Millennials Versus Boomers: An Asymmetric Pattern of Realistic and Symbolic Threats Drives Intergenerational Tensions in the United States

Intergenerational conflict appears frequently in American public discourse, often framed as clashes between Millennials and Baby Boomers. Building on intergroup threat theory in an exploratory survey, a preregistered correlational study, and a preregistered intervention (N = 1,714), we find that (a) Millennials and Baby Boomers do express more animosity toward each other than toward other generations (Studies 1-3); (b) their animosity reflects asymmetric generational concerns: Baby Boomers primarily fear that Millennials threaten traditional American values (symbolic threat) while Millennials primarily fear that Baby Boomers's delayed transmission of power hampers their life prospects (realistic threat; Studies 2-3); (c) finally, an intervention challenging the entitativity of generational categories alleviates perceived threats and hostility for both generations (Study 3). These findings inform research on intergroup threat, provide a theoretically grounded framework to understand intergenerational relations, and put forward a strategy to increase harmony in aging societies

Group dynamics in a luxury Sub-Saharan resort

Thesis: S.M. in Management Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (page 133).This thesis is a monograph about a Sub-Saharan 5-Star resort. It is based on 22 loosely structured ethnographic interviews, field notes, a series of artifacts and pictures, all collected during a 10-day field trip to the given location. After describing the various workplace activities at the resort, the study focuses on interactions between local and expatriate staff members looking specifically at the working conditions of these two groups, the expression of local culture at the workplace, and the impact of intra-group beliefs on the meaning of authority within the employee community.by Stéphane P. Francioli.S.M. in Management Studie