Cusper

Last updated • 6 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

A cusper is a person born near the end of one generation and the beginning of another. People born in these circumstances tend to have a mix of characteristics common to their adjacent generations, but do not closely resemble those born in the middle of their adjacent generations, and thus these cusper groups can be considered micro generations. [1] [2] [3] [4] Generational profiles are built based on people born in the middle of a generation rather than those on the tails of a generation. [5] Generations may overlap by five to eight years. [5] [6] [7] As such, many people identify with aspects of at least two generations. [5] The precise birth years defining when generations start and end vary. [8] Lancaster and Stillman (2002) introduced the term, cusper, in reference to those who are born at either end of a generation, and consequently, may identify to some extent with the generation before or after it. The authors observed that such individuals can often play an important role in mediating dialogue between members of different generations. [9] Other authors like Ubl, Walden and Arbit (2017) observed something similar: "the truth is that they play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless communication across generations. Cuspers are natural translators because they often speak the language of two generations. Sometimes we even call them generationally bilingual!" [10]

Contents

Notable cusper groups

Greatest Generation/Silent Generation

Birth year ranges

  • Just before the 1920s, as identified by Graeme Codrington [11]

Characteristics

These cuspers experienced the lows after World War I but also the highs of the early Roaring Twenties, the Flappers, the Charleston and early silent films. As these cuspers came of age, some of them become more visionary like the Greatest Generation or stoic like the Silents. [11]

Silent Generation/Baby Boomers

Birth year ranges

  • 1933–1945 as identified by Susan Mitchell [12]
  • 1939–1945 as identified by Claire Raines Associates [5]
  • 1940–1945 as identified by Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman, authors of When Generations Collide, [13] as well as The Mayo Clinic [8]
  • 1942–1948 as identified by Trompenaars and Woolliams [14]
  • 1943–1948 as identified by Deon Smit, writing for HR Future [4]

Characteristics

Claire Raines Associates names these cuspers the Sandwich Group, [5] Susan Mitchell calls these cuspers the Swing Generation, [12] [15] Smit calls them Troomers [4] and Trompenaars and Woolliams call them Shhh-oomers. [14] According to the Mayo Clinic, these cuspers have the work ethic of the Silent Generations, but like Baby Boomers will often challenge the status quo. [8] Codrington describes them as having the status-seeking, career advancement motivations as Baby Boomers. [11] Codrington adds that they are old enough to remember World War II, but were born too late to enjoy the 1960s. [11] Hart notes that research has found the younger members of the Silent Generation tended to share more traits with Baby Boomers. [16] Writer Marian Botsford Fraser described women in this cusper population as girls who "...did not smoke dope at high school, go to rock concerts, toy with acid and the pill and hippie boyfriends at university or tour Europe with a backpack." Instead, she notes "These girls wore crinolines and girdles, went to The Prom, went to nursing school and teachers' college, rarely university." [17] Speaking of Susan Mitchell's population specifically they are believed to be an anomaly in that they tend be more activist and free thinkers than those born prior to them in the Silent Generation. [3] [12] Lancaster and Stillman echo this last point and note that these cuspers were on the frontlines of America's internal struggles as adults, agitating in favor of human rights. They go on to say many women among these cuspers entered in to male-dominated workplaces before the women's movement existed, blazing a trail for other generations of women to follow. [13]

Baby Boomers/Generation X

Birth year ranges

  • 1954–1965 as identified by Jonathan Pontell [18]
  • 1955–1960 as identified by Mary E. Donahue [19]
  • 1958–1967 as identified by Mark Wegierski of the Hudson Institute [20]
  • 1960–1965 as identified by Lancaster and Stillman, [13] Mayo Clinic, [8] and Andrea Stone writing in USA Today [21]
  • 1961–1968 as identified by Trompennars and Woolliams [14]
  • 1962–1967 as identified by Smit [4]
  • 1964–1969 as identified by Codrington [1]

Characteristics

This population is sometimes referred to as Generation Jones, [18] [3] and less commonly as Tweeners, [21] Baby X’s by Smit [4] and Boomerex by Trompenaars and Woolliams. [14] These cuspers were not as financially successful as older Baby Boomers. [8] [13] They experienced a recession like many Generation Xers but had a much more difficult time finding jobs than Generation X did. [8] [13] While they learned to be IT-savvy, they did not have computers until after high school but were some of the first to purchase them for their homes. [8] [11] They were among some of the first to take an interest in video games. [13] They get along well with Baby Boomers, but share different values. While they are comfortable in office environments, they are more relaxed at home. They are less interested in advancing their careers than Baby Boomers and more interested in quality of life. [11]

