Features of the mentality of generations X, Y, Z

Don State Technical University, Gagarin Square, 1, 344003, Rostov–on–Don, Russia

^* Corresponding author: vladaph@yandex.ru

Abstract

The article presents a comparative study of the mentality of generations X, Y, Z. The following approaches to the study of mentality are considered: historical, psychogenetic, psycho-physiological, socio-cultural, informational. The socio-psychological approach is recognized as the most significant in comparative research of generations. Generations are carriers of a unique mentality. We have identified four types of mentality: traditional, transitional, innovative, and post-innovative. The structure of the mentality includes: archetypes, image of the world, way of life, styles of thinking, relationships, and interaction of generations. We assume that statistical differences will be found in the components of the mentality of generations. the study involved: 150 schoolchildren from the city of Azov; 210 students and young workers; and 245 working adults from the city of Rostov-on-Don. We used techniques: technique of generational identity; the technique determined the type of mentality. The results showed that mature people identified with the transition generation, students with the information generation, and schoolchildren with the new generation. In the mentality of the transitional generation, archetypes, relationships are traditional; the image of the world, the style of thinking and interaction are in innovation. In the mentality of the information generation, archetypes, image of the world, lifestyle and interaction are in the innovation zone; style of thinking and attitudes in the post-innovation zone. In the mentality of the new generation, the image of the world, lifestyle, style of thinking, interaction are in the innovation zone; archetypes in the transition zone, and relationships in the tradition.