Ever found communicating with people outside your age group difficult? This is what we know as a generation gap. A generation gap is known as the difference in attitudes, values and behaviours between individuals of different generations. If not resolved correctly, this gap can cause vast misunderstandings in workplace relationships. Of course, this is not what we want------but we just somehow cannot communicate with them, right? Can’t understand what goes on in their mind? Well, worry no further, because we are going to provide you with explanations and solutions to solve this problem here today!
Reasons behind the gap
There are two main reasons:
1) Different core needs
We would like to utilise Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to explain this. This hierarchy is a pyramid that describes the motivations for different human behaviour.

The concept is that only Individuals who have their lower level of needs satisfied would pursue higher levels.
Older generations live in materialistically poorer environments than newer generations due to the relative instability of society, caused by the aftermath of wars. Thus, their general population are stuck in the bottom levels of the pyramid------satisfying physiological needs such as finding food and water. Their daily aims thus mainly revolve around earning enough money to feed themselves and their families. For many, this is a hard enough task to fulfil, and thus needs on the top parts of the pyramid are not considered or even thought about by them. They often partake in hard labour jobs such as working in factories or building construction to make ends meet.
However, the younger generation experienced a relatively higher level of social stability in comparison as the society gradually recovered from the damage it underwent through the war. Lower level needs of the pyramid are fulfilled-----most have a place to live in and do not have to worry about basic life needs such as starvation or physical danger. They thus seek higher levels of needs such as self esteem and self-actualization. Self actualization refers to the complete realisation of an individual’s potential and the full development of one’s abilities. By doing so, the individual would be able to enjoy and appreciate life. When applying for a job, they not only seek the salary, but also other self actualization concepts such as whether they find interest in it or whether it leaves them with sufficient time to pursue their other life goals. This gives older generations the impression that they are lazy ; not willing to work hard or suffer hardships like they once did to survive. However, the younger generation finds such practices unnecessary. This discrepancy in values results in misunderstandings between the two generations and thus tense relations.
2) Outgroup bias

Outgroup bias refers to the scenario that those in the same group may subconsciously stigmatise others that are not in their group. Part of the older generation might categorise their generation as a group, and thus stigmatise others that are not in their group (younger generations). Also, people in the same age generation period generally hold a belief that it is easier to communicate with one another when compared to those in a different age period. This is because they feel they have more shared experiences and norms. Thus, some older generations may subconsciously stigmatise younger generations as “not belonging in their group" and thus hold slightly prejudiced opinions over them. Thus, they may frown upon those of the younger generation.
To conclude, it is important to understand and note that each generation generally possesses different characteristics and core values due to the environmental difference in their growth. Thus, we suggest holding a more understanding attitude to how and why the previous or next generations differ from us. We believe this is the key to mastering communication with those of different age groups from us and foster harmony in the workplace.
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