Op-ed by MICHELLE COTE

Society consistently underestimates America’s youth. Once again, we have been labeled self-important, entitled, and ill-equipped to lead this country into the future. This perspective, however, is inaccurate and unfair. It encourages despair and stifles progress, and because of this, threatens to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In her recent book, “Generation Me,” Dr. Jean Twenge argues that Americans born after 1970 are more self-centered than any other group that has come before. She has come to this conclusion after researching generational differences in attitudes and lifestyles — and she believes that this trait will soon have damaging repercussions on society.

According to Twenge, we developed our sense of self-importance during our childhoods. We absorbed confidence-promoting messages from our parents, teachers, and pop culture. Self-esteem based lesson plans and relaxed (non) grading systems in schools led us to believe that we deserve success. Chart-topping hits such as Whitney Houston’s 1986 “Greatest Love of All” (is loving yourself) and advertising slogans such as “An Army of One” reinforced our inflated levels of self-importance, Twenge says. (more…)