Generation X/Millennials

Birth year ranges

Characteristics

The Generation X/Millennial cuspers are most commonly referred to as Xennials, although other names include the Oregon Trail Generation, Generation Catalano and The Lucky Ones. [7] Researchers point out that these cuspers have both the healthy skepticism of Generation X and the optimism of Millennials. [13] [11] [8] They are likely to challenge authority, but also are more career-focused than Generation X. [11] While not all of these cuspers are digital natives, [27] they are very comfortable with technology. [8]

Millennials/Generation Z

Birth year ranges

Characteristics

Names given for these cuspers include the Snapchat Generation by Ubl, Walden, and Arbit, [22] MinionZ by Smit, [4] Zillennials, [38] and Zennials. [39] They are characterized as being "raised less by optimistic Boomers and more by skeptical Xers and pragmatic Gen Jonesers, who raised them to focus more on the practical rather than the aspirational." [22]

Workplace importance

Communication misunderstandings between employees of different generations are detrimental to workplace morale, increasing turnover and absenteeism while decreasing job satisfaction, work commitment and productivity. [40] [41] Effective communication between employees of different generations, however, allows for collaborative relationships and ensures that information is retained from one generation to the next. [40] Cuspers play an important role in multi-generational workplaces and other organizations. [13] [11] Metaphorically, cuspers are like bridges or glue that connect members of their adjacent major generations. [4] [27] Between generations, they are naturally skilled at mediating, translating, mentoring and managing. [13] [11] Strategically placing cuspers in the workplace has the potential to reduce generational workplace friction and give organizations doing so a competitive advantage. [7] [42]

Generational identity

Many cuspers do not feel a sense of belonging to a specific generation. [11] [13] Researchers studying generational subculture theory have speculated that there may be populations within larger generational cohorts whose values are more in line with those of preceding generations, for example, someone born in the range of Generation X who has a moral philosophy more similar to the Silent Generation. [7] [43] The generational fuzziness theory proposes that one's generation is best defined as the combination of one's birth year and generational identity—the cultural generation to feel most similar to. [44] [45] They have the advantage of having one foot in two generational worlds. According to Lynne C. Lancaster and David Stillman in their book, When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How To Solve The Generational Puzzle At Work, cuspers have a natural ability to identify with multiple generations' beliefs and interests. Not all cuspers identify with both sides of the generational dividing line. Many adopt the values of one side and conduct themselves accordingly. [46]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation X</span> Cohort born between c. 1965 and 1980

Generation X is the demographic cohort following the Baby Boomers and preceding Millennials. Researchers and popular media often use the mid-1960s as its starting birth years and the late 1970s as its ending birth years, with the generation being generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980. By this definition and U.S. Census data, there are 65.2 million Gen Xers in the United States as of 2019. Most of Generation X are the children of the Silent Generation and early Baby Boomers; Xers are also often the parents of Millennials and Generation Z.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby boomers</span> Cohort born from 1946 to 1964

Baby boomers, often shortened to boomers, are the demographic cohort preceded by the Silent Generation and followed by Generation X. The generation is often defined as people born from 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom. The dates, the demographic context, and the cultural identifiers may vary by country. Most baby boomers are the children of either the Greatest Generation or the Silent Generation, and are often parents of Millennials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation</span> All of the people born and living at about the same time period, regarded collectively

A generation is all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. It also is "the average period, generally considered to be about 20–⁠30 years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children." In kinship, generation is a structural term, designating the parent–child relationship. In biology, generation also means biogenesis, reproduction, and procreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennials</span> Generational cohort born 1981 to 1996

Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s as ending birth years, with the generation typically being defined as people born from 1981 to 1996. Most Millennials are the children of Baby Boomers and older Generation X. In turn Millennials are often the parents of Generation Alpha.

A generation gap or generational gap is a difference of opinions and outlooks between one generation and another. These differences may relate to beliefs, politics, language, work, demographics and values. The differences between generations can cause misunderstandings, but it is possible for generations to overcome their differences and maintain functional relationships.

