Comparing Millennials to Pre-1987 Students and with One Another (Report‪)‬

Much has been written in recent years about cross-generational changes in the psychological characteristics of university students. Examples include: (a) meta-analyses comparing generations (Trzesniewski, Donnellan, & Robins, 2008; Twenge, 2006; Twenge & Foster, 2008; Twenge, Konrath, Foster, Campbell, & Bushman, 2008; Twenge & Foster, 2010), (b) descriptions and explanations of problematic trends in U.S. culture (Benoit, 2004; Eckersley, 2010; Jackson, 2008; Jacoby, 2008; Levine, 2006; Rosen, 2005; Twenge & Campbell, 2009; Twenge & Campbell, 2010), and (c) case studies and observations of university student attitudes and behaviors (Benton, 2006a, 2006b, 2006c, 2008; Stewart, 2009; Stewart & Schlegel, 2009). In a strong challenge to those who assert that there are substantial cross-generational differences, several authors (e.g., Terracciano, 2010; Trzesniewski & Donnellan, 2010) have argued that the case for large birth cohort differences has not been made. Based on carefully controlled comparisons of high school birth cohorts, Trzesniewski and Donnellan described their position this way: