Study reveals rocketing sense of entitlement on U.S. campuses

[Barefootsies]

Books aside, if you asked a college freshman today who the Greatest Generation is, they might respond by pointing in a mirror.

Young people's unprecedented level of self-infatuation was revealed in a new analysis of the American Freshman Survey, which has been asking students to rate themselves compared to their peers since 1966.

Roughly 9 million young people have taken the survey over the last 47 years.

Psychologist Jean Twenge and her colleagues compiled the data and found that over the last four decades there's been a dramatic rise in the number of students who describe themselves as being 'above average' in the areas of academic ability, drive to achieve, mathematical ability, and self-confidence.

But in appraising the traits that are considered less invidualistic - co-operativeness, understanding others, and spirituality - the numbers either stayed at slightly decreased over the same period.

Researchers also found a disconnect between the student's opinions of themselves and actual ability.

FULL STORY

[stinkyfingers]

FULL STORY

[bronco67]

It doesn't take a genius to realize that most kids have an over-inflated sense of self worth these days. When mommy and daddy drills into you that you're a special and better than everyone else -- it'll all come crashing down eventually when you reach the real world, and people actually expect something from you.

I saw it firsthand during my last office job. Out of all of the twentysomethings I worked with, about 10% of them were worth a damn. I've never seen a more useless group of self-entitled assholes. It sounds like crotchety old man talk, but I couldn't help but notice.

[BFT3K]

Maybe they took lessons from our politicians?...

[Captain Kawaii]

It doesn't take a genius to realize that most kids have an over-inflated sense of self worth these days. When mommy and daddy drills into you that you're a special and better than everyone else -- it'll all come crashing down eventually when you reach the real world, and people actually expect something from you.

I saw it firsthand during my last office job. Out of all of the twentysomethings I worked with, about 10% of them were worth a damn. I've never seen a more useless group of self-entitled assholes. It sounds like crotchety old man talk, but I couldn't help but notice.

You speak truth, Crotchety Old Grasshopper...

[eroticsexxx]

Maybe they took lessons from our politicians?...

That photo is a weak jab at best.

Ryan is a "fiscal moderate", and doesn't adhere to Rand's philosophies on a true level.

[Socks]

I work with a bunch of university kids now, and I'd say there's standouts who work really hard and others who float, just like anything else.. But I did think they'd be more advanced in today's age, especially the programmers. They're really not that good by the time they finish university, unless they took it on themselves to learn after school.

I accomplished more from the ages of 14-20 than most of these kids will accomplish by 30, and I have a grade 10 education.

[BlackCrayon]

they got the guns but we've got the numbers, we're gonna win yeah we're takin over, come on!!

why is this viewed as a new idea? every generation thought they were better/smarter than the last.

what i see today, is that parents are largely absent from their kids lives more than ever. between jobs and their own social life, kids are taking a backseat in life. so i don't know where this self entitlement comes from. if anything, its the media, the school, the government telling these kids, go to school, do well and you'll be able to achieve anything you want. which is obviously untrue. even worse than that is the celebrity culture in the US, kids see these celebs making millions for doing what looks fun, and who doesn't want to get rich doing just fun stuff? when they find out life doesn't work like that and that you are generally stuck doing a shitty mundane job for an average (at best) pay, where would the motivation come form to work hard?

[slapass]

they got the guns but we've got the numbers, we're gonna win yeah we're takin over, come on!!

why is this viewed as a new idea? every generation thought they were better/smarter than the last.

what i see today, is that parents are largely absent from their kids lives more than ever. between jobs and their own social life, kids are taking a backseat in life. so i don't know where this self entitlement comes from. if anything, its the media, the school, the government telling these kids, go to school, do well and you'll be able to achieve anything you want. which is obviously untrue. even worse than that is the celebrity culture in the US, kids see these celebs making millions for doing what looks fun, and who doesn't want to get rich doing just fun stuff? when they find out life doesn't work like that and that you are generally stuck doing a shitty mundane job for an average (at best) pay, where would the motivation come form to work hard?

You didn't read the article obviously. It is getting worse the study said.

As a person older then you. I see parents are all over their kids. They know where there kids are 24/7. My parents had no clue where I was or what I was doing.

And the last part confirms it. You confused fantasy with reality and now why work hard? Because you now grew up a bit and realized that it takes hard work. Just a thought.

[BlackCrayon]

You didn't read the article obviously. It is getting worse the study said.

As a person older then you. I see parents are all over their kids. They know where there kids are 24/7. My parents had no clue where I was or what I was doing.

And the last part confirms it. You confused fantasy with reality and now why work hard? Because you now grew up a bit and realized that it takes hard work. Just a thought.

I am willing to bet I am probably about the same age as yourself. My main point was there was a time when one parent was home all the time and their life was the kids. that isn't true anymore. how old are these kids that the parents are 'all over'. my parents knew where i was at all times when i was 8 or so but not when i was 12. big difference in those 4 years. anyways, i didn't say that was my thinking. i work hard. its just what i see a large number of people getting from celebrity culture. today's economy is enough to make anyone jaded, especially the youth. they don't see any bright future ahead. they are told there isn't one anymore.

[pornguy]

I think in large the kids get the self entitlement from mom and day. In the things they say and do.

How many people right now are un employeed and not willing to take a lower level job to pay the bills because they were the CEO or CFO or AA to someone or something like that.

Kids do learn a lot more from mom and dad, more than people think.

When my mom was a kid, her mom was home 24/7 running the house hold etc. Dad worked. Now days its not like that so the kids just see them running around.

My son asked me the other day why my wife and I dont work. He does not see that we work while he is in school all day. He just knows that when he is home one of us spends as much time with him as we can.

[Best-In-BC]

I think in large the kids get the self entitlement from mom and day. In the things they say and do.

How many people right now are un employeed and not willing to take a lower level job to pay the bills because they were the CEO or CFO or AA to someone or something like that.

Kids do learn a lot more from mom and dad, more than people think.

When my mom was a kid, her mom was home 24/7 running the house hold etc. Dad worked. Now days its not like that so the kids just see them running around.

My son asked me the other day why my wife and I dont work. He does not see that we work while he is in school all day. He just knows that when he is home one of us spends as much time with him as we can.

The boomers Kids Kids fucking it all up ;) Too many stupid people beleave what they beleave with out any proof or rendering of thought

[BlackCrayon]

The boomers Kids Kids fucking it all up ;) Too many stupid people beleave what they beleave with out any proof or rendering of thought

i'm not sure if you should be talking about stupid people when you can't even spell believe.

[Barefootsies]

i'm not sure if you should be talking about stupid people when you can't even spell believe.

My thoughts exactly.

The boomers Kids Kids fucking it all up ;) Too many stupid people beleave what they beleave with out any proof or rendering of thought