Generational Differences: Let's Not Throw the Baby Boomer Out With the Bathwater

• Published in: Industrial and organizational psychology Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 376 - 382
• Main Authors: Perry, Elissa L., Golom, Frank D., McCarthy, Jean A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Age differences; Attitudes; Baby boomers; Commentaries; Employment; Generational differences; Older workers; Qualitative research; Stereotypes
• ISSN: 1754-9426; 1754-9434
• DOI: 10.1017/iop.2015.53

Although we agree with Costanza and Finkelstein (2015) that current research has failed to find consistent evidence of actual generational differences and that this research is limited methodologically, we suggest that at least some of these limitations could and should be addressed by future research before any firm conclusions are drawn. Further, the authors make an important but empirically untested assumption that generational stereotypes exist. We discuss why it is important to rigorously test this assumption. Finally, the authors assert that generational stereotypes are being “sold” as business strategy to organizations and managers and that that they should be neither sold nor used in the workplace. However, the authors’ recommendation is based on the premise that individuals acquire stereotypes from others and that they can easily suppress the use of their stereotypes. This advice runs counter to what research suggests about stereotypic processes. We more fully discuss each of these three points next.