201d and they also lack regularity and patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing generations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generation Z is often compared to the earlier Generation Y, called Millennials, which includes people born roughly between 1980 and 1995. \u201cYs\u201d can be described as a light version of \u201cZs.\u201d Tech-savvy, but not as proficient as their younger colleagues, self-confident, but… with limitations, discerning diversity but still appreciating traditional values, sensitive to social problems (e.g. responsibility of business or environmental issues), but… far from radicalism, well-educated, but still filling in the gaps. Differences are also visible: \u201cYs\u201d are more multi-tasking, optimistic and engaged in work or other undertaken activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More serious intergenerational differences are revealed in the juxtaposition of \u201cZs\u201d with the generation of their parents. The so-called Generation X, that is, people born in the years 1965\u201380 were skeptics, but at the same time they contested the existing reality, they rebelled. They willingly rejected imposed authorities \u2013 the external expression of this attitude was abnegation, as well as a nonchalant style and way of life. They did not want to participate in the rat race, they rejected consumerism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In retrospect, even greater rebels than the \u201cXs\u201d were the generation of \u201cbaby boomers\u201d who preceded them (born after the war until about 1965). They belonged to the largest baby boom of the 20th century. They grew up in a world dominated by a patriarchal and hierarchical model of life, the cult of work was widespread, and life stability was a very desirable value. Boomers rebelled radically and\u2026 consistently \u2013 this process is perfectly illustrated by, for example, the film The Graduate <\/em>by Mike Nichols from 1967, with Dustin Hoffman playing the lead role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This generation led to the largest and most important mass youth protests in the 20th century, in 1968. Interestingly, students from all over the world were demonstrating under libertarian slogans \u2013 from Paris to Warsaw and Prague, from Mexico and the USA to the Federal Republic of Germany. Thanks to Boomers we had hippie counterculture, a sexual revolution, and a golden era of rock\u2019n\u2019roll. By the way, it turned out that this is probably the first generation in the history of the world to live to a grand old age in such a large number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Generation Z\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0Digital Environment \u2013 chatGPT \/ Midjourney \/ Maciej Kochanowski<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Does rebellion fuel development?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The phenomenon of the next generation\u2019s opposition to the world \u201carranged\u201d by their parents and grandparents has been the subject of research of sociologists, psychologists, historians, economists and other scientists for years. In his book The Culture of Growth<\/em>, the American economic historian Joel Mokyr explains the acceleration of economic growth in the 19th century by the \u201cspirit of rebellion\u201d that matured in northern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, and which created the conditions for the development of innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously, it was widely believed that it was necessary to rely on the knowledge that the older and more experienced passed on to the youth. Newton and Galileo began to pose bold questions about what they had been taught, laying the groundwork for an Enlightenment breakthrough. They were the rebels of their era, breaking the dominant orthodoxy, risking the opinion of heretics and even being thrown into prison. These changes were fostered by religious and political divisions: Scholars whose views were not accepted in one country moved elsewhere, under the wings of another ruler. Lack of unity meant lower control levels and greater freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this way, Mokyr explains the fact that the competitive conditions of scientific work \u2013 e.g. in the UK and later also in the United States \u2013 were conducive to civilizational and economic development and created conditions for the industrial revolution. At that time, Southern Europe, which was religiously homogeneous, as well as China, was at a standstill. Mokyr argues that to create an environment in which new ideas and inventions are quickly replaced by even better ideas and inventions a so-called culture of rebelliousness is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cZs\u201d in the land of gentleness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the typical behavior of the representatives of Generation Z, it is difficult to see in them the seedbed of an upcoming rebellion. On the contrary, \u201cZs\u201d do not rebel against parents \u2013 the research conducted from June to August 2022 on Poles aged 16 to 24 by the MediaHub agency confirms it. As many as 70% of young people have a good relationship with their parents and 61% feel understood by them. So here, where one could expect a generational conflict between the mature working class and the young idealists, there is… sincere gratitude. \u201cZs\u201d also admit that they appreciate the effort and dedication their parents put into their upbringing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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