I wish I had in my head all the data and potential interpretations that Jean Twenge has. If I were still teaching the psychology of women, or developmental psychology, or personality and social psychology, I’d be eager to spend the money to keep this on my bookshelf. As it is, I’ve been working with a borrowed copy which means I’ve been doing something I haven’t felt the need to do since I retired from professoring – taking notes!
What a journey through the history of America’s social changes, some of which were surprising and interesting news to me. Just for example, a quote I noted from page 500. “In 2017, Harvard held a separate graduation ceremony for black graduate students” and “apparently the Harvard event is not an outlier. According to one survey, 72% of universities offered racially segregated graduation ceremonies by 2019, often prompted by students who requested a place they could celebrate with their own racial group. In addition, 46% of universities offered de facto segregated housing.” Wow! What I would give for a class discussion on the implications of that factoid. Or how about the “slow life strategy” (p.513) which has grown with each generation, delaying traditional milestones at every stage of the life cycle.” What a great topic for discussion by a bunch of grandparents and great grandparents who’ve been watching it with shaking heads.
Or how about this (p.456): “Barring economic disaster, American Polars (2013-2029) may grow up the most economically advantaged generation of children in several decades.”
And so much more! I won’t burden you with all my notes. I do hope this whets your appetite to beg, borrow, or buy a copy. (No doubt the publisher and author would prefer the latter option.)
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