Thought provoking article and summary. Thanks for this.

I can imagine some people thinking, "Isn't it possible that in an attempt to undo the excesses of the past, some people might have gone overboard? This would explain some of the younger generations expecting easy success, being too emotionally fragile, lacking respect for others, or expecting accolades and reward for too little effort?" I have heard this concern voiced by some people over the years. Personally I think those concerns are overstated, but from what I have read over many years there is something to it.

I'm an early Gen-Xer (just turned 50) and I personally think both points of view have an element of truth. It is a mistake in my opinion and experience, to assume that everyone since the silent generation has been mollycoddled or overprotected, just as it would be wrong to assume that the social model of continuing emotional neglect which the author explains is absolutely true in every single family.

I didn't personally feel emotionally neglected by my late silent generation / early baby boom parents. However, I noticed growing up that more than a few people of my parents' age were highly aware of the existence of authoritarian, emotionally neglectful parenting, and they had a deep seated dislike of it - perhaps due to personal experience?

As with anything in psychology or sociology, the truth is more nuanced than any single model can fully account for. I do agree that the author of this article raises valid points that are not often discussed.