Is Conscientiousness in Freefall or Just a Dramatic Dive?

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about a supposed steep decline in conscientiousness among young people, thanks to a Financial Times article that painted a rather grim portrait using flashy graphs. But before we grab our helmets and brace for impact, psychologist Chris Ferguson crunched the data and found that the actual dip isn’t quite as catastrophic as it sounds. Over several years, conscientiousness dropped by a mere 2.28 points—hardly a reason to declare a national emergency.

Critics have jumped into the fray, saying the report’s presentation is less like a sober analysis and more like a sensational news story searching for a villain—technology, naturally. The report dives into the world of smartphones and streaming services as potential culprits, igniting debates and raising eyebrows without solid evidence to back the claims. It’s almost like blaming your diet on avocado toast when really, the donuts are your downfall.

Despite the panic, it seems we might be overreacting to the trends captured in the study. Changes in personality traits are often influenced by massive shifts in society, like the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the conversation often simplifies it down to technology. That said, it’s a reminder that it might be wise to take a step back and consider larger contexts at play—after all, isn’t life’s chaos just a swipe away?

So what do you think? Is technology really reshaping our personality traits, or are we just adapting to new norms? Let’s hear your thoughts!

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