GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES

Compiled by Dennis Gaylor http://www.reachtheu.com/

Director, Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, USA
April 2002

CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS

(Hero) (Prophet) (Nomad) (Hero)
GI Generation GENERATION X, GENERATION Y
Twenty Something MILLENNIALS; MOSAICS;
NET GENERATION
NEXTERS

(First wave of Boomer (Second wave of Boomer

children) children)
BIRTH DATE 1925-1945 1946-1964 1965-1983 1980-1990
1922-1943 1943-1960 1961-1981 1982-2003
1963-1977 1978-1984
Echo Boomers are children of 1980-2000
baby boomers 1978-1998 1984-2002
POPULATION 69 Million 69 Million 85 Million 33 Million (still being born)
55 Million 76.8 Million 79 Million 57 Million
52 Million 73.2 Million 46 Million 77.6 Million
76-80 Million 52.4 Million 60-80 Million
70.1 Million 88 Million
68-76 Million 69.7 Million
76+ Million
FORMATIVE WW I and WW II Cold War Roe vs. Wade World Trade Center, Pentagon
EXPERIENCES Roaring Twenties Civil Rights Challenger disaster attacked
Great Depression Space Race The fall of the Berlin Wall Oklahoma bombings
Pearl Harbor Assassinations Persian Gulf War Internet access made available
Rationing Vietnam War AIDS Kids shooting kids
Korean War Energy Crisis The Clinton Administration School uniforms
Atomic Bomb Watergate and the Nixon Reagan Assassination Attempt Death of Princess Diana and
FDR Administration Administration Mother Teresa
Chads
McVeigh execution
Globalization
George W.
FAMILY Close Family Dispersed Family Latch key kids Comfortable with looser family
structure
MOTHER Homemaker mother Working mother Single mother Single mother/single father
MARRIAGE Married once Divorced / remarried Single parent/ blended families Undetermined
EDUCATION IS... ..a dream ..a birthright ..a way to get there ..an incredible expense
Generations chart.doc 1
CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS
MAJOR Family & church Family & education The media Friends
INFLUENCES Simpson’s
Media & sports stars
More aware
Biases & personal agendas
VIEW OF FAMILY Highly view of family. Divorce increases Non-existent New respect for family
Marriage honored Nuisance
Dysfunctional
TEENAGE The Great Depression Kent State Univ. Information explosion Exposure, less protection
EXPERIENCE Civil Rights McJobs Overwhelming information
Watergate AIDS Cynicism
Runaway inflation Environmental woes Downsizing
Sexual revolution (the pill) Trillion dollar debt Living at home longer; returning
home
LATE TEEN Adulthood Adolescence Confusion Optimistic
Apathy Confident
Lack of direction
“Fear and hope collide”
WAR Win a war Why a war? Watch a war War on Terrorism
WW I Vietnam and Cold war Iran hostage crisis Anthrax
WW II Desert Storm live on TV Winless war (Iraq/Kosovo/
Korean war Indonesia)
Nuclear Balkanization
Schoolyard killings and gangs
ENTERTAINMENT Radio, no TV TV – 3 channels TV – 30 + channels Surfing the net
VCR DVD
Nintendo Play Station and X Box
ATTITUDE TOWARD Endure Replace them Ignore leaders Leaders must respect you
AUTHORITY Honor & respect Challenge leaders (never trust Choose their own boss
anyone over 30)
ROLE OF Significant Limited: useful Central: caring Global
RELATIONSHIPS
VALUE SYSTEMS Conservative Self-based Media Shop around
ROLE OF WOMEN Hierarchical Women’s lib Equality Reverse discrimination
Superwoman Androgynous
SCHEDULES Mellow Frantic Aimless Volatile, frenetic
ROLE OF CAREER Means for living Central focus Irritant Always changing
BRANDS Converse Adidas Nike Microsoft
Timex Casio Swatch Jeep Wrangler
Chevrolet Toyota Saturn Mountain Dew
Gap Tommy Hilfiger
CELEBRATE Victory Youth Savvy Technology

