Megatrends and the West Midlands 2021: Generational Conflict

A provocation looking at generational conflict.

Intergenerational conflict is an age-old trope. However, empirical evidence does not support the narrative of generations at war. In fact, categorising people by age alone is a poor way of understanding society. Studies demonstrate that psychology is a more effective lens of analysis, with a set of psychological archetypes distributed throughout each generation. We all have predispositions that are affected by events in our formative years. Instead of changing as we grow older, upon reaching adulthood these values remain relatively stable over the remainder of our lifetimes.

Generations are best understood as groups of people who collectively experienced major events during their development, with significant in-group diversity in terms of cognitive responses to these events. Generation Z (“Gen-Z” or “Zoomers”) is reaching adulthood. This is a cohort shaped by the internet, the aftermath of the Great Recession, and the pandemic. How have these experiences affected the formation of values within the cohort? How might events have influenced attitudes around work, politics, and ethics? This article dives into these issues while exploring the challenges faced by Gen-Z, noting that ultimately “they” are just like everybody else in wanting stability, security, and a sense of agency over their own lives.