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Strauss and Howe tell that there are 4 cohorts of generations born every 15-25 years.
The generation cohorts fits as followed...
Idealists (Prophets)
Nomads (Reactives)
Heros (Civics)
Artists (Adaptive)
then back to the Idealists, then Nomads and so on.
Idealists are born during an economic boom, when society is overall very conformist and there is low risk for risky behavior. Idealist's parents tend to be Civics and Artists while their grandparents are Nomads. Personality: Stormy in youth, visionary as elder, righteous, austere, principled and creative but sometimes selfish and arrogant.
The Baby Boomers are the Idealists. They were born in the 1950s and contributed to the social changes of the 1960s and 70s. The Boomers were and are optimistic and very independent.
Nomads are the children of Idealists and Artists. Nomads are born after the High, during an Awakening, a time of rapid social changes (the 1960s and 70s is when the Nomads were born). Their parents tend to be too loose in how they parent and raise their children. Resulting in the Nomads receiving unfulfilled attention from their parents thus causing the Nomads to become overprotective parents. Personality: bad in youth, lonely elder, pragmatic, savvy and practical but often amoral and uncultured.
Generation X are the Nomads. The X Generation are more pessimistic compared to the Boomers
Heros are the children of Idealists and the Nomads. Heros are raised as increasingly protected by the Nomads and come of age during a Crisis. Personality: good youth, confident elders, grand, powerful, rational and competent but maybe insensitive.
Generation Y or the Millenniums are the Heros. Many child safely laws and anti-drug laws were enacted while Generation Y was growing up in the 80s and 90s. As the Heros reach elementary school, society suddenly shifts back to becoming more child-centered. When Heros come of age, they tend to have somewhat of a difficult time becoming independent due to their overprotective parents. (note: helicopter parents) Right now, the Mills are having a hard time finding a job and many have moved back in with their parents. The latter of this generation are now contributing to the falling teenage birth rate, decreased sexual activity among teens and the falling alcohol and drug usage. Heros tend to be optimistic and when their time comes to help society during the Crisis, the Heros protects and rebuilds institutions and society according to their views. Note: before WWII, the previous Hero generation was sort of like today's 20 somethings. That was until they had to get up, fight, protect our country in WWII and rebuild society and its institution according to their views.
Artists- children of Heros and Nomads. Artists are born and raised during a time of crisis. Their parents are usually very overprotective, keeping the Artists away from all the dangers in the world. Personality: placid as youth, sensitive elders, flexible, caring and open-minded but indecisive and guilt-ridden.
The babies being born now are the new Artist generation. They're being born and will grow up amidst this economic situation that we're in. Parents are still becoming increasingly overprotective of their children. This in turn may cause our babies to grow up as being conformist and conservative.
The older Artist generation is the Silent generation, whom were born during the Great Depression, grew up during WWII and came of age in the 1950s. When they were teenagers, they were relatively calm and avoided risky behavior. Followed the rules, respected authority and dressed clean-cut. Thus earning them the name, Silents. The current babies maybe the new Silent generation and alike in behavior.
Well thank God there's a Silent generation coming up once again! They're going to need all the money they make to pay for the indulgences of the Idealists.
Idealists are born during an economic boom, when society is overall very conformist and there is low risk for risky behavior. Idealist's parents tend to be Civics and Artists while their grandparents are Nomads.
Personality: Stormy in youth, visionary as elder, righteous, austere, principled and creative but sometimes selfish and arrogant.
The Baby Boomers are the Idealists. They were born in the 1950s and contributed to the social changes of the 1960s and 70s. The Boomers were and are optimistic and very independent.
^^^
The older Artist generation is the Silent generation, whom were born during the Great Depression, grew up during WWII and came of age in the 1950s. When they were teenagers, they were relatively calm and avoided risky behavior. Followed the rules, respected authority and dressed clean-cut. Thus earning them the name, Silents. The current babies maybe the new Silent generation and alike in behavior.
This sheds some light on the complexities of my family--why we seem to have communication problems.
Boomer myself--I've heard quite a bit about being 'selfish and arrogant' from the Older Silents.
The pendulum swings. Fine tune from the 60's.
'England swings like a pendulum do
Bobbies on bicycles, two by two
Westminster Abbey, the tower of Big Ben,
The rosyredcheeks of the little children.'
William and Kate should have a lot of kids---such a nice couple.
I would say that I fit the description of nomad fairly well, with the notable exception that I was not at all a troublemaker in my youth. (Perhaps that can be chalked up to being a hyper-responsible firstborn child.) Neither would I describe myself as uncultured, but I will admit to being extremely pragmatic in my approach to life.
My children are really too young to determine whether or not they fit the mold of artist. Time will tell.
These descriptions are so broad that they're about as useful as a New Year's baby reading the "Capricorn" section of Linda Goodman's Sun Signs. If you want it to match, you can make it do so, and if you don't, it won't.
Every definition that fits any of my family members (my parents, my children, myself) is for an entirely different era from when they were born.
It is interesting and there is probably some truth to the theories.
I recall a scene from 'Sleepless in Seattle'--Tom Hank's son informs him that he is 'pure blue light'/something like that--and is able to know things that his Dad's generation will never be able to understand. His rather precocious 10/11 yr old girl friend provided this information. His dad just lol'd. Ended up meeting his soulmate in NYC anyway.
I'm still working on 'The Age of Aquarius'---when the Boomers come into power they will change the world, etc. I guess we did--and I guess the world will continue to change--'Imagine'/John Lennon.
Wondering what is going on in Libya --hope we can get that straightened out.
Am I the only one who considers such generational predictions to be up there with astrology and other monkeyshines? I think it is mostly based off of media stereotypes and television rather than anything actually occurring. I'd say it is bad sociology but the judgmental quality means it is not real sociology.
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