"In a 2024 paper, Skidmore College sociologist Andrew Lindner explores the prevalence of negative "generationalism," a "systematic appeal" to the idea of generational differences. Labels to describe generations can be traced to the first use of the term "Baby Boom" to describe the post-World War II burst in fertility rates. However, these became expanded by Strauss and Howe (1992), whose "dubious pop psychology theory," says Lindner, involves a set of four generational archetypes that repeat cyclically."
"Their theory has no social scientific basis whatsoever, but it also contains the improbable assumption that everyone born in a 20-25 year period has the same qualities, along with the "disturbingly cocksure level of historical inevitability." Clearly, Lindner is not a fan of this portrayal of wide swaths of the population based on birth year alone."
"From expressions such as "snowflake" to describe Millennials to the infamous "OK, Boomer," it seems that all the media covers are the kinds of stereotypes that feed into intergenerational warfare. However, when you think about the relationships you have with people of older and younger generations, how likely are you to label people according to these mass-produced negative images?"
Generationalism—the systematic appeal to generational differences—perpetuates negative stereotypes across age groups, from labeling Millennials as "snowflakes" to dismissing Baby Boomers with "OK, Boomer." Research by Skidmore College sociologist Andrew Lindner examines whether these stereotypes hold validity. The theory underlying generational categorization, developed by Strauss and Howe, lacks scientific foundation and relies on the flawed assumption that all individuals born within 20-25 year periods share identical characteristics. Despite media-driven intergenerational conflict narratives, evidence suggests people can recognize and relate to individuals across generations as unique people rather than conforming to mass-produced negative stereotypes and labels.
#generational-stereotypes #generationalism #intergenerational-relationships #social-psychology #generational-theory-critique
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]