Being A Teenager Today: Has It Really Changed That Much?
Nowadays it is common to hear negative criticism, if not outright complaints, about the behavior of the latest wave of adolescents and post-adolescents, the so-called generation Z. Comments such as “the zombie generation” are heard, in reference to their constant use of electronic devices (even walking down the street!), the abusive tendency towards hedonism, the constant search for attention through social networks, individualism, etc.
To what extent do these opinions correspond to reality? Has what it means to be a teenager really changed that much? We must not forget that to see the traits of the new batch of young people in perspective, we do not have to compare them with today’s adults, but rather with minors from at least 15 or 20 years ago.
Let’s see what the evolution has been between the adolescence of the 90s and the adolescence of 2020.
The differences between the new teenagers and those of the 90s
This is a brief summary of what is known about the differences between these two generations of teenagers when it comes to their personality and cultural background.
1. They are no less friendly, and they are probably more so
There is very little research focused on comparing the personality traits of today’s teenagers compared to teenagers from the 90s, so it is difficult to know if it is true that “young people of yesteryear were more respectful.” However, the available evidence suggests that this is not the case.
For example, research focused on following the evolution of the personality traits of successive generations of young people over 25 years from the end of the 80s to the end of the 2000s shows that in this period there has been a slight and constant upward trend in the personality trait called “agreeableness” (agreeableness), and also another personality trait, “conscientiousness”, which occurs in those who are always motivated to do everything in a planned, orderly manner and in accordance with the rules, “just as it should be” .
In turn, the tendency to score high in the trait known as “neuroticism” decreases, which is sensitivity to possible threats and the tendency to feel anxiety and emotional instability in situations of ambiguity, or to appear irritated. or impatient in the face of setbacks.
Definitely, The idea that teenagers of the new decade are more disrespectful and lacking than 15 or 20 years ago seems to be a myth
2. They tend towards perfectionism
One of the characteristics of this generation of adolescents is the fact that, taking into account their age, they tend more towards perfectionism. In fact, this psychological characteristic has been on the rise since the mid-80s, and today it is at its highest levels.
It is believed that this is due to the pressure to forge a professional career and a good education in a context in which economic volatility and precarious work predominate, even for those with university studies.
This finding fits with another: As perfectionism has increased in new generations, so has its relationship with neuroticism On the other hand, this rapprochement between perfectionism and neuroticism has come at the price of slightly weakening the link between perfectionism and conscientiousness.
As we have seen, new generations of young people are more likely to score high in conscientiousness and low in neuroticism, which seems to indicate that this increase in perfectionism responds to the need to adapt to a very competitive landscape in which the family It no longer has the same ability to protect as it did in the mid-90s, and not for simple pleasure.
3. They are involved in the protection of vulnerable groups and the environment
Ensuring the protection of minorities who are victims of discrimination and the preservation of the environment are values that were marginal in the 90s, and yet today they are widely claimed by younger people, at least in Western countries.
To give an example, both in Spain and in the US, the 18-year-old voter is much more likely to opt for options that emphasize the importance of environmentalism, anti-racism and the rejection of discrimination against women and LGTBI groups. In turn, the mobilizations of the International Working Women’s Day and the Extinction Rebellion movement have a clear overrepresentation of adolescents and post-adolescents.
4. They drink less alcohol
Young people from Generation Z tend to drink much less alcohol than baby boomers and members of Generation X, and significantly less than millennials, a 2018 study by Berenberg Research shows. This explains why non-alcoholic drinks have increased their sales in many countries in Western countries.
This is very relevant, taking into account that habitual alcohol consumption (to which the adolescent population is especially prone) is linked to many psychological disorders and has a harmful impact on their family and close social environment, in addition to being associated with a lower degree of responsibility.
Regarding the consumption of other drugs, no significant changes have been observed, although it is true that in some countries there has been a substantial drop in the number of teenagers who smoke tobacco.because they switch to electronic cigarettes.
It is often said that in matters of cultural level there is little or no progress, and that old erroneous beliefs and superstitions return again and again, always with the same force. However, this does not seem to correspond to reality.
The Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (Fecyt) gives reasons to be optimistic, since it shows that The youngest people enjoy a greater scientific culture compared to generation X and baby boomers
The data from this research, analyzed by Materia (El País) show that today’s adolescents and post-adolescents are more likely to correctly answer questions about science in general. In addition, they also seem to trust more in the methods of generating knowledge specific to the scientific world, according to research by Maru/VCR&C for Vision Critical.
Conclusion
It is highly debatable that the new generation of teenagers has less to offer society than the young people of the 90s and those of Generation X in general. Of course, there have been important changes from one cohort to another, but this It does not imply that we have to despise the new culture that these boys and girls bring with them
In any case, it is worth asking ourselves if this tendency to look askance at new generations of young people is something unusual, something that has not happened for centuries. The idea of seeing stridency in the latest waves of adolescents and young adults does not seem excessively original, but it makes sense if we assume that culture shock brings with it incomprehension at first, until we find new fits and ways to connect.
