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Today's Teens: More Materialistic, Less Willing to Work
By Beth Chee
Are today’s youth really more materialistic and less motivated than past generations, or do adults tend to perceive moral weakness in the next generation?
San Diego State University psychology professor Jean M. Twenge — along with co-author Tim Kasser, professor of psychology at Knox College — has set out to answer that question.
In a study published today by Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Twenge and Kasser show that there is in fact a growing gap for today's young adults between materialism and the desire to work hard.
“Compared to previous generations, recent high school graduates are more likely to want lots of money and nice things, but less likely to say they’re willing to work hard to earn them,” said Twenge, author of the book “Generation Me.”
“That type of 'fantasy gap' is consistent with other studies showing a generational increase in narcissism and entitlement,” Twenge said. (continued at link below)
A study published yesterday in a psychology journal appears to indicate that the teen generation today is by far the most narcissistic and feels the biggest sense of entitlement of any of the past generations.
I've noticed that in teens today. They're more self-centered, more self-absorbed, look down more easily on others, want to be #1 in everything, tend to be shallow and materialistic, and (unless it's pointed out to them), they don't have a heck of a lot of empathy except maybe for animals.
To blame for this? I say it's our culture of capitalism. Capitalism doesn't teach people to be compassionate, and it definitely doesn't teach people to work. Capitalism idolizes the rich, regardless of whether these worked to get their wealth or merely inherited it. Capitalism teaches people to take as much as possible without regard to anyone else, and if in the taking of everything someone else is hurt, well, isn't that just too bad! Capitalism teaches that rich people are better. Capitalism says, "greed is good - materialism is awesome," "the best system is one in which the winner takes all." In my view, that's exactly what we have taught this generation, turned them into reflections of what unbridled capitalism represents -pure savage greed and entitlement.
Definitely so. Kids today are being raised with no boundaries.
Who the heck buys a 12 year old a smartphone costing a few hundred dollars ?
I take up at least 1 phone a day in school and these kids have better phones than I do
A study published yesterday in a psychology journal appears to indicate that the teen generation today is by far the most narcissistic and feels the biggest sense of entitlement of any of the past generations.
I've noticed that in teens today. They're more self-centered, more self-absorbed, look down more easily on others, want to be #1 in everything, tend to be shallow and materialistic, and (unless it's pointed out to them), they don't have a heck of a lot of empathy except maybe for animals.
To blame for this? I say it's our culture of capitalism. Capitalism doesn't teach people to be compassionate, and it definitely doesn't teach people to work. Capitalism idolizes the rich, regardless of whether these worked to get their wealth or merely inherited it. Capitalism teaches people to take as much as possible without regard to anyone else, and if in the taking of everything someone else is hurt, well, isn't that just too bad! Capitalism teaches that rich people are better. Capitalism says, "greed is good - materialism is awesome," "the best system is one in which the winner takes all." In my view, that's exactly what we have taught this generation, turned them into reflections of what unbridled capitalism represents -pure savage greed and entitlement.
Actually, no teen alive today has ever seen capitalism.
Crony Capitalism, on the other hand, is rampant.
Capitalism and Crony Capitalism are quite different.
It has nothing to do with capiatlsim any more tha it did in the past. Captialism hads nothig to do with compassion and never did that is a human trait that is learned and still is.Its the self center right over what is common good that has changed and nothing to do withcapitalism at all.Othersie you would see mnay youg people with compassion for others and successful beyond what other generations dreamed of.The trait of self aborbed have always been their as well as the brutalioty it creates jsut not i these numbers from chocies made then having to survive with.I a society that rpoeaches whatever truns you on ;its not such a surprise really.It onlt effects some people has dowes alcohol and drug addictions.
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