“History defines generations, generations define history.” - Neil Howe
As I have stated in my previous article linked here, Generational Theory comes from the perspective that history is cyclical rather than linear in nature. Just as there are four distinct periods or Turnings in cyclical history, there are also four distinct generational archetypes.
The generations are defined by their positions in history. Members of a generation will always encounter major events, moods, or trends during the same phase of life, which shapes their generational identity. For example, growing up during a crisis period may be terrifying to a child generation. In contrast the crisis could be an empowering call to action for a young adult generation hungry for new opportunities and change. This in turn could lead that crisis child generation to be more cautious as young adults. On the other hand, the crisis young adult generation could mature into a generation of powerful midlife leaders having overcome the crisis as young adults. These changes in attitudes as generations age into their next phase of life precipitates the next turning point in the societal cycles.
In this article I will be breaking down the four generational archetypes and their relationship to the four societal cycles or "Turnings" as Strauss and Howe call them. I strongly recommend reading my first article summarizing the Turnings linked here before continuing.
The Archetypes
Prophet generations are born after a period of outer world crisis. The most recent example is the Baby Boomer generation born after the twin crisis of The Great Depression and World War 2. They are treated as perfect children of a First Turning High for whom the crisis was fought for; for their future. They grow up in a society that has a high degree of civic uniformity in its values and institutions. As they come of age, they find the civic uniformity lacking any individual depth. This causes them to become narcissistic young adults during a Second Turing Awakening as there is a transition to more individual pursuits. Having liberated themselves during the awakening, prophet generations enter midlife with strong moral convictions during a Third Turning Unravelling. They raise a Hero generation (Millennials in this case). The prophets' children are more protected than they were growing up, and they imbue their children with the moral convictions they acquired through their young adult years. Prophet generations finally enter old age as wise leaders during a new Fourth Turning Crisis. Think of FDR and the Missionary generation during World War 2.
Nomad generations are born during a Second Turning Awakening. The most recent example is the Gen X generation born through the mid 1960’s until the early 1980’s. They were raised during the Vietnam War, Watergate scandal, and Consciousness revolution and came of age during the Regan years. They are underprotected as children, and grow up during a time of individual liberation and moral convictions which they see as hysteria in society. This imbues nomads with a sense of self-sufficiency and skepticism of moral convictions. Nomads age into alienated young adults of a Third Turning Unravelling where individualism is at its highest point. Having navigated a world driven by the pursuits of the individual as young adults, they age into pragmatic midlife leaders during a Fourth Turning Crisis. Think of the Lost generation during World War 2 (Truman, Eisenhower, Paton). This generation bears the front of the crisis as they are in the middle of their careers, attempting to build families and community. They raise an Artist generation (Gen Z and Silent before them). The nomads’ children are overly protected during a crisis, and they imbue their children with the pragmatism they’ve acquired through being young adults of an Unravelling. They age into tough post crisis elders during a period of renewed civic unity. Elders of a new First Turing High.
Hero generations are born during a Third Turning Unravelling. The most recent example is the Millennial generation born through the early to mid 1980’s through till the early 2000’s. They were raised during the Bush-Clinton years of increased globalization, the Middle Eastern wars, and War on Terror after 9-11. Heros are a protected generation as children, and grow up during a time of high liberation of the individual's pursuits. They view this as being hollow of civic values and see civic institutions as dysfunctional and in need of reform. Hero generations come of age as community based young adults during a Fourth Turning Crisis. If the outer world crisis is handled well, hero generation are active participants in the building and championing of new values and institutions to face the crisis at hand. Think of the G.I. generation during World War 2. They age into hubris midlife leaders of a First Turning High with a can do attitude based on their new found civic resolve after having gone through the crucible of the crisis as young adults. Heroes raise a Prophet generation. The new prophet generation is raised in an increasingly relaxed environment of parental controls, and they imbue their children with the can-do civic attitudes heroes acquired as young adults. They finally age into powerful elders attacked by Prophets coming of age during the next Second Turning Awakening who find the civic conformity stifling to their personal growth.
Artist generations are born during a Fourth Turning Crisis. The most recent example is the Gen Z or Homelander generation born through the mid 2000’s and will end sometime during the 2020’s. They were raised during the 2008 financial collapse, the culture wars, the rise of global populism and nationalism, and most recently the Coronavirus pandemic. Artists are an overly protected generation as children, and grow up during a time of high civic dysfunction. They view this outer world in crisis as confusing and terrifying. They are asked to be obedient and to not cause trouble while the adults solve the large issues. Their nomad parents imbue them with a high sense of pragmatism while growing up in a world of chaos. Artist generations come of age as responsible young adults enjoying the stability of a post crisis First Turning High. During a Second Turning Awakening, they become indecisive midlife leaders who mediate between the strong elder Hero generation and young Prophet’s inner world crusaid. Think of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, though not indecisive, he was a very empathic leader. Finally, they become empathic elders during a Third Turning Unravelling.
Conclusion to Generational Theory
Now you might be thinking, this sounds as useful as mythology. Modern history and science have more value than this silly interpretation of society. But what if we’ve lost some of the most valuable lessons from ancient times because of our enamoration of modern science. Of course using science as our guiding principle, perhaps we can carefully distill the lessons ancient cultures and philosophies can teach us about how the world works.
I’d argue that Generational Theory by Strauss and Howe does this. It’s an analysis of history through the combination of modern demography, economics, history, and sociology with the ancients’ mythology and cyclical perspective of time. This combination can give us more powerful insights to our societies than only relying on our modern interpretations.
Acknowledgements
All the information in this article comes from William Strauss and Neil Howe. Strauss earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a master's in public policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Howe has earned degrees in both economics and history from Yale University. They created the Strauss-Howe generational theory and have published multiple books together, most notably “Generations” and “The Fourth Turning”.
Their book “Generations” has been hailed by political leaders as diverse as former Vice President Al Gore to former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon (under President Donald Trump). It’s also been recommended by business leader Tony Robbins on both Tim Ferris and Lewis Howes podcast respectively. The book was introduced to Tony by former President Bill Clinton.
William Strauss passed away in 2008. Neil Howe is currently the Managing director of Demography for Hedgeye Risk Management.
It's very hard to summarize all of the topics covered in William Strauss and Neil Howe’s books on generational theory. I highly recommend reading their books which have case studies from over the last 500 years of American history. A short video summary done by Neil Howe can also be found on YouTube linked here.