Posted on 05/21/2007 7:35:35 PM PDT by JTN
Growing older has many drawbacks and one unalloyed pleasure: passing judgment on the younger generation. Lately, people have been scrutinizing the members of Generation Y and finding them deficient.
What's wrong with the kids? A recent article in The Wall Street Journal reported that because they have been told since infancy that they were special, they believe it and expect to keep hearing it. "Bosses, professors and mates are feeling the need to lavish praise on young adults, particularly twentysomethings, or else see them wither under an unfamiliar compliment deficit," it said.
To critics, this generation is an army of self-absorbed narcissists with a swollen sense of entitlement. In my house, I have tried to prevent this outcome by reminding my kids, "The world does not revolve around you. It revolves around me." But apparently some parents didn't dispense that wisdom.
Jean Twenge, an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University, reports that college students increasingly agree with statements indicating oversized egos, such as "I am an important person." Marian Salzman, a senior vice president at the advertising agency JWT, told The Christian Science Monitor, "Gen-Y is the most difficult workforce I've ever encountered," because they "are so self-indulgent."
But before Gen Y-ers start to feel bad about themselves, they should know that worse things were said about their parents. Back in the 1960s and '70s, it was universal wisdom that the kids of that era suffered from too much coddling. Vice President Spiro Agnew blamed student unrest and other problems on "spoiled brats who never had a good spanking." Best-selling author Norman Vincent Peale, author of "The Power of Positive Thinking," complained about youngsters whose parents felt a duty to "satisfy their every desire."
It's a hoot to hear modern kids described as self-indulgent by the generation that created its own culture out of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Talk about a sense of entitlement: When the baby boomers came along, they (we) got the voting age lowered for their benefit. They also demanded that the drinking age be lowered, and it was -- only to be raised once they were safely into adulthood. Narcissism? Not for nothing were boomers dubbed the "Me Generation."
Most of the grousing is just what every new crop of kids hears from its elders, who forget that when they were young, they were equally infuriating. People who came of age during the Great Depression and World War II are known as the "Greatest Generation," but their parents didn't call them that when they were going through puberty. "Bye Bye Birdie," the musical that asked the question, "What's the matter with kids these days?" debuted during the Eisenhower administration.
The young people we accuse of being hopelessly self-satisfied are the same ones who have been told they had to score high on the SAT, get straight A's and cure cancer just to get into a decent college. Far from being hothouse flowers who wilt under pressure, they've coped with high expectations and intense competition.
This year, Harvard accepted only 9 percent of undergraduate applicants, the lowest figure in its history, down from 18 percent in 1983. The same trend is evident at other selective schools.
You would think the epidemic of narcissism would translate into selfish, destructive conduct. But on most counts, today's youngsters comport themselves more responsibly than Mom and Dad did at their age.
In 1977, 29 percent of high-school seniors smoked cigarettes daily. By 2006, only 12 percent did. The number of high-school seniors who regularly use illicit drugs declined by 43 percent during that period, while the number who regularly consume alcohol dropped by more than a third.
Over the last quarter-century, the juvenile arrest rate has fallen as well. Teenage girls are far less likely today than before to get pregnant or to have abortions.
Maybe all that self-esteem has led modern youngsters to the conclusion that their lives and bodies are far too valuable to risk on reckless behavior. Maybe when they hold a high opinion of themselves, it's because they've earned it through diligence and self-restraint.
From all objective indicators, this generation is doing just fine. And if all they need to keep doing it is a steady supply of praise, I say give it to them.
The answer is yes.
Boo Hoo....how many applicants total did they have in 1983 compared to in 2007?
Selfish parents raised selfish children. Sometimes you’ll hear a story of a teenager who dies in an auto accident because they were driving recklessly and you’ll hear people ask where did they learn to drive like that. Chances are they learned to drive like that by watching their parents drive like that. People are extreme narrcissist anymore.
I know several of them.
It is most of Congress and the rest of Washington.
I think that's part of the point. More is expected of them.
The author’s conclusions don’t necessarily jibe.. just because you think highly of yourself and don’t do drugs or get knocked up, doesn’t always mean you’re ok. I know plenty of young people without traditional vices who are still major a-holes and no real good to society. You still have to be able to get along with your fellow man, still need to be a good samaritan, still need to be humble and not expect everyone to automatically love you and kiss your a**. I work with younger people who can’t cope with not getting their way and still throw tantrums in their 20’s and 30’s.
what I want to know is why do we assume that the parents of Gen Y are baby boomers??? Baby boomers are grand parents now! Gen Xers(my generation) are the parents of the 20 somethings.
talk about narcissistic!! The baby boomers trying to pass themselves off as the parents of 20 year olds is hilariously egotistical.
GIRL!/BOY!—
You OUT there!! Ever heard of fertility drugs for 40 something narcissists?
I’m not sure if they’re narcissists. I really can’t spare any time to think about other human beings.
Yes.
Why? I’m a baby boomer with a 17 year old (our youngest).
just a bunch of wussass hot house flowers...
Not true. Although the "start date" for Gen X varies, the earliest birtdate many sociologists ascribe to Gen X is 1964, which makes the oldest Gen Xers 43. Gen Xers as a group are having their children later in life, which means that the overwhelming majority of children of Gen Xers are not yet in college.
And, from my personal experience meeting my students' parents (I'm a college professor), I can tell you that I have not yet met a parent under 50, and I've met many who look to be pushing 60. So the the entitled little bratties that I teach are most definitely the children of Baby Boomers.
You mean outside the Beltway??
Recent surveys of college students reveal that in American history and civics, college seniors are not only ignorant of basics, but actually stupider than college freshmen, which means they not only are not learning but are learning error. The majority of graduating seniors at Ivy League schools do not know which wars Gettysberg and Yorktown belong to, respectively. Few appear even to know what the Constitution is, much less why it is important.
The "MeGeneration" elected Ronald Reagan. The current crop gave us two terms of Billyboy. Thanks but no thanks.
I’m not nearly as narcissistic as some other folks.
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