Generations chart.doc 2
CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS
PURCHASING With cash With credit card Struggling to purchase Purchase on-line
MORALS Puritan Ethics Sensual Cautious Tolerant
HEROES FDR John and Jacqueline Kennedy Kurt Cobain NYPD NYFD
Audie Murphy John Lennon Michael Jordan Flight #93 – Todd Beamer,
Superman Martin Luther King Magic Johnson Jeremy Glick, Mark
Babe Ruth John Glenn Ronald Reagan Bingham…
Joe DiMaggio Gandhi None Mayor Guliani
MacArthur, Patton, Parents & Grandparents
Montgomery, Halsey, and NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt
Eisenhower Michael Jordan
Franklin D. Roosevelt Princess Diana
Winston Churchill Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa
Joe Foss Mother Teresa
Bill Gates
Kerri Strugg
Mia Hamm
Tiger Woods
Christopher Reeves
COMMUNICATION Radio TV Video: Atari and Nintendo Internet
MEDIA Mimeograph Photograph Computer (games) Laser disk player
TECHNOLOGY Rotary phones Touch-tone phones Desk top publishing DVD
Slide Rules Calculators Cell phone, Beepers PDA
Lap Tops IPOD, MP3 Player
VIEW OF Hope to out live it Master it Enjoy it Employ it
TECHNOLOGY
MANAGING MONEY Save Spend Hedge Conscientious
Save it now Buy it now Want it now Get it now on-line
INTERACTIVE Team player Self absorbed Entrepreneur Eclectic
STYLE Team Player
WORK STYLE Team work and commitment to Personal fulfillment Tentative-divided loyalty Networking
work Team
Flexibility & Employability
MUSIC Big band Rock ‘n’ Roll Alternative/Rap Ska
Swing Diverse collection of MTV Alternative becomes mainstream
Hard & Soft Rock pop rock
Pop Techno
Classic Swing
Rap (Very diverse)
SAYINGS No Sweat No Problem No Fear “No”
“Whatever”
“Want it right now.”
WORLD VIEW Modern Modern Postmodern Postmodern
PERCEPTION We Me Us & Them (boomers) Who
Generations chart.doc 3
CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS
VIEW OF FUTURE Rainy day to work for. Now is more important Uncertain but manageable Ambivalent
Seek to stabilize Create it Hopeless Optimistic
Hopeful
PUBLICATIONS Life People “E-zines” YM
Reader’s Digest Playboy Websites Series: Goosebumps
USA Today Rolling Stone Chat room dialogue Baby Sitters’ Club
Time My Generation Spin Matt Christopher
Wall Street Journal Business Week Wired American Girls
Chat room conversation
TV SHOWS Father Knows Best Miami Vice Friends Dawson Creek
Leave it to Beaver Cheers 90210 Dark Angel
Andy Griffith MASH Seinfeld Reality TV (Survivor)
Payton Place A-Team Melrose Place Scrubs
This is Your Life Nightrider ER Malcolm in the Middle
Dallas America’s Funniest Video Who Wants to be a Millionaire
Candid Camera Star Trek
X-Files
Brady Bunch
Cosby Show
HAIR Short hair Long hair Any style hair Bleached/spiked/bald
CLOTHES Formal Casual Bizarre Anything goes
LIFE PARADIGM Be grateful you have a job. You owe me. Relate to me. Life is a cafeteria.
DEFINING IDEA Duty Individuality Diversity Relationships/ Family
LEISURE IS A.. ..reward for hard work ..the point of life. ..relief. ..interwoven with work
MEMORIES Marx Brothers Smothers Brothers Menendez Brothers Trench Coat Mafia
Hobo Hitchhiker Homeless Health
Frank Sinatra The Beatles REM Goo-Goo Dolls
Lassie Snoop Doggy Dog
Dorthy Hamill Tonya Harding
Pong Mortal Combat
Drive-in movies Drive-by shootings
Tom & Jerry Beavis & Butt-head
Howdy Doody Pee Wee Herman
CULTURAL ICONS Big Band Rolling Stones Madonna Britney Spears
U2 Christina Aguilar
Dave Matthews Band Jennifer Lopez
Michael Jackson Mark McGuire
Leonardo DiCaprio
Tiger Woods
SEX Sex on your honeymoon Sex in the back seat Sex on the internet Protected sex
Love waits
WORK IS… ..an inevitable obligation. ..an exciting adventure. ..a difficult challenge. ..means to an end.

