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First, we need to be careful not to think that all Generation Z are alike. This important thing is research done with diverse audiences, more than 50 years of personality type research with many populations throughout the world. This research shows that there is just as much diversity of type within a culture than there are among different cultures. However, a culture, population, or generation – can appear to have some overall similar Type characteristics. (L. Kirby, E. Kendall, N Barger. 2077. Type and Culture. CPP Inc., Mountain View, CA.)

– Comfortable with global context and working across boundaries: The “older” generations perhaps need to learn from this, which could maybe help much of the world conflict.

– Never been without Google: my 8 year old grandson uses Google on his iPad and Wii U to find Batman and other super hero games and information, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Nicktoons live TV, etc.

– Not only do their brains work differently than ours, but they function differently: I’m not so sure about the “differently” since most people’s brains have similar amounts of potential, but I would agree with the “function differently”, since they are being stimulated differently, Some of this has to do with the “Growth mindset versus the Fixed Mindset” (C. Dweck. 2012. Mindset: the new psychology of success. Random House, New York, NY.). Another aspect has to do with how the brain is stimulated, or more specifically which sections of the brain are stimulated and to what degree or intensity. Dario Nardi has done research at UCLA for at least the past 5 years regarding low-threshold, high-threshold and in-flow brain activity when individuals are given a variety of activities to find out what areas of the neocortex pf the brain are stimulated and to what intensity. He identified 16 areas with 50 different subareas, and using a simple EEG was able to see how these different areas of the brain “function” (light up or not) when given different stimuli. (Nardi, D. 2010. Euro science of personality: brain savvy insights for all types of people. Radiance House, http://www.radiancehouse.com.) Generation Z individuals are certainly being exposed to new stimuli that was not available for past generations. It is not that their brains are different, but that the Generation Z brains have different stimuli and seem different because some areas are “glowing” brighter and functioning at a great level than previous generations.

– Finally, regarding the various characteristics described (. . . create things, future-focused, realists, and want to work for success . . .) – these may be some overall descriptors of the Z Generation, but there are still a variety of [Psychological] Type within this generation, just as there have been in previous generations. It’s most likely the “tools” and forms of communication and information gathering that is allowing individuals to become more independent in gathering information, almost “on demand”. We must not forget that there are pros and cons to all of this. Difference social skills are needed for different situations, and there is probably no substitution for human interaction, i.e. face-to-face conversations and interactions. We need to be sure that equal time is given for our newest generation, so that their innate Type preferences as well as their learned skills and behaviours are allowed to grow to their fullest potential.

Thanks for “stimulating” my brain.
Dr. Jeff Hart