People whose youth fell during the Soviet era probably noticed how much modern youth differs from the older generation. Dreams and goals, interests have changed, other character traits prevail, the worldview itself has changed.
But is this really the case? Russian scientists have conducted a major historical study of modern teenagers and their peers from the 1980s. The analysis allowed us to give a definitive answer, how, from a scientific point of view, do today's children differ from their parents' generation?
Does the theory of X, Y, Z work?
The most popular model describing generational archetypes is the American theory of generations X, Y, Z. It was put forward in 1991 by two historians William Strauss and Neil Howe.
In particular, the researchers identify 4 generational archetypes that replace each other after 20 years, and then repeat.
People born in the period from 1961 to 1981 were called generation X, from 1982 to 2004 – generation Y, from 2005 to the present day – generation Z.
How do modern teenagers differ from Soviet ones
Generation X is distinguished by diligence, pragmatism, self-reliance and the ability to obey the rules. The life slogan of such people is "My home is my fortress".
Generation Y are optimistic, self–confident, sociable people, hungry for pleasure, quick results and variety. The slogan is "Life is a game".
Generation Z are independent, freedom–loving, sociable individuals who love to be leaders, are not afraid of problems, responsibility and strive for everything new. The slogan is "Nothing is impossible."
Despite the fact that the values of generations in all countries coincide, psychologists do not consider the theory a full-fledged scientific analysis, considering it as a historical essay.
According to the director of the Institute of Psychology Pavel Sergomanov, there can be no general theory of generations working in every society. These are general, superficial characteristics based on the analysis of people in the USA.
And what about us in Russia?
The Russian Academy of Sciences conducted its own analysis. The study participants were residents of the country born in the 1970s and 2000s. The cultural, social and psychological differences of people who lived at the specified time were considered.
What was found out? Today's teenagers have become more ambitious, dream of building a grandiose career, value and respect themselves more than the generation from the 80s.
Modern youth have higher cognitive activity. If earlier teenagers treated their studies with boredom and sought to spend more time on the streets, today children take education very seriously. Caught between the choice of visiting a tutor or walking down the street with friends, young respondents chose the first option.
Teenagers in the USSR
Teenagers today
Teenagers in the USSR
The older generation wins in responsibility and independence. The Soviet youth was ready to make important, fateful decisions and be responsible for their actions. Contrary to the theory of X, Y, Z, Russian youth likes to shift such decisions to other people.
According to psychologists, the problem lies in society itself. Society protects modern children from responsibility, independence and personal decision-making.
However, the motivation of personal desires has grown. Modern people think first of all about themselves and only then about others. Soviet teenagers, who grew up in the spirit of "think about the Motherland, and then about yourself," lived by a mass idea, not a personal one.
***
In general, people began to live in the present, not the future. Children are in no hurry to grow up, cherish their youth and try to get everything from it to the maximum.
