Reading a psychology book that explains why Boomers are like that.

Authoritarian parenting, like authoritarian governing, is heavily based on shame and fear, and shame in childhood creates narcissistic traits (see link), which is why many Boomers also have authoritarian and narcissistic traits as parents, perhaps?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shame/201211/narcissism-and-other-defenses-against-shame

Seeing Boomers as the children of authoritarians, who rebelled (Vietnam protests, feminism, etc) would explain why they refuse to take government guidance seriously on masks and coronavirus IMO.

Boomers, if this doesn't apply to you, please know there's no need to personally defend yourself. This is about averages. Sensitivity to even mild perceived criticism is, btw, a common trait of children of authoritarian parents! You can just keep scrolling.

While we're here, today's Free Mental Health Corner is about workplace narcissists and how they are enabled by yes-men and sycophants, and why it's difficult to draw boundaries against them.

This is why "people enable them, shut up or leave the job."

Some have asked what "like that" means in the context of Boomers. This reminds me of the joke about one fish asking the other "how's the water?" and the other fish replies, "what's water?"

Here's what "like that" is. https://www.vox.com/2017/12/20/16772670/baby-boomers-millennials-congress-debt

Boomers are mad about this. Simple psychology from an expert shouldn't create unreasonable defensive anger. That is what "like that" means, that reflexive opposition to any scientific opinion that inconveniences the person in question.

Back to psychology:

Here's how authoritarian parenting affects children. You can see how this creates the rebellious "Me" generation that launched Vietnam protests, free love and drugs, and now likes the authority-undermining content of Fox News and conspiracy theories.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/authoritarian_parenting_style

There are more neglectful parenting styles in addition to the authoritarian parent btw.

They all result in the same thing: Adults who feel depleted, hungry for something they can't place, stressed by the concept of having to care for others.

This book is great.

Here's a thread on CEN, or childhood emotional neglect. It explains a lot about so much in our world.

(If you recognize yourself or your parents in any of this, Running on Empty has tips to heal and also a sequel, Running on Empty No More)

https://twitter.com/moorehn/status/1286598892646215682?s=21 https://twitter.com/moorehn/status/1286598892646215682

The Boomer (FB is their network) love of "stick it to the man" conspiracy theories at work. IMO that rebellion against authoritarian parents becomes a pattern that results in rejection of scientific and government authority too.

https://twitter.com/kevinroose/status/1287906751069581318?s=21 https://twitter.com/kevinroose/status/1287906751069581318

Boomers at work defying authoritarian parenting

https://twitter.com/popcrave/status/1288305571091939328?s=21 https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1288305571091939328