Responsibility: where does generation Y stand?

Abstract

Society perceives Generation Y as being irresponsible. This study investigated the attitudes of Generation Y towards the development of responsibility in childhood by surveying 20 male and female college students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. It was hypothesized that parents and schools had the greatest impact on the development of responsibility in childhood. Survey data was statistically analyzed usingfrequencies and a reliability analysis. Results indicate that other factors such as birth order, teachers, and other activities were just as influential as parents in the development of responsibility. The mplications of our findings are that family professionals need to become aware of the effects of other activities, in addition to schools and parents, in the development of responsibility in childhood. It is also important for members of Generation Y to become aware of their own attitudes towards their responsibility development in childhood to help remove the negative labels society has placed on them.