Unraveling Personal Characteristics: Exploration of Disorders, Anxiety, and Solitude
In the contemporary world, a shift in the personality traits of younger Americans has been observed, raising concerns about the future workforce and social dynamics. This change, according to recent research, may not be a mere "moral panic," but rather a response to the complex environmental, social, and psychological challenges of the modern era.
Conscientiousness, a trait highly valued in the workplace for its association with reliability and task completion, appears to be on the decline among the younger generation. If this trend continues, organizations may find themselves managing teams less able to focus, deliver, and take ownership.
Not only conscientiousness, but also agreeableness and extraversion, which foster trust and productive collaboration, are showing signs of decline. This can lead to transactional relationships and the fraying of camaraderie. Moreover, emotional volatility is on the rise, aligning with the common narrative about rising anxiety and depression, the fall in the numbers of friends young people have, and the rise of loneliness.
The introduction of smartphones among adolescents beginning in the late 2000s is believed to be a significant factor in these changes. The modern world—with its heavy reliance on digital technology, social media, and altered social norms—may be reshaping personality by increasing inward focus and neurotic anxiety, while reducing extroversion and sociability.
Psychological and mental health influences also play a role. Rising stress, anxiety, and neuroticism correlate with decreasing agreeableness and conscientiousness. These mental health challenges could stem from socioeconomic instability, cultural shifts, or upbringing factors like social stress and trauma.
Some argue that observed declines could partly reflect changes in how young people perceive and report their traits due to increased anxiety and social pressures rather than actual large personality shifts. Surveys capturing self-perception can be influenced by cultural narratives, and in an era that normalizes talking about anxiety and mental health, people may report higher neuroticism without a true trait increase.
The pandemic, the rise in economic inequality, and diminishing job prospects for the young are also believed to have contributed to the changes observed among younger Americans. The study may not accurately represent individual variations in personality traits due to averaging across groups and inherent variability in the measures.
Despite these concerns, the data suggests a genuine shift in Gen Z's struggles with mental health and anxiety. The author, while holding back on criticism, believes that intentional everyday practices such as exercise rituals, accountability, focused work, and rhythms that restore presence could help nurture conscientiousness back. Institutional norms that prioritize psychological maturity over digital distraction, unstructured play in the physical world, and meaningful offline connection could also play a role in this nurturing process.
The author also mentions Jordan Peterson as a possible influence in the discussion of intentional everyday practices. Lower conscientiousness in young adults might be an adaptation to an economy valuing flexibility, multitasking, and rapid information processing over long, sustained tasks.
In conclusion, the decline in these personality traits appears to be a complex response to modern environmental, social, and psychological challenges, reflecting an ongoing adaptation to a rapidly changing world rather than solely a moral panic. Understanding and addressing these changes is crucial for fostering a healthier, more productive, and more connected society.
[1] Twenge, J. M., et al. (2020). The impact of the smartphone on the mental health of adolescents. Clinical Psychological Science, 8(4), 1003-1016. [2] Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy—and completely overwhelmed. Atria Books. [3] Twenge, J. M., et al. (2018). Birth cohort changes in wellbeing: A meta-analysis of the General Social Survey. Social Indicators Research, 136(3), 561-582. [4] Twenge, J. M., et al. (2018). The association between smartphones and mental health in adolescence. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(4), 547-565. [5] Twenge, J. M. (2019). The attention merry-go-round: The impact of smartphones and social media on the psychology of the modern mind. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 8(2), 243-254.
- The rise in neurotic anxiety among Gen Z might be a consequence of their heavy reliance on digital technology, social media, and altered social norms, as suggested by the findings in health-and-wellness research.
- The declining conscientiousness among Gen Z could potentially be attributed to the modern economy's emphasis on flexibility, multitasking, and rapid information processing, a theory supported by the study referenced in the Financial Times.
