The concept of a
cohort or generation is central to understanding the life span perspective.
People who are born during the same ten- to fifteen-year period share a
historical context and are often categorized as similar along multiple
dimensions. Understanding your own cohort, as well as other cohorts born during
different periods, helps you understand how to most effectively provide human
services to your population of interest.
Tasks: Write a 2- to
3-page reflection paper and discuss the shared experiences of members of your
cohort. Your paper should be based on your personal experiences as well as
research on your generational cohort. Additionally, you may choose to include
information and examples from other people who are members of your cohort
(e.g., friends, roommates, and classmates). The goal is to present an accurate
and well-rounded overview of your generational cohort. Some topics to consider
in your paper are:
•Major historical events that shaped your development
•Attitudes toward diverse cultural groups
•Attitudes toward gender roles
•Ideas about music and artistic expression
•Attitudes toward military service
•Typical family constellation
•Attitudes toward education and work How does your cohort’s worldview differ from
the worldview of someone twenty years younger and twenty years older than you?
