Generational Change and Social Values

Abstract

This chapter explores defining beliefs, attitudes, and behavior of the current generational cohorts of the “Silent Generation,” “Baby Boomers,” “Generation X,” and “Millennials.” The Millennial generation is now the largest generational cohort in America. This generation is having major influence on the social, cultural, and political life of the nation. There is some alarming evidence that the current generation of American youth for the first time in our history may well do worse psychologically, socially, and economically than their parents. It is a generation marked by increasing rates of educational failure, delinquency, suicide, homicide, and psychological unease. They do not hold the same political or national values of previous generations. The postmodern culture is contributing to the erosion of personal values and individual freedom.