Book discusses six decades of research exploring 'Generation Me'

Whitney Houston said the greatest love of all is your love for yourself. Today's youth has embraced that attitude, but have they taken it too far?\nSan Diego State University psychology professor Jean M. Twenge investigates this in her new book, "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled -- and More Miserable Than Ever Before" (Free Press, $25).\nThe research in her book is based on a new SDSU study. The data spanned six decades and found that today's young are less concerned than previous generations with following social norms. \nThis attitude toward social approval could possibly be why young people are more likely to blast their car radios, disrespect authority figures and talk loudly on their cell phones in public places. It could also explain the more casual attitudes toward sex, dress and cursing.\nThe book uses real people and true stories to illustrate how "Generation Me" -- people born in the '70s, '80s and '90s -- is ambitious, open and confident. They believe they can do anything and storm into businesses and colleges ready to take over.\nBut as the title of the book suggests, these great expectations pave the way for devastating disappointments. This, coupled with a lack of human interaction thanks to constantly improving technology, makes "Generation Me" lonelier, more cynical and more depressed than other generations.\nBut Twenge proposes ways to help future generations be assertive and assured, but also be happy. One way is stop obsessing about building self-esteem and renounce unrealistic sayings like "You can be anything you want to be," or "Never give up on your dreams."\nTwenge argues that focusing on making sure children always feel special ultimately makes them self-centered and narcissistic or poorly prepares them for dealing with future setbacks.\nFor more information on Twenge or her book, visit www.GenerationMe.org.