Generations chart.doc 4
CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS
DEFINED SPACE ..outer space ..inner space ..cyber space ..my space
AS…
RELIGIOUS Committed to church Committed to relationships Committed to family Committed to family
CHARACTERISTICS Support foreign missions Want to belong Local causes Biblically illiterate,
Enjoy Bible study Supportive of people Short attention span Spiritually hungry
Loyal to denominations Want experiences with faith Denominations not important Multiple expressions of worship
Worship in reverence Want faith that meets needs Faith is something
Want less structure All ideas are equal
Judge not so no one will judge
you
Highly tolerant and open
CHARACTERISTICS Hard workers Educated Neglected by parents Lowest parent-to-child ratio in
Savers Desire quality Loyal to relationships USA history
Patriotic Independent Serious about life Cherished by parents “Decade of
Loyal to institutions Cause-oriented Stressed out the Child”
Private Fitness conscious Self-reliant Groomed to achieve and excel
Dependable Question authority Skeptical Entrepreneurial hard workers
Groomed to explore inner world Highly spiritual who thrive on flexibility
Survivors Viewed as heroes
Mediavores and techno-savvy
Extreme fun
More law abiding
Most socially conscious
Most educated-minded
New confidence
Upbeat and full of self-esteem
Volunteerism high
CORE VALUES Dedication/sacrifice Optimism Diversity Optimism
Hard work Team orientation Thinking globally Civic duty
Conformity Personal gratification Balance Confidence
Law and order Health and wellness Techno-literacy Achievement
Respect for authority Personal growth Fun Sociability
Patience Youth Informality Morality
Delayed reward Work Self-reliance Street smarts
Duty before pleasure Involvement Pragmatism Diversity
Adherence to rules
Honor

Generations chart.doc 5
CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS
SEMINAL EVENTS 1927- Lindbergh completes first 1954- McCarthy HCUAA 1970- Women’s Liberation Child focus
transatlantic flight hearings begin protests and Violence: Oklahoma City
1929- Stock market crashes 1955- Salk Vaccine tested on demonstrations bombing, schoolyard
1930- US Depression deepens the public 1972- Arab terrorists at Munich shootings
1931- Star Spangled Banner 1955- Rosa Parks refuses to Olympics Technology
becomes national anthem move to the back of the 1973- Watergate scandal Busy, over-planned lives
1932- Lindbergh baby bus in Montgomery, AL 1973- Energy crisis begins Stress
kidnapped 1957- First nuclear power plant 1976- Tandy and Apple market Clinton/Lewinsky
1932- FDR elected 1957- Congress passes the Civil PCs Columbine High School
1933- The Dust Bowl Rights Act 1978- Mass suicide in massacre
1933- The New Deal 1960- Birth control pills Jonestown Attack on The World Trade
1934- Social Security system introduced 1979- Three Mile Island nuclear Centers & Pentagon
established 1960- Kennedy elected reactor nears meltdown War on Terrorism in
1937- Hindenburg tragedy 1961- Kennedy establishes 1979- US corporations begin Afghanistan
1937- Hitler invades Austria Peace Corps massive layoffs Escalating Israeli/Palestinian
1940- United States prepares for 1962- Cuban Missile Crisis 1979- Iran holds sixty-six Conflict
war 1962- John Glenn circles the Americans hostage
1941- Pearl Harbor; United earth 1980- John Lennon shot and
States enters World War 1963- Martin Luther King leads killed
II march on Washington, 1980- Ronald Reagan
1944- D-Day in Normandy DC inaugurated
1945- FDR dies 1963- President John Kennedy 1986- Challenger disaster
1945- Victory in Europe and assassinated 1987- Stock market plummets
Japan 1965- United States sends 1988- Terrorist bomb blows up
1950- Korean War ground combat troops to flight 103 over Lockerbie
Vietnam 1989- Exxon Valdez oil tanker
1966- National Organization for spill
Women founded 1989- Fall of Berlin Wall
1966- Cultural Revolution in 1991- Operation Desert Storm
China 1992- Rodney King beating
1967- American Indian videotaped, Los Angeles
Movement founded riots
1968- Martin Luther King and
Robert F. Kennedy
assassinated
1969- First lunar landing
1969- Woodstock
1970- Kent State University
shootings

