1

Literature Review

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Instructor’s Title and Name

Course Number and Name

Assignment Due Date

 2

Literature Review

Summary

Over the years, different generations have had different ways with which to mark their

existence. This trend has been passed from one generation to the other with each possessing its

uniqueness and traits that can be used in characterizing that specific generation. The article in the

subject takes a comprehensive look at the issue of personality differences witnessed in

generations observed over a period of half a century. While doing so, the authors engaged in a

study of more than 4000 participants; a study in which the aforementioned assertion was

confirmed. The study was able to unveil changes in personalities from different perspectives

including historically (Brandt, 2022). As time moved on, findings from this study indicated that

individuals falling in later generations have depicted significantly low levels of maturity

affiliated traits. This remains the sole reason for the conduction of this study; to understand

changes in depiction of adult traits amongst individuals in different generations.

Notably, depiction of certain traits is dependent on the environment within which the

individual is brought up and the response they have been trained to trigger in response to their

environmental changes. To ascertain the assertion held in this study, the authors were keen to

observe that people’s response and perception to the environmental conditions, constraints and

opportunity structures provided by their surrounding influences the traits they show. The world

has revolved into being better especially with introduction of concepts such as technology; as

such, individuals born into later generations have had different stances developed regarding how

they counter the challenges the world presents them with (Brandt, 2022). This explains the

findings of slow consciousness as depicted in people born in later generations. Part of the
 3

world’s evolution includes bringing up easier solutions that allow for individuals to solve their

challenges without much tussle as before.

Methodology and Procedure used to test the hypothesis

The legitimacy of the study and the assertions held in it come from the method used to

get to such conclusions. The study, being a big five scale, deployed the use of the NEO

personality inventory revised in empirically mapping individual’s response to the TBR items as

depicted in the article. The high correlations as depicted in the TBR items provided basis upon

which the paper’s assertion was based making it a viable instrument with which to estimate the

big five traits. There was a precise depiction of descriptive statistics and correlations amongst the

various factors put under study. Additionally, it was noted that individuals of greater age are

more commonly associated with greater conscientiousness levels making these findings in line

with previous studies conducted before (Brandt, 2022). Considering the various factors used in

setting up the methodologies for use in this study, it is true to state that they were not only

relevant but also viable in getting accurate findings for this study. For instance, the researchers

were keen to ensure that they elongated the age range of the participants and this was necessary

to ensure that insights across different generations were gained before conclusions were made.

Conclusion

Summarily, it would be true to conclude that there is a significant change in depiction of

adult traits amongst individuals from different generations. Based on the study provided,

individuals from later generations were seen to depict low levels of conscientiousness as

compared to their older folks. Part of this difference can be accounted for by the changes

witnessed in the environment within which these individuals stay such as technology; which
 4

presents such individuals with easier solutions to their daily challenges as compared to their

counterparts from earlier generations.

References

Brandt, N. D., Drewelies, J., Willis, S. L., Schaie, K. W., Ram, N., Gerstorf, D., & Wagner, J.

(2022). Acting like a Baby Boomer? Birth-Cohort Differences in Adults’ Personality

Trajectories during the Last Half a Century. Psychological Science, 09567976211037971.