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12 - Generational Changes in Personality, Values, and Abilities

from Part II - What Has Changed?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2020

By
Jorge Lumbreras  and
W. Keith Campbell
Edited by
Brian J. Hoffman ,
Mindy K. Shoss  and
Lauren A. Wegman
Brian J. Hoffman
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
Mindy K. Shoss
Affiliation:
University of Central Florida
Lauren A. Wegman
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
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Summary

This chapter addresses generational changes and corresponding differences in personality, values, and attitudes. Both popular and academic interpretations of generations are described. We begin by defining generations, which are perhaps best thought of as fuzzy social constructs. Next, we detail key issues related to measurement of generations, notably teasing apart specific effects of age or development, culture or period, and birth cohort or generation. We describe two general models of how generations develop: a sociological model and cultural model. We also detail six models that predict the content of generations, from cyclical models to the no-change model. We argue for what we think are best practices for testing these ideas, while acknowledging the difficulties involved. We then describe some of the findings in the research regarding generational change as well as organizational specific findings. We conclude with a brief discussion of the future of research in this area.

Keywords

generational differencesgenerationspersonalitybirth cohort differencestime period differencesnarcissismMillennialsBaby BoomersGenXwork valueswork attitudes
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of the Changing Nature of Work , pp. 261 - 273
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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