Are there valid differences in the intrinsic motives of people from different generations?

A recent statistical analysis of Reiss Motivation Profile? (RMP) test takers between ages 12 – 24, commonly labeled as Generation Z, revealed significant differences in their intrinsic motives and core values compared to Boomers I (ages 67 – 75), Boomers II (ages 57 – 66), Generation X (ages 41 – 56), and Millennials (ages 25 – 40).??Specifically, six motives differentiated GenZers from members of four previous generations:

·??????Curiosity, the desire for understanding

·??????Eating, the desire to consume food

·??????Family, the desire to raise children and spend time with siblings

·??????Saving, the desire to collect things

·??????Tranquility, the desire to avoid experiencing anxiety and pain

·??????Vengeance, the desire to confront those who frustrate or offend us.

Compared to older test takers, GenZers scored significantly higher, on average, for the basic desires of Eating, Saving, Tranquility, and Vengeance. These results indicate they generally place greater importance on enjoying food, collecting things (including saving money), maintaining personal safety by avoiding risk, and seeking revenge and/or competing to win at all costs. GenZers also scored significantly lower, on average, for Curiosity and Family, which suggests they attach lower value to intellectual pursuits and family life.?These findings have implications for the workplace, schools, and athletic teams – in short, for any organization that includes members of Generation Z.

The six intrinsic motives differentiating GenZers from older test takers were the same for females and males. On average, both genders within Generation Z scored significantly higher for Eating, Saving, Tranquility, and Vengeance, and both scored significantly lower for Curiosity and Family, as compared to females and males from four previous generations.

It is important to note the current findings of significant differences in intrinsic motives between Generation Z and earlier generations are not based on a small sample size, nor are they limited to one country or one culture. The analysis was based on data from 12,806 GenZers who were residents of diverse countries such as Curacao, Finland, Poland, Singapore, and the United States.

Interestingly, no significant differences in intrinsic motives were identified between the scores of Boomers I, Boomers II, Generation X, and Millennials. The findings suggest individuals from these generations generally share similar values.

In an effort to better understand these results, we considered the possibility that the?differences seen in individuals from Generation Z may arise from their having completed the RMP at a young age (i.e., between ages 12 and 24). Therefore, we compared the scores of GenZers with those of Millennials who previously took the test at those same ages. The scores of Millennials who took the test when they were aged 12 to 24 were not similar to those of GenZers.??Rather, the scores of young Millennials were similar to the scores of Millennials who completed the assessment when they were older. Thus, age at time of testing does not appear to explain the findings.

We then explored the possibility that the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 may have had an unusually severe impact on individuals from Generation Z.??With relatively limited life experiences, GenZers may be less resilient – that is, less able to cope with the deleterious effects of the pandemic. This hypothesis, however, was not supported by the data, as we found that the scores of GenZers who completed the RMP before March 2020 were not significantly different from the scores of those who took the test after that date. Thus, the global pandemic is not a likely explanation for the current results.?

Although we may not yet know the underlying reasons for the differences in intrinsic motivation between GenZers and members of earlier generations, we believe the findings are important for enabling parents, educators, employers, and sports coaches to better understand the needs and values of adolescents and young adults.

Click here?to learn more about the Reiss Motivation Profile? - the only comprehensive, standardized assessment?of what motivates an individual.

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