Generation Me - Revised and Updated: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable Than Ever BeforeSimon and Schuster, 11. apr 2006 - 304 pages The Associated Press calls them "The Entitlement Generation," and they are storming into schools, colleges, and businesses all over the country. They are today's young people, a new generation with sky-high expectations and a need for constant praise and fulfillment. In this provocative new book, headline-making psychologist and social commentator Dr. Jean Twenge documents the self-focus of what she calls "Generation Me" -- people born in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Herself a member of Generation Me, Dr. Twenge explores why her generation is tolerant, confident, open-minded, and ambitious but also cynical, depressed, lonely, and anxious. Using findings from the largest intergenerational study ever conducted -- with data from 1.3 million respondents spanning six decades -- Dr. Twenge reveals how profoundly different today's young adults are -- and makes controversial predictions about what the future holds for them and society as a whole. But Dr. Twenge doesn't just talk statistics -- she highlights real-life people and stories and vividly brings to life the hopes and dreams, disappointments and challenges of Generation Me.With a good deal of irony, humor, and sympathy she demonstrates that today's young people have been raised to aim for the stars at a time when it is more difficult than ever to get into college, find a good job, and afford a house -- even with two incomes. GenMe's expectations have been raised just as the world is becoming more competitive, creating an enormous clash between expectations and reality. Dr. Twenge also presents the often-shocking truths about her generation's dramatically different sexual behavior and mores. GenMe has created a profound shift in the American character, changing what it means to be an individual in today's society. Engaging, controversial, prescriptive, and often funny, Generation Me will give Boomers new insight into their offspring, and help GenMe'ers in their teens, 20s, and 30s finally make sense of themselves and their goals and find their road to happiness. |
Contents
The Decline | 17 |
Me | 44 |
You Can Be Anything You Want to Be | 72 |
The Age of Anxiety and Depression | 104 |
The Belief That Theres No Point | 137 |
Generation Prude Meets Generation Crude | 159 |
Minorities Women | 180 |
The Future | 212 |
Appendix | 243 |
Acknowledgments | 275 |
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Common terms and phrases
adults American American Idol anxiety asked attitudes Avenue Q average Baby Baby Boomers behavior believe Boomers can’t career child Chris Colin Class of 93 college freshmen college students culture Dawson’s Creek decades depression didn’t dreams early Emerging Adulthood expect feel friends GenMe GenMe’ers girls going grades graduate growing happy high school students high self-esteem Hispanic Ibid income individual interviewed January 24 Journal Judith Warner Keith Campbell kids live look magazine marriage married Martin Seligman mother movie narcissism older oral sex parents Peggy Orenstein people’s poll problems Quarterlife Crisis questionnaires recent relationships says scores self-esteem self-esteem programs sexual someone story talk teachers teenagers teens there’s things tion today’s young told traits trend Twenge Twixter watch what’s York you’re young women