Generations chart.doc 6
CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS
CULTURAL Kewpie Dolls “The Ed Sullivan Show” “The Brady Bunch” Barney
MEMORABILIA Mickey Mouse Quonset huts Pet Rocks Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Flash Gordon Fallout shelters Platform shoes Tomagotchi and other virtual
The Golden Era of Radio Poodle skirts and Pop Beads “The Simpson’s” pets
Wheaties Slinkies “Dynasty” Beanie Babies
Charlie McCarthy TV dinners ET Pogs
Tarzan “The Laugh-In” Cabbage Patch dolls American Girl dolls
Jukeboxes Hula Hoops Oprah and Rosie
Blondie The Mod Squad The Spice Girls
The Lone Ranger The peace sign The X Games
THEIR HUMOR The Better Half Doonesbury Dilbert Calvin and Hobbes
SPENDING STYLE Save and pay cash Buy now, pay later – with plastic Cautious, conservative Spend your parents’ money as
fast as you can
MARKINGS Conservative, somewhat Designer glasses Nose rings Polyester
“dressy” clothing: coats and Cellular phones Naval rings Pagers
ties or nylons Whatever’s trendy Functional clothing Retro
Neatly trimmed hair BMWs Tattoos
American cars Designer suits Japanese cars
Golf clubs Designer bodies
Mixed drinks Vintage wines
ON THE JOB Assets: Assets: Assets: Assets:
Stable Service oriented Adaptable Collective action
Detail oriented Driven Techno-literate Optimism
Thorough Willing to “go the extra mile” Independent Tenacity
Loyal Good at relationship Unintimidated by authority Heroic spirit
Hard working Want to please Creative Multi-tasking capabilities
Good team players Technological savvy
Liabilities: Liabilities: Liabilities: Liabilities:
Inept with ambiguity and Not naturally “budget minded” Impatient Need for supervision and
change Uncomfortable with conflict Poor people skills structure
Reluctant to buck the system Reluctant to go against peers Inexperienced Inexperience, particularly with
Uncomfortable with conflict May put process ahead of Cynical handling difficult people
Reticent when they disagree result issues
Overly sensitive to feedback
Judgmental of those who see
things differently
Self-centered

