Did the era of sexual liberation give birth to that of the Tanguy generation? This film traces the journey of the young student who prefers his mother’s arms to those of a girlfriend. And the family cocoon in the adventure of life.
Scientists have looked into the phenomenon with an edifying conclusion. “American teenagers are about three years behind their peers in the 1970s when it comes to sex, drinking alcohol or finding a small job, which marks a real cultural evolution”, summarizes the Huffpost. It is not the journalists who affirm it, but a compilation of seven studies which related to eight million young people followed from 13 to 19 years.
In most areas, young Americans are three years behind. Between 2010 and 2015, 63% of young high school students had gone out with someone, compared to 86% from 1976 to 1979. Ditto for sexual relations (41% against 54%), alcohol consumption (67% against 93%) or looking for odd jobs (55% versus 76%).
“In terms of adult activities, today’s 18-year-olds resemble those who were 15 before,” analyzes Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at the University of San Diego and main author of this work published in review Child Development.
How to explain this phenomenon which affects all regions of the United States regardless of race, gender or socio-economic category? The researchers eliminated direct or indirect school activities, the time that the pupils or students devote to them is unchanged between the two periods.
On the other hand, the digital revolution would be one of the causes of this change. When the world is within reach of a controller or keyboard, social and romantic relationships suffer. “According to a theory of evolutionary psychology, the rate of evolution of a person’s life speeds up or slows down depending on his environment”, underlines the information site.
Easier access to higher education, its duration, the increase in life expectancy have, it seems, delayed the cycle of entry into “adult life”. With the usual markers of marriage, family and work. In the last century, “the objective was survival, notes Professor Twenge, and not music lessons at 5 years old”.
By the way, the children’s independence would have suffered. This is why Tanguy confuses family home and marital home!
