It’s pretty obvious that people from older and younger generations have some serious disagreements about what is and isn’t important in life. \u00a0Everyone\u2019s values are heavily influenced by the environment they grew up in, as well as the experiences we have throughout our lives.<\/p>\n
People who were raised in the 60s, 70s, and 80s tend to share some specific core values that younger generations not only don’t prioritize, but outright dismiss. These differences lead to many clashes that could be avoided if each took the time to understand where the other was coming from.<\/p>\n
People who were raised in the 60s, 70s, and 80s often share these core values that younger generations typically dismiss<\/h2>\n1. Working hard because it’s the right thing to do<\/h3>\n
Young people aren\u2019t universally lazy, but they do seem to have a different kind of work ethic than their predecessors. Going above and beyond just isn\u2019t something that people do now, and many find it hard to commit to work they don\u2019t care about.<\/p>\n Older people are more likely to work hard because that’s the way they’ve always done it. They know that\u2019s how they\u2019re going to get results and grab others\u2019 attention. These people are doers, not complainers, and it\u2019s helped them outside of their professional lives, too.<\/p>\n RELATED: People Raised In The 60s, 70s & 80s Seem A Lot Smarter About 8 Things Younger Generations Struggle With<\/strong><\/p>\n Maybe we should cut young people some slack because they didn\u2019t really grow up in a world that made it easy to cultivate patience. They never knew a time when they couldn\u2019t get an instant answer to any question or have something shipped to them in no more than two days.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, people raised in the 60s through the 80s learned about delayed gratification firsthand because they didn\u2019t have a choice. This has practical applications for everything from finances to health, so it\u2019s a good skill to have.<\/p>\n A lot of people think of self-reliance as just being able to take care of yourself, but that\u2019s not really the whole story. It\u2019s also related to someone\u2019s ability to solve problems without help and make their own decisions.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a priority for young people who can always get advice online. Older generations didn\u2019t have that option, so they learned how to trust their own instincts without being able to double-check things first.<\/p>\n RELATED: Gen Z Has Basically Zero Tolerance For 8 Casual Habits Boomers & Gen X View As Normal<\/strong><\/p>\n If you asked a younger person and an older person what being frugal means, they would probably give you completely different definitions. Young people tend to cringe at the thought of living frugally because they think it means never buying anything that isn\u2019t absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n Those who grew up in previous decades know frugality is more of a lifestyle. It means being strategic about how you spend and save money so you can afford bigger purchases later on. They\u2019re being smart rather than restrictive.<\/p>\n RELATED: People Raised In The 60s, 70s & 80s Usually Appreciate 8 Things About Life That Younger Generations Can\u2019t Stand<\/strong><\/p>\n People don\u2019t constantly lie and break promises these days, but there’s something different about how much responsibility they take for their actions. It kind of feels like everyone just does what\u2019s most convenient, even if it could lead to an erosion of trust.<\/p>\n Research has proven that people tend to trust older people more than younger ones, which makes sense given how much they value being dependable. They care about other people feeling like they can count on them whether it requires extra effort or not.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of debate these days about whether respect is something that should be earned or not. Younger generations usually feel like it depends on people\u2019s behavior and how they treat others.<\/p>\n Older folks don\u2019t blindly give out respect to everyone, but they do give it more liberally. For them, it\u2019s not only about someone\u2019s accomplishments or title. It\u2019s also about the belief that everybody deserves to be treated with dignity, even if they don\u2019t always show that to other people.<\/p>\n RELATED: Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of What Disrespect Looks Like<\/strong><\/p>\n In the age of social media, people are used to sharing pretty much everything they do and think. For example, it\u2019s not uncommon for someone to be accused of being a bad person because they refuse to share their political beliefs publicly even though there\u2019s no reason they have to.<\/p>\n Oversharing online is really risky, but it\u2019s hard for people to remember that when they never experienced life without modern technology. People who grew up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s don\u2019t have a problem keeping things private when they want to because it doesn\u2019t feel strange to them.<\/p>\n Life just isn\u2019t fair for anyone. Young people have tried to fix that problem as much as they possibly can, but it\u2019s easy to take it too far, especially since it can\u2019t really be fixed.<\/p>\n Older people are more accepting of the fact that refusing to put up with negativity and setting tons of boundaries doesn\u2019t actually make life easier. Sometimes things are hard, and there\u2019s no way to get around that. They\u2019re willing to grin and bear it when others might not be.<\/p>\n![\"Gen](\"https:\/\/www.yourtango.com\/sites\/default\/files\/image_blog\/2026-09\/people-raised-in-60s-70s-80s-share-core-values-younger-generations-dismiss-hard-work.png\" "\\"people")
<\/span> Valeri Honcharuk via Canva<\/span><\/p>\n2. Having patience<\/h3>\n
3. Being self-reliant<\/h3>\n
4. Living frugally<\/h3>\n
![\"couple](\"https:\/\/www.yourtango.com\/sites\/default\/files\/image_blog\/2026-09\/people-raised-in-60s-70s-80s-share-core-values-younger-generations-dismiss-living-frugally.png\" "\\"people")
<\/span> AnnaStills via Canva<\/span><\/p>\n5. Being dependable<\/h3>\n
6. Showing respect<\/h3>\n
7. Maintaining privacy<\/h3>\n
8. Accepting that hard times come and go<\/h3>\n
![\"Gen](\"https:\/\/www.yourtango.com\/sites\/default\/files\/image_blog\/2026-09\/people-raised-in-60s-70s-80s-share-core-values-younger-generations-dismiss-accepting-hard-times.png\" "\\"people")
<\/span> elenaleonova from Getty Images Signature via Canva<\/span><\/p>\n