Generational Conflict and its Impact on Social Change

Abstract

The generation gap refers to the tension or conflict that arises between two generations due to differing experiences, ideas, and values. This conflict is an indicator of the social transformations a society undergoes and reflects the nature of relationships in the past, present, and future. The conflict between generations (parents and children) is a social phenomenon resulting from divergent viewpoints and interpretations of situations, each according to their own standards and cultural background. It is a phenomenon linked to social change. The generation gap stems from differences in ideas, inclinations, and attitudes between the parents' and children's generations. The children's generation believes in dynamism, speed, change, renewal, and keeping pace with the times, while the parents' generation is slower, less agile, and does not believe in renewal and change. Instead, they believe in preserving the status quo and adhering to principles and values. This leads to a dynamic characterized by communication and agreement at times, and at other times by disagreement and conflict. The parents' generation, being older, often perceive the children, being younger, as less capable of shouldering their responsibilities, while the children, in turn, believe that... The older generation is not keeping pace with developments in science and knowledge, leading to conflict among them, as each believes their perspective is correct, reflecting their values. The family has always been and remains the primary and fundamental unit of society, and it is affected by a range of transformations and changes occurring within it, particularly the shift in values ​​between generations, which leads to conflict.