A baby boom is a period marked by a significant increase of births. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds of defined national and cultural populations. The cause of baby booms involves various fertility factors. The best-known baby boom occurred in the mid-twentieth century, sometimes considered to have started after the end of the Second World War, sometimes from the late 1940s, and ending in the 1960s. People born during this period are often called baby boomers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silent Generation</span> Cohort born from 1928 to 1945

The Silent Generation, also known as the Traditionalist Generation, is the Western demographic cohort following the Greatest Generation and preceding the baby boomers. The generation is generally defined as people born from 1928 to 1945. By this definition and U.S. Census data, there were 23 million Silents in the United States as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation Jones</span> Social cohort spanning the late Baby Boomer Generation and the early Generation X

Generation Jones is the generation or social cohort between the Baby Boom generation and Generation X. The term was coined by American cultural commentator Jonathan Pontell, who argues that the term refers to a full distinct generation born from 1954 to 1965. Media coverage of Generation Jones typically has described it as a distinct generation, using Pontell's dates. Others see this as a subset of the Baby Boom Generation, primarily its second half. A third view is that Generation Jones is a cusp or micro-generation between the Boomers and Xers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helicopter parent</span> Term for a parent who closely manages their childs life

A helicopter parent is a term for a parent who is overattentive and overly fearful of a child's experiences and problems, particularly outside the home and at educational institutions. Helicopter parents are so named because, like helicopters, they "hover overhead", overseeing every aspect of their child's life. A helicopter parent is also known to strictly supervise their children in all aspects of their lives, including in social interactions.

In Western culture the Boomerang Generation refers to the generation of young adults graduating from high school and college in the 21st century. They are so named for the percentage of whom choose to share a home with their parents after previously living on their own—thus boomeranging back to their parents' residence. This arrangement can take many forms, ranging from situations that mirror the high dependency of pre-adulthood to highly independent, separate-household arrangements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation Z</span> Demographic cohort

Generation Z, also known as Zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years, with the generation most frequently being defined as people born from 1997 to 2012. Most members of Generation Z are the children of younger Baby Boomers or Generation X.

The gray ceiling is a business/societal phenomenon where the existing workforce of those born during the baby boom era prevents the younger generations of Generation X and Millennials from advancing or being promoted at their jobs.

Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. The show was originally hosted by Shaun Micallef.

The Strauss–Howe generational theory, devised by William Strauss and Neil Howe, describes a theorized recurring generation cycle in American history and Western history. According to the theory, historical events are associated with recurring generational personas (archetypes). Each generational persona unleashes a new era lasting around 21 years, in which a new social, political, and economic climate (mood) exists. They are part of a larger cyclical "saeculum". The theory states that a crisis recurs in American history after every saeculum, which is followed by a recovery (high). During this recovery, institutions and communitarian values are strong. Ultimately, succeeding generational archetypes attack and weaken institutions in the name of autonomy and individualism, which eventually creates a tumultuous political environment that ripens conditions for another crisis.

The working environment has gone through a major transformation over the last decades, particularly in terms of population in the workforce. The generations dominating the workforce in 2024 are baby boomers, Generation X, millennials and Generation Z. The coming decades will see further changes with emergence of newer generations, and slower removal of older generations from organisations as pension age is pushed out. Many reports, including a publication by Therese Kinal and Olga Hypponen of Unleash, warn that understanding differences between the generations, and learning to adapt their management practices is critical to building a successful multigenerational workplace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xennials</span> Term for people born during Generation X/Millennial cusp years

Xennials are the micro-generation of people on the cusp of the Generation X and Millennial demographic cohorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generation Z in the United States</span> American generation born between the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2010s

Generation Z, colloquially known as Zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zillennials</span> Individuals born during the Millennial/Generation Z cusp

Zillennials, or Zennials, is a social cohort encompassing people born on the cusp of, or during the latter years of the Millennial generation and the early years of Generation Z. Their adjacency between the two generations and limited age set has led to their characterization as a "micro-generation". They are generally the children of younger Baby Boomers and Generation X. Estimates of the U.S. population in this cohort range from 30 million to 48 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Resignation</span> 2021–2023 surge in job quits

The Great Resignation, also known as the Big Quit and the Great Reshuffle, was a mainly American economic trend in which employees voluntarily resigned from their jobs en masse, beginning in early 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most cited reasons for resigning included wage stagnation amid rising cost of living, limited opportunities for career advancement, hostile work environments, lack of benefits, inflexible remote-work policies, and long-lasting job dissatisfaction. Most likely to quit were workers in hospitality, healthcare, and education. In addition, many of the resigning workers were retiring Baby Boomers, who are one of the largest demographic cohorts in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennials in the United States</span> Cohort born from 1981 to 1996

Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z.

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