The Generations

An average life is 80 years, and consists of four periods of ~20 years

Childhood → Young adult → Midlife → Elderhood

A generation is an aggregate of people born every ~20 years

Baby Boomers → Gen X → Millennials → Post-Millennials


Each generation experiences "four turnings" every ~80y

High → Awakening → Unraveling → Crisis

A generation is considered "dominant" or "recessive" according to the turning experienced as young adults. But as a youth generation comes of age and defines its collective persona an opposing generational archetype is in its midlife peak of power.

Dominant: independent behavior + attitudes in defining an era

Recessive: dependent role in defining an era

Dominant Generations:

1. Prophet: Awakening as young adults

 Awakening, defined: Institutions are attacked in the name of personal and spiritual autonomy

2. Hero: Crisis as young adults.

Crisis, defined: Institutional life is destroyed and rebuilt in response to a perceived threat to the nation's survival

Recessive Generations:

3. Nomad: Unraveling as young adults.

 Unraveling, defined: Institutions are weak and distrusted, individualism is strong and flourishing

4. Artist: High young adults.

High, defined: Institutions are strong and individualism is weak