Generations chart.doc 7
CATEGORIES BUILDERS BOOMERS BUSTERS BRIDGERS
MESSAGES THAT “Your experience is respected “You’re important to our “Do it your way.” “You’ll be working with other
MOTIVATE here.” success.” “We’ve got the newest hardware bright, creative people.”
“It’s valuable to the rest of us to “You’re valued here.” and software.” “Your boss is in his (or her)
hear what has—and “Your contribution is unique and “There aren’t a lot of rules here.” sixties.”
hasn’t—worked in the past.” important.” “We’re not very corporate.” “You and your coworkers can
“Your perseverance is valued “We need you.” help turn this company
and will be rewarded.” “I approve of you.” around.”
“You’re worthy.” “You can be a hero here.”
MINISTRY Provide group activities Highlight purpose and vision Define vision High tech/high touch
Sunday school Celebrative worship Contemporary worship Optimistic and positive
Missions projects Stress quality Answer questions Interactive
In-depth Bible study Offer multiple options Focus on local issues “Savvy shoppers” so eliminate
Focus on grand-parenting Use small groups Dialogue slick appeals
Offer pastoral care Expand roles of women Small group focus Challenge them with grand
Challenge to pass on leadership Short-term missions involvement Develop need-based ministries causes
Concerned globally
Ministry teams
Build unity in diversity,
Volunteerism high
Create lifestyle settings
Share compelling stories
Accept them into your
community
Practice intrigue
Become part of their headset
Use online games and contests
Use the radio
Hang out 24/7
Become their mentors
Build on adrenaline
Be honest and open
Engage their senses

Generations chart.doc 8
 IMMIGRANTS NATIVES
BORN BEFORE 1962 BORN AFTER 1962
Book culture Screen-agers
Graphicacy skills before they have literacy skills
Think straight, in cause and effect linear fashion Think loopy, in hopscotch, laminated, hyperlink, field flashing (low boredom
threshold)
Linear Non-linear
Phonetic Logographic
Square Round
Lecture-drill-test learning environment of classroom and chalkboard. Natives learn not by sitting still and listening, but by interacting and doing – game
learning, team learning, electronic learning, etc.
Native learning is eye-popping, ear-ringing, nose-tingling, mouth-watering, finger-
licking learning.
Native pedagogy now demands conversation and interactive learning rather than
silence and note taking.
Linear competence is single-minded. The teacher occupies center stage. Its skill Non-linear, digital competence is stacked. The student occupies center stage. It
and drill exercises stress memory retention, reduction of meaning, and creation stresses rapid hand-eye coordination, mental ability to make quick connections,
of an ordered worldview with cause and effect and beginnings and endings. Its the ability to organize information, skills at accessing rather than memorizing
“workplace” is the classroom. info, and puts a spin on meaning rather than reduces it. Its “work space” is
anywhere.
The postmodern bias is towards non-linear modes – more imagistic, relational,
concurrent modes of thinking.
Word-based Image-driven
Allergic to metaphors and images Image based literacy is “graphicacy”
Visual-holic culture
Minds molded Bodies inscribed
Do we have a mission statement? Do we have an image statement?
“Let’s make it relevant” “Let’s make it real”
From vast To fast
Thing big and small Think fast and slow
Long-term positive/short-term negative Natives don’t even think that way. Time is measured in seconds.
Survival of the biggest/fittest Survival of the fastest
Status quo Fluxus quo (fluctuations)
Amoebic change Volcanic drive and cyclonic energy
Things change overnight
Incremental Exponential
Anything-can-happen-and-probably-will-world
Experience Must have constant learning
New and improved Now “first”
Trial and error Trial and success
Made sense when it appeals to intellect Makes sense when it can be experienced and felt
Think Feel
Products Stories
Generations chart.doc 9
 IMMIGRANTS NATIVES
BORN BEFORE 1962 BORN AFTER 1962
Convert then join Join then convert (Celtic way)
Believe then belong Belong then believe
You belong just by showing up
Immigrants ask, “Who am I?” Natives ask, “What is to be done?”
And answer in terms of what they buy And answer in terms of how you invest your time and how you spend your life.
Work ethic/work hard Play ethic/play large
Immigrants built the modern world on knowledge (science, technology) and work Natives are building this new world on love and play.
(commerce). Central human activity of the postmodern culture.
Immigrants think in terms of 9-5. Work is play or it is not working.
Natives create their own flexible work schedules that integrate daily life.
An either/or world An and/also world
Paradox can create paralysis among immigrants Paradox is the 2nd nature of natives
Incrementally or sequentially Instantaneously and simultaneously
Science was the hope of the future Spirit is the hope of the future
Think and feel by formula and proof Think and feel by faith and intuition
What you know Who you are
Hierarchical models Distributed decision making and mentoring
Seeing is believing Believing is seeing
ROMAN MODEL FOR REACHING PEOPLE – CELTIC MODEL FOR REACHING PEOPLE –
INSTITUTION MOVEMENT
Cerebral Imaginative
The “transcendence” of God The “immanence” & “providence” of God
Individualistic Community
Imported from Europe (IFE) Made in America (MIA)
Emphasis first person of the Trinity Emphasis the second & third person of the Trinity
Acoustic sound Electronic sound
Formal worship developed for believer Informal worship developed with seekers in mind
Hierarchical organizations Flatter organizations
Church as real estate Church as the people
Choices, future oriented, affirm entrepreneur & new ideas, start new ministries
Church people Emerging mission field unchurched people
(1) secular, (2) urban, (3) postmodern, (4) neo-barbarian, (5) receptive
Christianity taught Christianity caught
Belonging comes before believing. Help people belong so they can believe.
“Reject all temptation to pressure people to decide now. Respect their freedom
and encourage them. Free response in measurable time.”
Come to faith suddenly. Come to faith gradually.
Left brain Right brain
Clergy centric Laity centric

Generations chart.doc 10
BOOKS:
Rocking the Ages, The Yankelovich Report on Generational Marketing, Smith & Clurman, Harper Business, 1997
Revolution X, A Survival Guide for Our Generation, Cowan & Nelson, Penguin Books, 1994
Generating Hope, A Strategy for Reaching the Postmodern Generation, Long, IVP, 1997
Jesus for a New Generation, Putting the Gospel in the Language of Xers, Ford, IVP, 1995
A Generation Alone, Xers Making a Place in the World, Mahedy & Bernardi, IVP, 1994
Managing Generation X, How to Bring out the Best in Young Talent, Tulgan, Merritt, 1995
Welcome to the Jungle, The Why Behind “Generation X,” Holtz, St. Martin’s Griffin, 1995
13th GEN, Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail?, Howe & Strauss, Vintage Books, 1993
Baby Busters, The Disillusioned Generation, Barna, Northfield Publishing, 1994
Generation Next, What You Need to Know About Today’s Youth, Barna, Regal Books, 199
Make Room for the Boom or Bust, 6 Church Models for Reaching Three Generations, McIntosh, Fleming H. Revell, 1997
When Hope and Fear Collide, A Portrait of Today’s College Student, Levine & Cureton, Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1998
Generation 2k, Zobo, IVP 1999
Generations, The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069, Strauss & Howe, Morrow, 1999
Millennials Rising, The Next Great Generation, Neil Howe and William Strauss, Vintage 2000
Managing Generation Y, Global Citizens Born in the Late Seventies and Early Eighties, Carolyn A. Martin and Bruce Tulgan, HRD Press
2001
Real Teens, George Barna, 2001
Generations at Work, Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace, Ron Zemke, Claire Raines, Bob
Filipczak, Amacon 2000
Growing Up Digital The Rise of the Net Generation, Don Tapscott, McGraw-Hill Trade, 1999
The Celtic Way of Evangelism, How Christianity Can Reach the West… Again, George G. Hunter III, Abingdon Press, 2000
Carpe Mañana, Leonard Sweet, Zondervan, 2001

Conferences:
The Future of College Ministry Forum, Mike Woodruff, Ivy Jungle Conference, 1999
“Overcoming Generational Tension,” Workshop by Dr. Rick Hicks, Operational Mobilization, Christian Management Conference, 1999
“Transforming Students Into Leaders,” Dr. Tim Elmore, EQUIP, 1999
THE X FACTOR: Managing & Motivating Today’s New Workforce, Claire Raines, PCMA Annual Meeting, January 1999
The McIntosh Church Growth Network, October 2001

Dennis Gaylor – Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, USA

3728 W. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO 65802
Email: [email protected]; www.chialpha.com www.reachtheu.com
Generations chart.doc 11