2.6 Inter-Generational Differences.

Pew Research Center (2015), in their report

entitled “The Whys and Hows of Generations Research”, listed three separate effects that
can yield differences in attitudes between generations. The first is called life cycle or age
effect which claims that the differences in attitudes between older and younger people are
brought about by their respective positions in the life cycle, or are simply influenced by
their age. For instance, political engagement among the young is lower than older people
because the latter are more likely to know more about politics. The second is the period
effect which refers to events, situations, and broader social forces that are simultaneously
affecting everyone, regardless of age. Examples of such circumstances are the following:
wars, scientific and technological innovations, social movements, economic booms or
busts, and social changes or transformations. The last one is the cohort effect. This relates
to the concept of generational cohorts which has been discussed previously. It claims that
the differences between generations are caused by the unique historical events and
experiences of members of an age cohort, especially during a time when they are starting
to form their opinions. These three effects are helpful in identifying factors that can produce
differences between the attitudes, beliefs, and value systems of generations. To put it in
simpler terms, generations can be defined by three things: age, period, and cohort. Age
being the age of a person at which life events and transformations happen; period is the
circumstances happening within a person’s lifetime; and cohort is a group of individuals
having shared experiences growing up which influence and develop their attitudes and
behaviors.

2.7 Describing the Millennial Generation. According to DeVaney (2015), some of

the common traits attributed to this generation are: entitled, optimistic, civic-minded,
values work-life balance, impatient, multitaskers, and team-oriented. Tulgan and Martin (
(Guleryuz-Turkel, 2015) also described the Millennial Generation as a generation of fresh
confidence, full of self-esteem, most educated, and a generation paving the way to a more
open and tolerant society. Aside from being tech savvy, members of this generation are
also deemed to be good at challenging and creative works, loves freedom, flexible, and
hates micromanagement (Altinbasak-Farina and GuleryuzTurkel, 2015). These generalized
descriptions and conceptions about the characteristics of the Millennial Generation have
endured and are still being spread in many parts of the world until today.