When
my mother, a member of the Silent Generation, was dying, she told me that she
was the best mother she knew, because she raised two such strong and
independent children. As a Baby Boomer,
I was also raised in an era of hope, when we all believed we could have a coke
and teach the world to sing in harmony.
We also believed in free speech.
That's
why the recent controversies over free speech on college campuses caught me off
guard.
But
when you think about it, the defining childhood event of Gen Z was 9/11. And, it's easy to see why this led to
helicopter parenting and a generation for whom safety is a priority.
Based on
her research, Dr. Twenge of San Diego State University notes that Gen Z's are
more risk adverse than were previous generations; perhaps because they are more
aware of their own mortality. And
because their world revolves around social media they have learned that words matter,
and that every social interaction carries the risk of being hurt. So, opposing viewpoints must be shut down
because merely hearing them can cause harm. (Twenge, 2017)
Assuming
that is true, it poses huge challenges in terms of persuasion. How can you persuade someone to change their
mind if they won't even listen to you?
So,
what do you think? Do you agree that Gen
Z has been raised with fear? Has it
impacted their ability to entertain alternative points of view? And if so, is there a way to get past it and
connect so that we can begin to find common ground again? Which of Robert Cialdini's principles might apply?
Twenge,
J. (2017, September 1) The Smartphone
Generation Vs. Free Speech. wsj.com.
Retrieved September 20, 2017, from
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-smartphone-generation-vs-free-speech-1504274890?mg=prod/accounts-wsj
